Blog posts about Education, CyberSecurity, Digital Citizenship, Privacy, InternetSafety, curation, PKM, PLN, blogging, Global Collaboration, Coaching, Collaboration, eSkills, eLeadership, Coding, MakerED, MakerSpace, Social Media, How to learn, learning to learn
As every new year there is a new challenge to perform for a BETTER Professional-Development for TEACHers, EDUcators, LEHRENDE, Instructors. Especially for Modern-EDU, Modern-Pedagogy, Modern-Learning there is still a lot to LEARN! Here below some thoughts in form of quotes from me.
L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness andSecurityEnhancementStructure)…
The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).
I hear you screaming already: I would like to be innovative, I even have some ideas BUT I am fearing about WHAT OTHERS would say and think about!! To be honest, NEVER look about WHAT OTHERS would say, innovation is something NEW and the new will GET up from the beginning NO acceptance, apart from a few which Professional-Development is Up-To-Date, and you probably (mostly) will GET even very hard criticism because people tend for “Listening to reply and NOT for understanding”!!
With ICT in EDUcation and while being (nearly) Up-To-Date with your Professional-Development while you have read the most important books about Modern-EDUcation from renowned researchers and by being online and using Social Media, especially Twitter, you certainly “feel” what MUST change to give OUR students, learners, BEST EDUcation. DO SO, I am pushing you if necessary, the world needs people with courage, motivation, engagement to bring Modern-EDUcation farther!!
And I am NOT talking about tools, Apps, THEY are ONLY facilitators; THE main so-called tool is YOU!!! YOU are modeling the statues (your learners, students) from a raw piece to a Master-Piece because of YOUR talents, knowledge, experience, Up-To-Date Professional-Development. It’s YOUR talent, like in arts, YOUR creativity who sparkles over to the learners, students with YOUR motivation, engagement, passion…
IF NO effort is brought in, NO results will come out!!
NOW, you know the secret ingredients (it’s like cooking…) and then comes the way of the How-To, there WE need to use ALSO Social Media, especially Twitter to connect with the students, learners!!Did I say connecting with students, learners on Twitter and learning together with the whole world; an OPEN place, NOT a closed classroom!!??? Sounds strange, isn’t it!??? Well, it isn’t strange at all, as it is PracTICE for the students, learners, to GET straight in to WHAT they will get used once in the workforce. It’s actually the BEST PracTICE they can get.
As on January 2018 I just have seen ONE Twitter-Chat (if you know another one, let me know please…) WHERE students, learners (average age 20 years old) were involved and it comes from Canada, the University of Ottawa, run by Pierre LEVY. Please check below some screenshots from the transcript of the Twitter-Chat:
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Click image please to access the tweets
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Click image please to access the tweets
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Click image please to access the tweets
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By following that Twitter-Chat one can see and analyze THE way HOW students are thinking by bringing in THEIR Critical-Thinking, that shows their learning instantly… AND, the students use as well the <===> Twitter Moments <===> to make THEIR reflection about their learning while collecting different tweets from different persons on the Twitter-Chat <===> #UOTM18 <===> and even creating blog posts about it to reflect their learning. The moments and the blogs are made outside the <===> #SchoolCocoon (school, university…) <===> and Pierre LEVY is using this practice since 3-4 years already.
So, as I see it in we have two binary options – stay unfinished or be completely miserable. Let me explain, if we attempt to do the same things for kids in 2028 as we do today we will be woefully ineffective. Very rarely is someone who is ineffective at their job fulfilled by their job and happy in their professional life.
Okay, 2028 seems pretty far away. I challenge you to consider if it is really possible to make slight changes for eight years and then have a monumental shift in years nine and ten. Probably not. So, what’s the point?
The change in our world is constant. Our kids are different than they were ten years ago and will be vastly different ten years from now. Our communities are changing. Our world is fundamentally different and will continue to evolve. In education we must adjust to them and to our world (more importantly their world) or we are going to face becoming dangerously irrelevant.
So, as educators we have one choice. One option to stay relevant. One option to compete. One option to serve our kids with integrity. And perhaps most importantly, one option to be personally happy. That option is to stay unfinished. Embrace change. Love the grind. Have a deep, hard, introspective conversation with yourself that it is never going to be easier to be great at your job. And be okay with that realization.
And I hope – deep in my soul – that accepting the fact that it is never going to be easier energizes you. You were not put on this Earth to be average. None of us were. You have chosen to be a part of the best profession in the world. We have the opportunity to change lives every single day. It is an awesome responsibility, but an even more incredible opportunity.
As the semester comes to an end, I'd like to share with all of you my experiences in @plevy's Knowledge Management class. It's been a pleasure learning with all of you at #UOKM. https://t.co/AHiv5Jifpp
By reading carefully the students, learners blog posts, tweets (Twitter posts), Twitter lists, Twitter Moments and Curation you will see HOW they can GET interested for their own learning by following ONLY a few rules to become digital citizens who know how to use the tools in a responsibility manner WITH understanding about WHAT they are talking and posting!!
THAT is what I call <===> Modern-EDUcation, Modern-LEARNing PracTICE!! Wishing to see OTHER EDUcators, #TEACHers to copy this 😉
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You might NOT to forget to remind, please, the below, thank you!
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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness andSecurityEnhancementStructure). L’auteur était aussi gagnant d’un concours en électronique en 1979 ( Pays germaniques ) et voyait son projet publié dans le magazine électronique “ELO”.
The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).
The author was also a winner of an electronics contest (Germanic countries) in 1979 and got his project published in the “Electronics Magazine ELO”.
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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉.. .
Keywords necessary for me to create this blog post: #UOTM18, #UOKM, PKM, PLN, Social Media, #Twitter, Curation, #Blogs, Critical-Thinking, Pierre LÉVY, Intelligence collective, Collective Intelligence, Big Data, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Modern EDU, Modern LEARNing, Communication,
WHAT’S the MOST IMPORTANT in Professional Development-Teacher Training in Modern EDUcation!?
Is it the use of #EdTech (Apps and WHATEVER), technology, WHAT MOST of educators, teachers are advocating on Social-Media twitter and OTHER platforms!??? Certainly NOT!!! WE are living in a world WHERE WE need more than EVER to work together and to forget about the selfish!!! In any company WHERE OUR students, learners need to work THEY will need to have <===> Soft-Skills <===> the ability to work in a team, with collaboration skills, being able to adapt with a multicultural environment…
Let us talk about Soft-Skills, WHAT is it!??? Check below, please:
WHY did I post THIS!? Well, when I see WHAT Educators, Teachers post on Social-Media twitter, sorry, I MUST say that the majority didn’t understand WHAT #ModernEDU is actually!!! :(((
Educators, Teachers DON’T EVEN look on WHAT are the skills needed for the students, learners in a Modern-World working with ICT; THEY look ONLY on WHAT THEY think (really!!!???) about WHAT THEY think is important for THEM to survive to maintain the status quo! :((( Let us have a look WHAT OUR students, learners need for skills in a Modern-World, check the infographic below please.
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Actually MOST Educators, Teachers are nearly NOTHING ELSE as <===> Herd Mentality followers<===> and are following the ones who have chosen THE WRONG path, with a lot (as usual) talk, talk, talk without efficient come out on Social-Media; BUT STILL continuing!!! Since MORE than fifty (50) years it is like THAT (EVEN without Social-Media at that time…), so WHY changing!??? Sounds hard!??? About time THEN to go for serious analyzing and deep-thinking YOUR OWN habits and especially online postings on Social-Media!! It’s about time to get realistic and to accept the reality!! Once the degree, diploma in the pocket and having a secured place in schools, teachers and educators feel like GODS and block anything what THEY think might get THEM away from THEIR control over students, learners and OTHERS with a different mentality! Same ALSO for having contact and listen to advice from industry, working force; which is actually a MUST!! Educators, teachers need to go more for collaboration to ensure that their learners, students will get the appropriate skills and knowledge to survive in an ever quick growing world.
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Educators, teachers are following online ONLY (like in a herd mentality…) THE ones WHO THEY think give THEM BEST advice about WHAT Modern-EDUcation is: BUT those ones are THE ones WHERE THEIR <===> Professional Development <===> is FAR BEHIND!!THEY even haven’t read the latest books about pedagogy of Modern-EDUcation and are following on a stubborn way and leading to a wrong way!!
