Recently, my role at school was changed, and I was able to participate in #edchat for the first time. I was excited...but completely overwhelmed. I would hop into the stream and hop out throughout the hour the first time I participated. Now, when I can join the chat, I normally hang in there for the whole hour, unless I have more pressing matters on my desk.
But...sometimes...I get frustrated. Sometimes it feels like we keep saying the same thing. Sometimes I feel that I am preaching to the choir, or sitting in the choir being preached at. It's good to have affirmation, but we all think the same way (or at least similarly). After all, we're all on Twitter... we are a demographic unto ourselves. Chances are we like the way we teach and aren't fond of the way they teach. We have no dissenting opinions because we are using a platform the dissenters wouldn't dream of using.
Is this bad? Not really, but instead of patting each other on the backs and pointing our fingers at them, I'm looking for something more concrete.
That's why I'm proposing a new hashtag. #edtechex. It stands for "educational technology examples" and I'm using it as a place to showcase excellent examples of technology use in schools. It can be an app that you enjoyed, projects your students did, helping a colleague take a step toward tech integration awesomeness, or an article you read that you really envied.
Personally, I'm interested in seeing great things that have grown out of your research, hard work, and student innovation. Since you're online, I'm already guessing you lean toward technology integration, project-based learning, constructivism, and more progressive educational thinking. Great. Now, let's look at the concrete results of what you're doing out there.
Will I continue with #edchat? Of course. I'm still connecting with great educators and having interesting discussions, but let's get our hands dirty together. Shall we?
Will you join the conversation with me in the comment box or on Twitter at #edtechex?
