50th Episode - I Wish I Knew EDU learning

On Monday, my 50th episode of the I Wish I Knew EDU podcast goes live.  I wanted to celebrate this milestone with a special episode. The format of the show is generally learning about the great things my guests are involved with and then I ask them about some of those "I Wish I Knew" moments in their career.  For the 50th Episode I decided to turn the tables and I asked first year teacher and veteran podcaster, Sarah Anne Lalonde, to take the mic and ask me some of those same questions.  It's a fun episode and I hope you will give it a listen at www.voiced.ca once it drops on Monday Feb. 11/19.  My profound thanks to Sarah for being a part of the episode and for so expertly taking the reins.

My first episode was broadcast on www.voiced.ca February 5th, 2018. So - I've also hit my 1st Podcast-aversary.  A year and 50 episodes into my podcasting journey seems like a good time to reflect on some of my learning. 




The ask is the hardest part.
Deciding to do a podcast, to make that leap and try something new is always challenging.  I'll admit to having some butterflies in my stomach as I got my head around what my format would be and the logistics of getting started.  When the time came to ask a guest to join me it was like a plague of locusts had taken up residence in my gut.  My first episode guest, TVDSB administrator, Heather Jakobi, was so great about just making the leap with me.  When I listen to this episode now, I cringe at my tech errors and I can hear my own nervousness come through, but the sharing and learning is just as great in that recording as in my most recent one.  "The ask" continues to be the toughest aspect of podcasting for me.  Those locusts are still jumping around as I hit send on a request. Why would these intelligent, busy, and amazing Educators want to give up their time to talk to me?  And let me record it.  And then let me broadcast it.  I'm still not sure why they do, but I am so grateful to them for saying yes.  I've had a few turn me down, most often because they are uncomfortable with the medium, but so many more have been quick to respond and jump in.  And I love the guests who have told me "I've never done this before, but it sounds fun - let's do it."  To all of my first 50 guests, my heartfelt thanks for joining me on the journey.

Being organised is helpful
I've tried to release one episode a week.  To do that, work full time and still spend time with my family can get a bit frantic.  Folks who know me will likely agree when I say I'm pretty organised.  This has helped.  When I know things are going to be hectic, like September and June, I record a few episodes in advance and then hold back releasing them in those hectic times.  It's certainly a lot easier to record a few extra episodes in August (and easier to book times to record with guests) when I'm not working every day.  Having a PLN that is always willing to help is a great asset too.  I've had times when a guest has had to cancel or reschedule and my PLN has always been great about responding to a request for a guest with very little notice.  Those have been some of the best and most enjoyable episodes to do.  It's like chatting with a friend.

There are going to be technology issues - Just breathe!
Yep, things are going to go wrong.  And they did.  They continue to do so.  Don't panic.  Just breathe.. and if you can't figure it out yourself, ask for help!  Stephen Hurley (the godfather of voicEdRadio) was and continues to be my best resource for tech issues.  Mind you, he did give me the push to get into this.   I think the first time I experienced audio drift I started to hyperventilate.  Then there was the time I thought I lost the feed from my guest in Australia.  Imagine my horror!  This guest, across the world, has just spent an hour recording with me - across busy schedules and a pile of time zones, and I've lost the audio!  No matter what the problem, Stephen was very patient and helped fix my tech issues while I was learning how to fix them myself.   In times of trouble, I've reached out to other podcasters for help and they have never let me down.  Noa Daniel, your Google Hangout with me to show me a few Garage Band tricks made a profound impact on my editing skills!  So many people I have never even met before, have answered my questions.  Those of you who've helped me over this first year... a thousand times, Thank you!