Enough criticism and feedback, SO WHAT makes professional educators, teachers?
First of all I would recommend some books which ANY educators, teachers SHOULD read to understand WHAT Modern-Education pedagogy and practice is; please check image below.
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The above mentioned books give YOU a detailed insight and advice about WHAT Modern-Education is and ALSO the How-To, use it!!
How-To Adapt To THAT Mass Of Information On The Internet?
WHAT I have seen on Social-Media is THAT Educators, Teachers are struggling with ALL the mass of information THEY get and DON’T know HOW to deal with it!!! I suggest to use “Curation” and to create YOUR OWN “Personal [Professional] Knowledge Management”, called ALSO #PKM, check below for more information, please:
Actually EDUcation is following more and more Sir Ken ROBINSON about his creativity statements (which are MORE than right BTW!), BUT on Social-Media and in the classrooms it doesn’t really show up yet!! I don’t want to talk too much about it, instead I want THAT YOU to read the following:
And WHAT about Critical-Thinking AND Proactive-Thinking!?
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In an EVER changing (too quick actually…) world around and with ICT, it is a MUST to have knowledge and developed skills about Critical-Thinking AND Proactive-Thinking! BOTH are required to understand about “Fake News” and Cyber-Security!!
Please check the picture below 😉 NO words needed to write MORE!! Make YOUR choice 😉
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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness andSecurityEnhancementStructure). L’auteur était aussi gagnant d’un concours en électronique en 1979 ( Pays germaniques ) et voyait son projet publié dans le magazine électronique “ELO”.
The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).
The author was also a winner of an electronics contest (Germanic countries) in 1979 and got his project published in the “Electronics Magazine ELO”).
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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉..
Keywords necessary for me to create this blog post: Creativity, Life-Long Learning, Learning To Learn, Growth Mindset,
Click the above image, please, to open it in a new window to enlarge it
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PracTICE: How DOES The Internet Help ME In My Private Life, Professional Development, Job AND Career
I am a pioneer and was always one of the first to try out NEW stuff since my young age, very curious about it WHAT that could be and WHAT would be my advantage to use it. Let us call it <===> Learning By Doing <===> to get some knowledge, skills and experience out of that adventure 😉 Did I say <===> adventure!? <===> YES, it is actually! An adventure to discover NEW stuff where one doesn’t know where it will end 😉 BUT it is a BIG fun ALSO and one learns a lot through it! This attitude brings one ALSO to a <===> Life-Long LEARNing <===> strategy which I wouldn’t miss, whatever age one has! I am actually (2015) aged sixty (60), retired since 2014 (pedagogical/andragogical ICT Instructor) and STILL learning on a daily base as it is a pleasure for me.
It is ALSO a pleasure for me to share my knowledge with OTHERS (especially EDU related people) on Social Media Twitter, through curation and blogging. The internet (I started 1998) is a GREAT resource and a wonderful <===> Virtual World<===> which needs to get discovered and where WE need to know ALSO its dangers, same as in <===> Real World <===> let us call it <===> Awareness and Digital CitiZENship!
Before WE start, the above title is a long one, let us break it down to the different Topics: private life, Professional Development, job and career.
How Does The Internet Help ME In My Private Life!?
As already mentioned I started using the internet in 1998 with a very slow 56k Dial-Up Modem(which made ALSO a lot of noise…) and I found out about the search engines and the How-To to find information on it. Then I discovered about Cyber Security problems, virus and Co by reading specialized Computer-Magazines. YES, that existed already at that time!!! I was telling OTHERS about those threats; THEY told me that I am crazy as THEY didn’t realize its existence! SO… I continued learning about it and I became a vigilant internet user. Knowledge and skills which I developed through the years, see on the bottom of this blog post, please. BUT, as a normal user, how can the internet help me in my private life!?
Well, a lot actually: I can check for Restaurants, I can book my holidays online, I can buy stuff online, I can book nearly WHATEVER I want online, I can search for BEST prices online for WHATEVER, I can prepare my holidays with special interactive maps (ThingLink), I can use “Google maps” to find my way, even with “Streetmap” which makes my traveling much easier, I can find cooking and baking recipes as well as tutorials on YouTube, I can share my experience and life experience through blogging and curation…
How Does The Internet Help ME In My Professional Development!?
Because of the internet I have a 24/7 access and I can learn whenever, wherever I want: SO… I can plan my learning on my OWN pace, alone as an autodidact (self-directed learning) and/or through Social Media Twitter. I use curation on each day and I develop through curation my <===> Personal [Professional] Knowledge Management. I use ALSO blogging with WordPress. And I use Twitter as well. Through the internet I learn much more quicker, especially through <===> curation!
I found a new job because of my ICT skills, even that I became an “pedagogical/andragogical ICT course instructor“, check below please for the full story:
L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness andSecurityEnhancementStructure).
The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).
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WHAT’S my message and WHY did I create this blog post!?
Firts of all I get a lot of profit out of the internet and the connections which I make with others: Well, I will encourage all youth and also adults, seniors, oldies to become <===>Life-Long LEARNers <===> and staying Up-To-Date with their knowledge, especially concerning their skills in ICT, called NOW <===> #eSkills <===>! In the modern world YOU will change YOUR job probably +/- 12 times in YOUR working career, it is very rare to stay life-long in the same job and/or same company!!! SO… The workforce is looking for people with ICT skills which YOU mostly didn’t learn at school, right!?
YOU won’t have (mostly) the time to learn by visiting courses, right!? START to become Life-Long LEARNers by LEARNing on YOUR OWN pace, by becoming <===> Autodidacts <===> Self-Directed LEARNers. YOU are able to, I did it, so can YOU!? 😉
I found a job because of my ICT eSkills and I am STILL LEARNing on a daily base routine for being Up-To Date with my <===> Professional Development <===>, even being retired NOW! THE pleasure of LEARNing!
I did THE <===> ICT PracTICE <===> and THAT’S WHAT the workforce needs!!!
Due to my eSkills I could share my knowledge AND expertise ALSO with the below mentioned as well as to a broad range of visitors from around the globe!
Keywords necessary for me to create this blog post: Life experience, manager, competitive, competition, adapting, all-round talents, image editing, image editing for the web, websites, curation, Social Media, editing, collaboration, team-work, idea development, Social Media knowledge, learning to learn, Life-Long Learning, daily curation, integrating Global Collaboration,
Let us be honest: I have myself posted a lot about WHAT’S wrong withProfessional Development and ranted also a lot about WHAT I have seen from posts on Social Media; thus meaning: by observing teachers and educators posts! THAT isn’t really funny, excuse-me please, seeing people WHO SHOULD be THOSE who are creating ALL OTHER professionsstruggling, (see PIC, please) acting with a 20th Century Mind by using 21st Century tools (EdTech)! That hurts me! WE, as teaching persons have a BIG ===> Responsibility <=== which WE MUST show on ===> Social Media<===, YOU know anybody sees WHAT is getting posted AND can analyze the posted (as I did)!!!
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A Reminder
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The above mentioned quote from “Albert EINSTEIN” SHOULD get to be taught to Educators, Teachers, Instructors! We, as teaching persons should remember that one on any teaching lesson, this as well as in the classroom and especially when WE publish online (website, blog, Twitter posts, Social Media posts…). ===> UNDERSTANDING!<===
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Feedback From Students AND Parents To Adjust THE Missing-Accepting An OTHER View-Criticism
It is very important to know WHAT OTHERS see the way of HOW WE are teaching, WE MUST bring us in the shoes of others and ACCEPT their view to improve OUR teaching! Therefore it is important to know WHAT OTHERS are thinking about the actual teaching process AND to ADJUST to it for BETTER 😉
SO… THE Plan is ===> OUR Students, LEARNing-To-LEARN, preparing OUR Students, LEARNers for the future, Life-Long-LEARNing for Students, LEARNers, EDUcators, TEACHers<===
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Click the image above, please, to access the article.
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[GM] AND as most of YOU know me, I like to present sometimes ALSO music related to the learning process 😉
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WHY music!?
[GM] As a young student when I had to do my exams: I was listening to music (actually very loud…) with headphones on while learning for the exams AND I STILL remember today, after 40 years, WHAT I was learning WHEN listening to that music.
Click the above image, please, to access the article.
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THE Problem With The Actual System
[GM] I will become 60 years old (STILL with young mind) this year and I have seen THE SAME problem since the last +/- 50 years THAT ===> Professional Development <=== is VERY FAR BEHIND!!! As a student I asked my Professors “WHY do WE need to learn this, I don’t see any necessity for real world in it!?“, I got answered ===> It’s on the “Curriculum”!!! Today isn’t any different, excuse-me please! And ALSO, as I was reading a lot about for what the courses were, from different OTHER books than the mandatory ones for the courses (there was NO internet at THAT time… BUT school libraries) I knew MORE than the teachers, professors. By asking THEM specific questions THEY got upset and I GOT punished, hard times! THIS shows WHAT ===> Professional Development <=== was at that time, and WHEN one is analyzing today Social Media posts on Twitter and Facebook, there isn’t really a change to see :((( WHAT I see, my personal opinion, is the GOOD will to use “EdTech” tools to learn through ===> Twitter Chats <===, there are masses actually NOW, it is a BIG trend!
BUT, MOST teaching persons (and other lurkers…) are ONLY (mostly) making nice talking; saying that “I am learning…”, hmmmmm?Tell me WHERE THE learning is OR WHAT people think WHAT Learning is, as I am present on a lot of Twitter Chats and those persons didn’t change THEIR Mindset!??? People WHO rarely go out of their home and using Twitter Chats to get social relations, socializing? BUT WHERE is THE LEARNing WHEN the Mind is STILL on 20th Century!?
Interests of some of the co-founders of Twitter Chats?: Getting famous!? Collecting information for a NEW book!? MORE selfish behavior as THE EDUcators, TEACHers ===> Ethics Mind <=== allows!? Hmmm, hard Critical THINKing, where MOST about the above is ===> REALITY! <===.
Let us come BACK to the topic of this blog post: WHY can’t EDUcators, TEACHers catch up with ===> Professional Development <=== with the actual system!? It is build up on a linear following, first A, THEN B, THEN C, THEN D… and so on… SO, it will NEVER be possible to be===> UP-To-Date <===, excuse-me please 😉 Being retired, I have actually more time as when I was teaching in my active professional life and I can compare my actual situation with the one before. I EVEN can think NOW on WHY ===> Professional Development <=== as done NOW could NEVER be ===> Up-To-Date <=== as nearly NO ONE could invest that much time without losing itsfamiliar health situation!!! That social part needs to stay IMPORTANT! The above said is for the active EDUcators, TEACHers and NOT considered as an excuse for the BLACK SHEEP’S (too many anyway…)!
Please keep in mind the image below WHO should be applied ALSO for Educators, Teachers as it is THE basis for a BETTER LEARNing:
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[GM] I will let YOU know on the How-To I learn to stay ===> Up-To-Date <===, on a very quick way to ===> LEARNing-To-LEARN <=== which will save YOU a lot of time and YOU will learn on an accelerated way.
First rule: DON’T LOOK ONLY for one TOPIC, follow different interests who are related to ===> EDUcation in the 21st Century <===, OTHERWISE YOU will GO BACK AGAIN to ===> A, B, C, D, E… <===, THE OLD WAY of LEARNing! Try to GET an ===> holistic view and overview <===, I will post some great infographics and pictures below WHO will show YOU WHAT’S NEW and WHERE to GO.
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Click the above image, please, to access the article.
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Click the image above, please, to access the article.
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HOW Creativity is actually seen by EDUcation:Cartoon by Marjorie Sarnat:
A very quick way of adapting for Professional Development is a daily base routine of Curation to grow YOUR “PKM” AND by using ===> Coaching and/or Mentoring <===. As well as Co-Teaching, TEAM-TEACHing, as one learns from each other.
One SHOULD also respect the learning type: some people prefer learning as ===> autodidact <===, self-directed learning; DON’T push THEM (especially seniors) to work in groups, BUT provide THEM the necessary access to the files, so THEY can learn on THEIR OWN pace.
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[Start text from Wikipedia] Autodidacticism (also autodidactism) or self-education is the act of self-directed learning about a subject or subjects in which one has had little to no formal education. Many notable contributions have been made by autodidacts.
[GM] GOT problems to convince people about to make ===> Professional Development <===!? My practical tips:
Try to measure the time for how long persons are talking about for NOT wanting to make “Professional Development” (without that THEY see it, let them GO talking, as it is THEIR preferred theme…)…
Ask THEM for how many time, how long and how often per day, week, month, THEY are ALREADY on THAT position against…
Ask a colleague who is GOOD in coding to create an online calculator which YOU post on YOUR internal website and/or platform…
Calculate THAT time in TOTAL AND show THEM the time THEY wasted WHICH THEY could have used for ===> Professional Development <=== 😉
BETTER EVEN: let THEM make the calculation THEMSELVES to make THEM reflecting by ===> #PracTICE <===.
BTW: I have heard THAT above mentioned TOO MUCH, so that I decided to use a bit of Psychology tobeat those persons by THEIR OWN words, it works perfectly 😉 YOU won’t make YOU friends with it, BUT ANYWAY those people aren’t YOUR friends up from the beginning, NOTHING to lose 😉
In preparation…..
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LEARNing2LEARN, blogs with FlowChart Design and MORE explications about THE How-To ===> holistic, empathy, engagement, coaching, win-win situation, NO hierarchy, adapting to any situation, I don’t know doesn’t exist ===> FAQ’s <===, curation, PKM, PLN,
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[GM] more to come…
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Learning to search
Making Curation
Building UP a PKM
Building UP a PLN
LEARNing about Social Media ===> PLN, PKM, Communication (THE letter “C” in ICT)
Finding out WHO are the BEST Educators, TEACHers on Social Media Twitter AND following THEM to LEARN from THEM
Loosing YOUR fear AND connect with THEM
Loosing YOUR fear AND collaborate with THEM
Ask if some of THEM would be YOUR Mentor, Coach
Let YOU guide by THEM with FeedBack on Twitter by “DM” (Direct Message, Private Message)
Let YOU guide by THEM with FeedBack on WordPress and other blogs
WHAT’S Completely NEW For MOST AND WHAT Should WE Think More!?
WE SHOULD think further: WE SHOULD think on the behavior of pupils WHO DON’T realize at a certain age about the necessity of LEARNing, SO preparing THEM by acquiring skills which allows THEM later (when realizing THEIR faux-pas) to catch up AGAIN by owning their LEARNing on their own pace as ===> autodidacts <=== and for ===> Life-Long-Learning <===. These skills are:
Curation
PKM (Professional Knowledge Management)
Social Media skills (Social, Communication…)
The skills to express themselves through blogging (Self estimation, writing literacy…)
Critical THINKing
Proactive-THINKing
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Through those skills they will be able to catch up and others are prepared for the HARD life in the workforce!
Digital CitiZENship, CyberSecurity, Collaboration, TEAM-TEACHing, Social Media, Teaching with ICT, PracTICE versus THEORY,…
Responsibility with Social Media posting for Educators, Teachers
Click the above image, please, to access the article.
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[GM] I advice to check the following article below, please. It’s THE necessary knowledge ANY educators, teachers SHOULD have while using and teaching with “ICT“. it is THE basis for 21st Century Teaching AND Learning, for educators and students. Once having done it as mentioned YOU will have acquired THE skills which YOU can use ALSO in other courses.
REMEMBER: WHEN using “ICT” in the “SchoolCocoon” (classes, schools…) AND giving courses WITHOUT applying ===> Privacy AND CyberSecurity <=== would give YOU a ===> “TestScore” of 45/100 ONLY <=== as it ISN’T 21st Century TEACHING! Sounds HARD!? THINK twice and consider taking YOUR ===> RESPONSIBILITY <=== to protect at YOUR BEST YOUR students, learners 😉
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Click the above image, please, to access the article.
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Click the above image, please, to access the article.
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Let us have ALSO a look on the NEW Education in Finland (Europe), which I advocate, where they are preparing students, learners for the workforce:
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Click the above image, please, to access the article(s).
SO… HOW can WE get BETTER!?
Well, WHY NOT thinking on the below picture to find out WHAT is needed WHAT the world needs for abilities from students, learners, in the 21st Century; a GREAT ===> Leitfaden <===!
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Click the above image, please, to access the article.
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Click the above image, please, to access the OECD-Report-2015
The Innovated School ==> Mind Mapping.
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Quality Teaching through design of LEARNing and up-to-date ===> Professional Development <===.
[GM] A very quick way of adapting for Professional Development is a daily base routine of Curation to grow YOUR “PKM” AND by using ===> Coaching and/or Mentoring <===. As well as Co-Teaching, TEAM-TEACHing, as one learns from each other.
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TEACHers, EDUcators SHOULD get reduced in teaching classes for a certain time AND following Professional Development courses by experienced coaches during that time… These experienced coaches (from inside and/or outside the school) could get named “Key Instructors” or something else. Once THEY know it by PracTICE it’s THEIR role to give “Professional Development” courses to other teachers, educators. The curriculum as well SHOULDN’T be static, it MUST get updated as soon as there is something NEW to adapt to the situation.
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Feedback With WordPress Is Good For Peer-Review (Mentoring/Coaching)
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Click the above image, please, to access the tutorial from WordPress.com
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One Size Doesn’t Fit ALL
[GM] Of course, there are different points of view which need to get expressed as well! EVEN on a collaborative blog one can work together with different point of views! As this is a Collaboration-Blog (Global Collaboration), co-author Dan KIRSCH will explain his point of view here below.
[DK] I am a 6-8 Information, Communications, and Technology Instructor at Patrick Henry Middle School in Sioux Falls, SD (USA). I was asked last year if I would be willing to participate in the writing process of my school districts NEW 6-8 ICT curriculum. This was an opportunity I did not pass up as I knew I would gain new insight into writing curriculum and collaborating with other teachers within my school district.
This as been a very rewarding, frustrating, and at times difficult experience. I write about this as I have gained insight into how individuals ==> Professional Educators mind you can “undermine” the process of progression. For instance, our curriculum committee offered the other ICT teachers within the district (who were not on the curriculum committee) professional development (PD) to help them with the new curriculum and technological resources. This is where the PD portion puts a fork in the road into two separate paths. On one road the participants are very open into the new curriculum and willing to try NEW lessons; especially with the provided technological resources. Now, on the other road ==> we have other participants (educators) who revert back to their childhood days.
This means they undermine, criticize, mock, and/or find excuses to NOT accept change. Do not get me wrong I am one of the first people not “enjoy” change, but when I am provided with PD from other teachers and instructional coaches I am more apt to more open-minded as I am not be “thrown to the wolves” so to speak. Even with the resources and lessons at their disposal they still are not willing to accept that the curriculum is changing and that they are NOT alone in this process. It is at this point where I become very frustrated as a Professional Educator because I cannot believe there are other educators aka Life-Long Learners who have stopped that process ==> Life-Long Learning!
The point is as educators we are focused on teaching our students to change ==> learn new material, technology, and/or modes of assessment, but when teachers are asked to do the same thing some (not all) refuse. I am in the process of obtaining another Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and it this type of scenario that makes me question how does one (administrator) combat this ==> but at the same time keep ALL staff motivated…??
L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness andSecurityEnhancementStructure).
The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).
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The author Dan KIRSCHteaches courses in Information/Communications & Technology (ICT) and Career/Technical Education (CTE) for students in grades 6-8 at Patrick Henry Middle School in South Dakota, USA. Students in his classes focus on Social Media, Educational Technology, and most importantly Digital Citizenship. Currently, I have the priviledge to be on my school districts ICTcurriculum committee. We are rewriting and updating our ICT curriclulum in grades 6-8 for the 2015-2016 school year.
Keywords necessary to create this blog post:Professional Development, Coaching, Collaboration, Peer-Review, Team-Teaching, OECD-Report-2015, Designing courses, design, FlowCharts, WordPressFeedBack, Twitter FeedBack over “DM”, curation, blogs, blogging, Skype, PracTICE, Growth Mindset, Mindset SHIFT, 21st Century Mind, NOT enough time, impossible to catch UP with normal way of LEARNing, TOO many talking and NO action in Twitter Chats, NO seen results in Twitter Chats over +/- 1 1/2 years, NO analyzing in actually Twitter Chats :(((, NO qualityLEARNing in Twitter Chats, GOOD try in Twitter Chats BUT NOT 21stCentury Mind behind, LEARNing-To-LEARN, UNDERSTANDING, EINSTEIN 6 years old kid quote, Synthesizing Mind, “Five Minds For The Future” PIC, Critical THINKing, Proactive THINKing, ranting friendly sometimes ;), constructive criticism, analyzing, adapting to any situation, OUT of a predefined scheme, THINKing OUTSIDE the box, creativity, different Mindsets, Howard GARDNER, Jackie GERSTEIN, paper.li (online collecting and reading), QUALITY TEACHING,
SO, What’s THE Change For Teachers In 21st Century Education!?
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This is a general overview only to explain in simple words:
I get asked very often and get also a lot of discussions with people and also teachers about what’s THE realCHANGE in 21st Century Education and especially for teachers, even that MOST people tell me that “THE CHANGE” is very difficult to understand! BUT it’s actually very easy to understand, BUT it needs to get accepted from the teachers! This is my point of view, let me explain, please:.
What really changed for teachers is the way they will teach the students, THEY are NOT anymore “THE BOSS” in the classroom, ===> THEY are NOW a coach! <=== Someone who is guiding the students (learners) in THEIR way of learning and showing THEM how to learn and to deal with the BIG DATA on the Internet! It is NOT anymore a classroom of silence, it is a classroom where learners sit together in groups to solve problems in a team, solving the problems and learning together with the skills THEY acquired through previous teaching lessons.
It’s NOW ===> Us and THEM <===, WE try to work as a team for getting BEST results, it is NOWlearner-centered! WE as teaching persons are NOT anymore THE most important one, BUT WE change THE way how WE are TEACHING and WE focus on what OUR mission is: giving OUR learners (students) the BEST Education to face the REAL WORLD outside of the “School-Cocoon“, thus meaning: WE need to know what the skills are that the REAL WORLD needs!
The teacher is NOT anymore in front of the class, BUT s(he) is together with the learners in the classroom. WHERE the term CLASSROOM needs to get redefined!
=> THE CLASSROOM is not anymore inside the schools, ===> NO “School-Cocoon” anymore! <=
===> THE WALLS are broken and Teaching and Learning takes part everywhere, outside the “OLD definition of CLASSROOM”! <===
It is ALSO the WE as WE are looking for a win-win situation between OUR learners and us as teachers, WE try to get out the BEST “Team-Work” as it is that skills are needed in the REAL WORLD from the employers! Students (Learners) should know about “Team-Work” as they will face it once out of school and being employed!
The biggest mistake teachers actually make is thinking that by using the newest educational ICT tools and technical devices will make them a 21st Century teacher, NO ===> NOT AT ALL!
[Start Text from: Don’t Confuse Technology With Teaching] Educators are coaches, personal trainers in intellectual fitness. The value we add to the media extravaganza is like the value the trainer adds to the gym or the coach adds to the equipment. We provide individualized instruction in how to evaluate and make use of information and ideas, teaching people how to think for themselves. [End Text from: Don’t Confuse Technology With Teaching]
THIS ALL needs a serious up-to-date of Professional Development! Check below for more information about PD, please:
That is also something I get very often asked: WE don’t know about the future jobs as every day NEW ones getting created emerged by the ICT and especially because of “Social Media“, so how to know about what to teach!?
That is certainly a well founded question and needs to get answered a bit differently by applying Howard GARDNER‘s view in his book “5 Minds For The Future“, see screenshot below, please.
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By reading the above, I think the question is answered very well and with your pedagogical background you will know how to adapt your courses to it! OR??? Perhaps ALSO revising what you learned before you got your diploma, a little refresh of knowledge helps also…
Check out also my multilingual book selection (EN, FR, DE):
Lots of teachers have misunderstood what a 21st Century teacher should be and are doing nothing else as using the new educational tools, which is NOT the right way, sorry! The tools ONLY help making the courses more engaging and also more fun for the learners when well applied. They are necessary, BUT it is STILL the updated pedagogical knowledge of the teacher who is more important!
[Start Text from EDUDEMIC] However, if teachers change their approach to focus on transferable technology skills (i.e. the NETS-S) it will make the integration of technology more meaningful and prepare our students with skills they can take with them in the future.
And as I was talking ALSO about the “updated pedagogical knowledge“, known also as “Professional Development“, check here, please, to find out if YOUR PD is up-to-date:
Another BIG mistake is to focus ONLY on Apple devices and Apple resources in schools, such as iPad and iPhone Apps and more… Teachers like to play with them and students certainly also, BUT:
There are more employers who use Windows machines than Apple machines worldwide and the students need first the knowledge and the skills to work with that “Operating System” (OS)!
Once out of school and applying for a job, these “Windows Skills” are a ===> MUST to get a job!!! <===
NOT every employer allows a “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) strategy inside its company for different reasons, mostly for Cyber-Security reasons!
Social Media As Well Is NOW Included For Teaching And Learning
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First of all, let us take a look about what “Social Media” is, watch the video below, please:
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Why Social Media Should be Taught in Our School Systems
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Social Media (Twitter, Facebook and…) is part already of commercial strategies in most companies worldwide and if not yet it will be as companies must follow this trend to stay competitive! SO, the students (learners) need to have these “Social Media” skills as well to be able to use them later in their future working place(s)!
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I think the BEST way to explain it is to check my curation of professional articles, read them, please:
If you are a self-learner, an autodidact, I suggest to you to use Twitter together with Curation and trying to build up a “Personal Learning Network” (PLN) and to participate on Twitter-Chats.
A very good practice would be ALSO to invite teachers who are NOT YET ready for the 21st Century Education in a classroom as an observer for learning together with an experienced teacher and giving him ALSO the right to teach, the moment s(he) wants to say something when the experienced teacher is giving the course(s)! This needs to get briefed before the course(s) start… This would made him (her) feeling part of it and encourage also…
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Watch the video below to listen what the experts say:
Quote from [https://twitter.com/kimgarst] “If you don’t leave your past in the past, it WILL destroy your future. Live 4 what today has to offer, not for what yesterday has taken away.
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Final Word
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This is what I see as THE CHANGE with my actual knowledge, but if YOU dear reader have some more information, feel free to leave constructive comments, suggestions and even constructive critics…
Of course there are ALSO the Parent-Teachers meetings and other changes, BUt I wanted to show ONLY the changes for the teachers who are THE CHANGE for the mind… Once accepted these changes in the mind, it will take some time to adapt…
I think that “Is MY Professional Development Up-To-Date?” is the first question which you need to ask yourselves! You can ONLY give BEST and QUALITY courses when knowing about the latest knowledge in a 21st Century Education. But ===>HOW TO know this? <===
That’s a question I am getting asked very often from Teachers and Teacher-Students around the world through my Social Media presence on Twitter and I must say what I see on a global base doesn’t make me feel really happy! Lots of teachers around the globe are tweeting, which I encourage to do as much as possible by joining ALSO a so called “PLN“, a “Personal Learning Network“, but ONLY a few shows a real understanding, competencies, about what they are doing; even the so called “Edu-Stars” in certain countries! So, to take away some misunderstanding from the above said, I don’t make teacher-bashing! I ONLY will show how difficult it is to follow to be up-to-date ==> Nobody Is Perfect! <==, me neither! It’s an analyzing from my daily Social Media connections… The CHANGE is very quick and ALL of us have problems to follow that quick ALSO! That is WHY it is so IMPORTANT to learn on a daily base to be still able not missing the train 😉 [my advice]! ===> Life Long Learning! <===
The Main Skills of a 21st Century Learner and Teacher
The quest to be a modern teacher or student is in full swing. First though, figure out if you have these important 21st century skills.
Develop proficiency and fluency with the tools of technology;
Build intentional cross-cultural connections and relationships with others so to pose and solve problems collaboratively and strengthen independent thought;
Design and share information for global communities to meet a variety of purposes;
Manage, analyze, and synthesize multiple streams of simultaneous information;
Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate multimedia texts;
Attend to the ethical responsibilities required by these complex environments.
First of ALL, please check these images as on my point of view they show BEST:
And didn’t WE forget something in the above mentioned!? YES, WE did! When working with computers, Smartphones, Tablets and any device connecting to the Internet WE have to consider ALSO the aspect of Cyber-Security and Internet-Safety! And what about “Bring Your Own Device“, called also “BYOD“ ===> Twitter Hashtag =#BYOD <===
Sounds strange to YOU!?It shouldn’t as YOU have to accept that any Technology present and certainly also in the future requires Safety and Security knowledge! Especially the Technology who is connecting to the Internet!
Why!???
Online learning, e-Learning, m-Learning and BYOD are interconnected in many ways with the Real-World, both are influencing each other! By sharing information with others WE must also take care about WHAT WE are sharing!
This MUST be known, especially concerning Cyber-Security! I will explain in a different course (in depth) ===> why Cyber-Security is a MUST in 21st Century Learning and Teaching <===, for the moment feel free to visit my following FREE courses to get an overview:
Recently WordPress introduced a new Plug-In. [Start Text from EDUDEMIC] The new WordPress plugin from WooThemes (a popular WordPress premium theme provider) lets you start up your own online school with ease. It’s as simple as installing a WordPress plugin. The actual content and other school-y stuff is, of course, up to you. But the technical stuff is taken care of by this new plugin. [End Text from EDUDEMIC]
SO, my ideabehind that NEW plugin is that teachers with a good knowledge HELP other teachers with their “Professional Development” by creating such a platform! THINK about it and use the “Social Learning” factor in spreading the word on Twitter 😉
BTW: Did You Know that WordPress is providing ALSO a Template called “WordPress Annotum” with which it is possible to collaborate with multi-authors, even on an academic way!? Check out the link(s) below to learn more:
You Need To Be An Expert On Learning Before Teaching!
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The BEST teachers are the teachers who are the BEST LEARNERS, that is NOT a secret anymore and it is the TRUTH! Somebody who knows about “Learning To Learn” is able to forward ALSO that precious knowledge, as in my eyes “Learning To Learn” is the MOST IMPORTANT knowledge!
The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without a teacher. Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) American author, editor and printer.
“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” (Seneca the Younger)
“I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.” – Socrates
Education is what remains when we have forgotten all that we have been taught.
George Savile, Marquis of Halifax (1633-1695) English statesman and author.
The whole object of education is…to develop the mind. The mind should be a thing that works.Sherwood Anderson (1876–1941) American novelist and short story writer.
Education … has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading.
G. M. Trevelyan (1876-1962) British historian
You can lade a man up to th’ university, but ye can’t make him think.Finley Peter Dunne (1867—1936) U.S. author, writer and humorist.
Teachers open the door, you enter by yourselfChinese proverb.
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How To Become a Great Teacher
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I will present you some great articles where you could get inspired, as well as some Infographics who will guide you:
I don’t have that much time to update my Professional Development!?
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That is probably the phrase I hear the most and which is a big EXCUSEof NOT wanting the CHANGE, the change from OLD teaching methods to 21st Century Learning and Teaching!
First of ALL, let’s play a bit music about “Time” 😉
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SO, HOW can I manage BETTER my Time? Check the link below to find out FREE tools who will HELP you to manage your time! BUT don’t forget: some less on some tasks to get more for Education 😉
That’s a question which you have to ask yourself, read the following for more information: [Start Text from Are You Committed Enough to Invest in Yourself?] ===> A 9-to-5 career, if that is your model, is a recipe for career failure. <===
Because of the constant change that is swirling around all of us and our organizations, it does not matter where you are. We are all in the middle of the storm. And by the way, when I mention the negatives of being a 9-to-5 person, I am not talking about having to be a workaholic instead. I am talking about being committed to what YOU chose as a profession. [End Text from Are You Committed Enough to Invest in Yourself?]
That is ALSO again a phrase I hear too often and I am wondering that intelligent people as Teachers don’t know the solution, but anyway; have a look on above Topic “Time Management” to find out which FREE tools will help you to manage BETTER your time and I advise you to check the below “Infographic“:
Any Other Resources Than Mine To Make YOU An Overview?
Of course, I will provide YOU ALSO some other resources where YOU will be able to create yourselves a much deeper view of it! In this FREE course I give YOU what I think is the most important knowledge and to give YOU the ability to use YOUR critical thinking, I will provide to YOU the following links:
Most of us, so called OLDIES Teachers, I am one of them (BTW: I am 58 by writing this [2013]), have big problems to adapt to the NEW! I don’t know at ALL, why!? I am a Life Long Learner and so I am prepared for ALL of what is NEW and I don’t fear to learn more, actually I love to learn to give my BEST knowledge to my learners!
SO, this told, I invite YOU to read this psychological article, which I think is very important for YOU to understand a bit he “hidden” behind, do so please, thanks!
In preparation… Actually ONLY key phrases, will go deeper later…
1) Practice, NOT anymore ONLY Theory, but more Practice is a MUST in the 21st Century while using devices with a computer included!
2) Collaboration with the learners and ALSO with other teachers and principals is required!
3) Win-Win Situation between teachers and learners…
4) Less of Hierarchy, where it means the fear of some teachers to lose power over the students when being a coach…
5) Go away from Linear-Learning, NOT A-Z while using A-B-C-D-E…-Z, use A-Z-K-B and so on as with ICT one can combine different knowledge in one course by time…
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KEYWORDS FOR THIS FREE COURSE and what you will learn:
“Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it.”
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YOU will learn about WHAT YOU should know to become a great teacher:
===> All the possible quality resources where YOU can learn on YOUR OWN pace as a self-learner (autodidact), some ideas to think about for a BETTER and quickest way to get the teachers on the TOP of “Professional Development” Up-To-Date” Level! <===
AND: THE MOST IMPORTANT when working with ICT ===> basic knowledge of Cyber-Security!
Basics of Cyber-Security Practice, Proactive Thinking, Cyber-Hygiene, hygiene, Awareness, motivation, engagement, heroes, Security-Scouts, critical thinking, stay out of the box, adapt to new technologies, be aware of the malware, nobody is perfect, knowing the dangers and risks, responsibility, responsibility of School, responsibility of Education, responsibility of IT-Admin, responsibilities of BYOD users, Apple insecurity, Insecurity of Apps, Principals responsibilities, Mobile Device Management (MDM), Mobile Application Management (MAM), risks of BYOD, BYOD-Policy, IT-Security Infrastructure, Teacher-Parents Meeting, Cyberwar, Cyberwarfare, Government, Internet-Safety, IT-Security knowledge basics, UK govt encourages insurers to reward good IT security…
The weakest link in the Security Chain is the human! If you don’t respect certain advice you will get tricked by the Cyber-Criminals!
===> NOBODY is perfect! A security by 100% doesn’t exist! <===
===> “Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.” – Marie Curie – <===
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Protecting the organization’s network and its data from attack and misuse requires more than just a BYOD mentality; establishing secure, mobile-enabled operations requires a mobility access control program that includes corporate-provisioned, approved employee- and partner-owned devices as well as unmanaged guest devices.
L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness andSecurityEnhancementStructure).
The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).
This logo was created with Wordle. You are authorized to copy it by providing credits to this blog!
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Tip: NO TIME? Read ONLY the bold! Check out also my Wordle-Logo where the main keywords are present.
This blog aims to help people who start giving courses and/or would like to give courses one day, but others would certainly also find some new and interesting information to help improving their difficult tasks!
Introduction: What’s our role as Teachers, Educators, Instructors?
.The roles ofTeachers, Educators and Instructors are the following and especially in networked learning environments:
Sell your product, that’s your to learn Topic for the learners. Be a good salesman!
Educating the learners to Internet-Safety and to the basics of IT-Security is becoming a Must in 21st Century as we use e-Learning and “Bring Your Own Device” (Hashtag for Twitter = #BYOD)!
We should educate the learners to become good e-Citizen, Digital Citizen
===> The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. -Aristotle <===
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KEYWORDS FOR THIS FREE COURSE AND WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
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===> 21st Century Skills <===, Proactive Thinking, 21st Century Tools, motivation, engaging your learners (students), Learning to learn, respect, e-Citizen, Digital-Citizen, competencies, Professional Development (PD), Life-Long-Learning Strategies, Curation, How-To create a Book on WordPress, Critical Thinking, Quality Publishing, How-To use the 21st Century Tools, The SUCCES of our learners (students) depends on our knowledge, WE as teachers, professors, educators, instructors can always improve, WE as professionals are not allowed to have a “lazy bone attitude”, WE as professionals need to protect the reputation of our profession by providing quality content, Accessibility, Blogging, Online-Safety, Cyber-Hygiene, hygiene, Awareness, motivation, engagement, heroes, Security-Scouts, stay out of the box, adapt to new technologies, be aware of the malware, nobody is perfect, knowing the dangers and risks, responsibility, responsibility of School, responsibility of Education, responsibility of IT-Admin, responsibilities of BYOD users, Apple insecurity, Insecurity of Apps, Principals responsibilities, Mobile Device Management (MDM), Mobile Application Management (MAM), risks of BYOD, BYOD-Policy, IT-Security Infrastructure, Teacher-Parents Meeting, Cyberwar, Cyberwarfare, Government, Internet-Safety, IT-Security knowledge basics, UK govt encourages insurers to reward good IT security…
The weakest link in the Security Chain is the human! If you don’t respect certain advice you will get tricked by the Cyber-Criminals!
===> NOBODY is perfect! A security by 100% doesn’t exist! <===
===> “Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.” – Marie Curie – <===
===> The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. -Aristotle <===
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Protecting the organization’s network and its data from attack and misuse requires more than just a BYOD mentality; establishing secure, mobile-enabled operations requires a mobility access control program that includes corporate-provisioned, approved employee- and partner-owned devices as well as unmanaged guest devices.
Take your time, please! There are a lot of information for some to learn; take it easy 😉
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The Main Skills of a 21st Century Learner and Teacher
The quest to be a modern teacher or student is in full swing. First though, figure out if you have these important 21st century skills.
Develop proficiency and fluency with the tools of technology;
Build intentional cross-cultural connections and relationships with others so to pose and solve problems collaboratively and strengthen independent thought;
Design and share information for global communities to meet a variety of purposes;
Manage, analyze, and synthesize multiple streams of simultaneous information;
Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate multimedia texts;
Attend to the ethical responsibilities required by these complex environments.
First of ALL, please check these images as on my point of view they show BEST:
I think that “Is your Professional Development Up-To-Date?” is the first question which you need to ask yourselves! You can ONLY give BEST and QUALITY courses when knowing about the latest knowledge in a 21st Century Education. But HOW TO know this?
That’s a question I am getting asked very often from Teachers and Teacher-Students around the world through my Social Media presence on Twitter and I must say what I see on a global base doesn’t make me feel really happy! Lots of teachers around the globe are tweeting, which I encourage to do as much as possible by joining ALSO a so called “PLN“, a “Personal Learning Network“, but ONLY a few shows a real understanding, competencies, about what they are doing; even the so called “Edu-Stars” in certain countries!
Here is my selection of BEST articles and Curation on HOW TO find out:
How-To prepare for giving a good quality course? That’s a question I got asked often from teachers and students in real life as well on the Internet from my “Personal Learning Network” (Hashtag on Twitter = #PLN), so I decided to share my knowledge through this blog and also giving practicaladvice about my lived adventures of giving courses and my evolution for giving better quality courses… We all make mistakes (especially when newbies…) and we have to learn from them; learning by doing and also the will to make it more perfect by a “Life Long Learning-Strategy”!
This professional learning module is designed for those who are unfamiliar with the background to Assessment for Learning. It provides information which answers the key questions about Assessment for learning, proposes some key ideas and asks teachers to reflect on their own classroom practice.
First of all, for whatever writing stuff and teaching activities, make a serious preparation by “brainstorming“. Let it go, let it flow and don’t take care about the order how you write down the stuff who is in your brain; it must first come out and you can later review it and trying to organize it… Below, e.g. you will see my thoughts and “brainstorming” for a new online course, it’s handwritten and not yet completely organized, but it contains the main idea and keywords and that’s the most important anyway…
===> Update (August 05, 2012): I got told about my handwriting that it is :((( I agree, most of the keywords were written while walking and on places where I didn’t have a solid underground to write properly 😉 Check below and read more, so you will understand, but really read it all, my critics back, sorry 😉 <====
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So, once written down as handwritten, for me the best and quickest way, you should have a look on how you could create Topics out from your keywords and best is to create Topics with a question mark! Actually to create this blog ALL my ideas were first ONLY in my brain and I wanted to use the above handwritten “brainstorming” to explain, but then, in the middle of writing the blog I got new ideas, found new stuff through “curation” and “serendipity” gave me new “brain food” to continue with it… So I decided to show you also my handwritten “brainstorming” and “keywords” for this blog, see below”…
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You may even see some keywords represented twice, don’t worry; better bringing in something twice than not at all! Keep your concentration on what your brain tells you to bring out… PS: I hope you can read myhandwritten notes; I keep every time a paper sheet in the shirt pocket and so I write notes down where ever I get the ideas (in the bus, while walking in the nature…). No, no… The other place what you think, I don’t, at least one taboo place, LOL…
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1st Step: get organized
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.We were talking already about brainstorming by handwritten notices and curation, but I didn’t give you practical examples apart from the handwritten brainstorming, so let’s do this now… I will give you FREE resources which you can use for a best organization for your research, as you need to research first to find best adapted articles to give your courses:
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There are different ways to collect the necessary information such as collecting, curating information by your own but you can do this also on a collective way (might be good to do it together with your students/learners…):
By providing Topics as a question that will make people curious and it will allow you also to bring in your “critical thinking” which is very important for a quality course. Use also empathy and “emotional intelligence” to get your learners engaged in your course…
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What else should I consider?
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To make your course interesting to your learners propose them also to make curation about the Topic they will have to learn, so they will get involved into the learning process by researching their own related resources…
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“A picture is worth a thousand words”, so use pictures and multimedia to enhance the learning. Create a Pictures and multimedia library to enhance your worksheets and blogs… Make this library also available to your students and ask them also to help for building up that library…
Some learners would be curious and they might also want to read some books, so prepare also a list of books and eBooks which they could retrieve in the school library; here again: involve yourlearners also to help building up that list…
Let your learners blog about what they learned and let them Peer review their own blogs, read more here to understand the idea behind it Peer to Peer U – A New Model of Learning.
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Why connected learning?
Connected learning is a necessity in this digital age. More and more of our students learning, attention, and access to information is taking place outside of classrooms and through online networks and exchanges. Connected learning, however, can help them cultivate the skills necessary for fulfilling adult lives and careers and that formal instruction alone could not afford. Check complete article here Connected Learning.
For young kids choose first a safe blogging service where the blogs will not be public and where ONLY you as teacher, parents and kids have access; this to educate them first about blogging, Internet-Safety, e-Reputation, e-Citizenship, Digital-Citizenship, the dangers of Internet! Once they have the necessary skills you can switch over to the normal blogging services…
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Create your courses on a “living way“, make them interesting and alive to your learners, show a bit humor as well, show your own motivation and your passion for your job…
Summary: Matching your web site colors isn’t always as easy as it should be. Colors that look good to one person may look terrible to someone else. Color Match is a web site tool that helps you to easily find a perfect color scheme generated from a base color then displays the matching HTML color codes.
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You want certainly also to create some day online courses, aren’t you? Please check the links below who give you advice:
Accept critics from your learners, how? Create a multiple choice poll where your learners can vote about the quality of your course, accept their critics and discuss with them what about you could change, example below…
.The poll below is multiple choice, so go for it please to let me know your meaning about this blog. Thank you in advance…
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Don’t Forget The Copyright Laws…
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When working together with your students and when they are publishing content (even yourself…), please take care about the copyright, you are not allowed to copy&paste content from Internet and text from books from other persons without their knowledge and their permission…
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When writing a book, creating a presentation for your students and when teaching your students and asking them to make researches (on Internet and on books) you are not allowed to copy and paste from other web sites, nor copy from an existing book, be conscious and responsible about that, please… Respect other author’s property… Here below a non exhaustive list of laws in different countries…
Please help making this list bigger, when knowing other resources let me know and I will include them. Thanks in advance…
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Remember the 4 C’s
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The Four C’s: Making 21st Century Education Happen features educational leaders from Envision Schools (California), Catalina Foothills School District (Arizona) and Virginia Beach City Public Schools (Virginia). Each school profile focuses on a unique aspect of how 21st century skills can help prepare students for college or a career. This film highlights both the student perspective, as well as how educators are using the 4 C’s to create a collaborative environment. A presentation of EdLeader21 [edleader21.com] and the Pearson Foundation [pearsonfoundation.org].
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Is your blog, web site created for best accessibility?
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What is Accessibility?
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[Start Text from Online College] The worlds of web designand online learning are interconnected in many ways. As an instructional designer, I work to ensure that courses are effective not only in terms of online navigation and working links, but also in the presentation of meaningful content and interaction. Not all websites are created equal – some have much more helpful layouts and information than others – and it’s a similar situation with online courses. Just as web designers consider the “user experience” when creating new web pages, you should consider “learner experience” when creating new materials for your online course. [End Text from Online College]
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I suggest to use this tool to check for best Accessibility: “Wave” WAVE is a free web accessibility evaluation tool provided by WebAIM. It is used to aid humans in the web accessibility evaluation process. Rather than providing a complex technical report, WAVE shows the original web page with embedded icons and indicators that reveal the accessibility of that page.
One can respect best accessibility knowledge and still have forgotten something (so did I…), here a screenshot from my test of this blog, check below to find out. So I really love that free service as it gives me best results… But it’s ONLY a tool, there is still more to consider as giving a transcript for published videos as well as a header for videos, which I still have to include also, later…
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Click image to enlarge…
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Check the links on your publication(s)!
Once your blog and/or website published check ALL the inserted links to control if they are working correctly (broken link?) and ALSO if they are pointing to the RIGHT address! One wrong letter included in the URL could lead to direct YOUR visitors to a malicious website, take care!!! This is called “Typo Squatting” or “URL Hijacking“!
The bad guys created already domain names using these mistakes to infect your devices with malware!
Are you prepared in case of a break of Internet connection?
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It certainly happens once to each teacher, educator, course instructor that in the middle of the course the Internet connexion was broken, not a real fun when one based its course ONLY on Internet, isn’t it!? But when we are well prepared we can continue our course also without the Internet connexion if necessary! But, how?
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There are several freeware programs on the software market which allow us to copy complete websites with all the present linksinHTML format and we need then only to burn it to a CD or DVD. One of those programs is HTTrack which I have been using since long…
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[Start Text from HTTrack]
HTTrack is a free (GPL, libre/free software) and easy-to-use offline browser utility.
It allows you to download a World Wide Web site from the Internet to a local directory, building recursively all directories, getting HTML, images, and other files from the server to your computer. HTTrack arranges the original site’s relative link-structure. Simply open a page of the “mirrored” website in your browser, and you can browse the site from link to link, as if you were viewing it online. HTTrack can also update an existing mirrored site, and resume interrupted downloads. HTTrack is fully configurable, and has an integrated help system.
WinHTTrack is the Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Seven release of HTTrack, and WebHTTrack the Linux/Unix/BSD release. See the download page. [End Text from HTTrack]
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Once the whole web site with all the links and its content are downloaded you only need to burn it to a CD or DVD or maybe to a Memory-Stick, your choice…
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And what about IT-Security + Internet-Safety in a world of BYOD?
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I see strange words in that Topic there, what are You talking about there, could You explain more, please!? That is probably the questions you have, isn’t it? Most of teachers, educators and instructors are using Apple and Mac related devices and are not used to IT-Security, vulnerabilities and don’t even see the necessity of IT-Security in a world of “Bring Your Own Device“, called also “BYOD” and/or “BYOT” (Bring Your Own Technology)! But in 21st Century YOU should, remember your responsibility against your learners and the society, you are the ones who should give BEST education to your learners to prepare them for the working world and there IT-Security plays a BIG role!
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Click image above to access the FREE courses about basic IT-Security and “BYOD”…
The trend involves exploiting vulnerabilities that go as far back as 2009 in Office documents. Other cross-platform, third-party technologies favored by hackers include Java, Adobe PDF and Adobe Flash, Microsoft security researcher Methusela Cebrian Ferrer said Tuesday in the company’s Malware Protection Center blog. [End Text from InfoWorld]
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As this course is already very big, so I won’t bring in more information in here, instead check out please the following links where you will find the necessary information with Tips and advice:
By checking the above courses you will remark also that I used different “techniques” to present them, even that one is made with “cartoons”. Why? There are different types of learners and different age of learners, so one course could attract more attention to a certain targeted group as another one! Think about that also, when you don’t see that wanted success so show people these different styles of presentation and ask them which one they would prefer and if necessary adapt your courses to that style also. You will sometimes need to create courses in different presentation styles…
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Make a list of possible questions that learners could ask, be prepared!
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For new teachers this will be the hardest part, for “oldies” that would be easy anyway as they know already the questions which would get asked even before the course starts, experience… But anyway, I suggest to create a FAQ‘s list online, on the internal server and/or an a server where your blog is hosted. Why? You would have at any time and from anywhere where ever you are (and your learners) access to it to revise it, very important! I suggest also that you ask your students to help for creating such a FAQ’s list, engage them! They will learn to learn…
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Creating a FAQ’s list, but how? I am not used to that, what is your advice? There are different ways to create a FAQ’s list:
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You can do it by using tables (easy way even for non-programmers), check my example in French here please:
This list will be a great tool for yourself who saves you a lot of time when once created, show it to your learners and every time you would have access also to it: So once a question is asked, switch to that resource on Internet and/or on a local server…
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So, after evaluation of some Tweeps (Twitter user) of my “PLN“, here below my FAQ’s with questions and answers I got asked already…
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Q01: I looked over your blog, and it has a ton of info. A bit overwhelming for folks new to your site.
A01: Overwhelming, YES when one doesn’t know how to learn 😉 I suggest to read it like a book! Bookmark it and read it by chapters…
Learning-to-Learn
I consider later creating a WordPress-Book and bring in the whole in different chapters… But first the whole knowledge must come out to not lose the main ideas and then later it should be split into different chapters where one can even go deeper…
Here the link on How-To create a WordPress-Book for people who are interested…
Q02: between the lines a bit wider? I use an iPad…
A02: I use the free version of WordPress and I don’t have influence on how WordPress converts it to iPad visibility, sorry. On a Laptop it looks OK, as I every time take care to leave enough space between the lines and also between the paragraphs to make it an easy read…
Q03: Lot of stuff. I loved that role of educator. Handwritings little bit messy. You got point!
A03: Concerning the handwriting, YES it looks mess as I wrote most down by walking without having a solid underground to write, but ideas must come out when one gets them 😉
Q04: Concerning IT-Security, I use a Mac and other Apple devices, I don’t need to take care about IT-Security!
A04: Hahaha, a BIG laugh for that 😉 What’s about updating your knowledge base? Check here please to find out the necessity to take care about IT-Security:
Engage your learners into the learning process, How-To?
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Propose them also a Twitter Chat concerning a certain Topic of your courses, they will get engaged and motivated also. And they will get used to Social Media… But make a professional preparation for your Twitter Chat, I have seen strange “pseudo Chats” from big companies (I don’t name them…) and such Chat’s missed definitely their goal and didn’t reach the audience wanted…
My proposition for organizing an professional Twitter Chat is to follow #lrnchat, where here the link of their Blog who explains in detail on How-To http://lrnchat.wordpress.com/. Enjoy to follow this Twitter Chat, you will learn a lot through that Chat and about how to run a Twitter Chat, BEST Practice 😉
Why all these mentioned topics and why is this blog so big?
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Personally I want that my learners will get the best education and that they also have a certain freedom of working themselves for their own knowledge acquisition.
Getting learners engaged in a course makes learning more valuable for them, they will learn even more as you might realize…
By providing a blog with a lot of information it’s like a “book“, bookmark it and find your resources which you need also later; ONLY one address.
In 21st Century we need to have a lot of digital knowledge and digital skills…
Creating a quality course needs a lot of things to think about…
Use your blog to create a real website if there are a lot of information to bring over, like I do with most of my blogs… Once the whole information brought down in the blog you can later create small blogs who include ONLY a part of the published knowledge and you can even create a book with WordPress where you bring in the different chapters. This is also possible with WordPress, check here: Write a Book
Thus meaning, create first your main blog (as I did here…) and later on you create the chapters as a new blog (a short one…) and create then a “WordPress Book” where you detail the single chapters mentioned in your main blog…
You may have a look here to see how YOU can use a WordPress-Book as I did it with my FREE courses about IT-Security in French already http://gustmeesfr.wordpress.com/
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Final word: did YOU find out where YOU have to improve!?
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BTW: I learned a lot while creating this blog (mostly a website now…) and I know that myself I have to improve, and YOU!?Life Long Learning that’s what ALL of us who are involved in Education need to do, isn’t it!? I created this blog to give some guidelines to young teachers and educators which whom I am in contact in real world as well as on Internet and who asked me what is best preparation for a giving quality course… As I gave courses for eight (8) years to youth, primary schools, teachers from primary schools and mostly to adult and seniors, so this above is my experience and also my learned while preparing this blog.
Advice: What you should know absolutely is when giving courses to adults and seniors is that they are not anymore used to learn, the brain is not anymore that much ready to accept new “input” to learn, they don’t have anymore practice with learning! They are out of the learning process and their brain is more directed to “profit”, as they are in the working world 😉 So use, the “profit” psychological to get them involved with pleasure again to learn. My own experience has shown me that you will need about +/- 4-6 hours before you get them used again to learn really, before the brain switches to “back to school“!
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I will accept also any constructive critics as also some more resources from you dear reader, nobody is perfect, so you might have more knowledge as I have… I will update this blog when getting new knowledge and also when getting new valuable resources from my readers and they will get mentioned as well in this blog then (if wished so)…
And don’t forget it, been involved in Education as a teacher, educator, instructor is not only a job! It’s a passion, love it and share your motivation with your learners…
Check my #curation to find best articles, blogs and courses about #education #itsecurity #CyberSecurity #EdCollCoach #GlobalEDU #cyberbullying, #AR #RA #augmentedreality #health #science #QR #qrcodes in EN, FR, DE…
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I am a pioneer and was always one of the first to try out NEW stuff since my young age, very 
===> 21st Century Skills <===, Proactive Thinking, 21st Century Tools, motivation, engaging your learners (students), Learning to learn, respect, e-Citizen, Digital-Citizen, competencies, Professional Development (PD), Life-Long-Learning Strategies, Curation, How-To create a Book on WordPress, Critical Thinking, Quality Publishing, How-To use the 21st Century Tools, The SUCCES of our learners (students) depends on our knowledge, WE as teachers, professors, educators, instructors can always improve, WE as professionals are not allowed to have a “lazy bone attitude”, WE as professionals need to protect the reputation of our profession by providing quality content, Accessibility, Blogging, Online-Safety, Cyber-Hygiene, hygiene, Awareness, motivation, engagement, heroes, Security-Scouts, stay out of the box, adapt to new technologies, be aware of the malware, nobody is perfect, knowing the dangers and risks, responsibility, responsibility of School, responsibility of Education, responsibility of IT-Admin, responsibilities of BYOD users, Apple insecurity, Insecurity of Apps, Principals responsibilities, Mobile Device Management (MDM), Mobile Application Management (MAM), risks of BYOD, BYOD-Policy, IT-Security Infrastructure, Teacher-Parents Meeting, Cyberwar, Cyberwarfare, Government, Internet-Safety, IT-Security knowledge basics, UK govt encourages insurers to reward good IT security…
EDU: Digital CitiZENship, CyberSecurity, eSkills, Modern EDU by Gust MEES 