Can I keep up the pace?
When I started last February, I set myself a goal of one Episode a week.  If you count the live episodes, which I didn't include in my tally, I'm over 50 for the year.  So, goal met.  Can I keep up the pace going forward?  I've had discussions with guests and other podcasters about the work that goes into a 30 minute to an hour podcast.  There's the time spent asking and connecting with guests.  I always like to do a little research.  My episodes last about 30-45 minutes or longer, so there is that recording time.  As I just mentioned, something often goes wrong and the episode needs some editing.  I don't do a lot of post production work and I try only to edit for tech issues.  I want the authentic voice of my guest to be heard, and I don't want to edit that voice out because of a time issue. Once the issue drops, I promote it via Social Media.  My guests have given so generously of their time, I feel I owe it to them to promote the Episode and get their voice heard.  So yes, podcasting has been a fairly large time commitment. It has certainly reduced the amount of blogging I am able to do.  It's also a heck of a lot more interesting and fun than housework! At this point, I'd like to try to keep close to the one a week goal.  But, I may be a bit easier on myself than I was in the first year.

The www.voiced.ca Community
Being a part of this community of EDU-podcasters has been - I don't even know how to put it into words - Supercalifragilisticexpealidoucius?   The support, the sharing, the live broadcasts, guesting on each others shows, the goofy gifs and the 'all in good fun' teasing on Twitter have been a unexpected but wonderful gift. These are great Educators and great people.  I'm honoured to be amongst them.

I'm listening...
In the 50th Episode, Sarah and I talk about our listening skills.  I think that's one of the intangible benefits of podcasting.  I'm a much better listener than I was a year ago and not just when I'm podcasting.  As the year has progressed, I find myself really listening deeply to what my guests are saying.  I'm not so worried about the next question, or getting to a certain topic before the time is up.  I'm really processing what they are saying and reflecting on it, even after our recording time is up.  I'm finding myself listening better to my Students and Colleagues as well.  And that is a good thing.

From the very impetus of the idea of this podcast, my goal has been to highlight and share the great things Teachers have been doing and learning.  I also wanted to share those things we don't learn in our Teacher Training - but sometimes learn the hard way as we navigate our educational careers.  By sharing these things we all learn and maybe save someone from making some of our own mistakes.  The show is not about me (OK, maybe episode 50 is), it's about all my wonderful guests.  I thank you for joining me as a guest, and I thank everyone who has listened this year.

I think I'll end this post like I end each episode, by saying that I really do hope to be talking to you soon on I Wish I Knew EDU, where we are looking back, and learning forward.

There Are No Rules in Blogging

What makes a good blog post?  I'm not sure I have the answer to this one.

I was podcasting with Sean Gaillard recently and we talked a bit about this.  I asked him what made him hit publish and were there blogs he started but then abandoned? He said once he started a post, he generally worked at it and hit publish, rarely abandoning an idea.  He then turned the question back on me and asked what my response to the same question would be.  I decided I needed to reflect more on this, as I have abandoned posts I've started before.  He challenged me to blog about that.  Well, Sean, here is what I've come up with...

If you do a search for writing a good post, there is plenty of advice out there.  Most of these Blog-sages" look something like this.   They all talk about having a catchy title, tailoring your post to a specific audience, adding in visuals, keep the post short and sweet and end with a call to action.  I must admit, until today, I haven't really considered this.  I like a catchy title, but I don't always come up with one.  I tend to keep my topics centered around education, but I can meander too.  I often ask a few questions at the end, but more to encourage some feedback, than a call to action.

If I think about blogs that I enjoy reading, I don't think they follow all of these rules or sometimes any of them.  They may be about teaching, but often they are not.  Sometimes I interpret them through my educator's lens, but sometimes they are just fun.  I love Doug Peterson's weekly post "Whatever happened to" - it often brings back memories of my childhood or forgotten technology.   Some blogs I enjoy are long, some are just a paragraph.  Debbie Donksy's  blog is always one that challenges me to think deeper or in a new direction about something, but they are generally much longer than one paragraph.  David Carruthers  has a great blog that generally is short and to the point - but so powerful.  Heidi Solway has a personal blog that always makes me laugh.  And Sean Gaillard's posts almost always bring up a Beatles reference that make me start to sing along.

I guess I follow the "there are no rules in blogging" maxim, whether it's one I'm reading, or one I'm writing.

So, what prompts me to hit post?  Hard to say.  Sometimes I am driving home from work and reflecting on something that's gone well, something that's gone horribly wrong or just something I'm thinking about.  Let me tell you...I've written some pretty amazing posts in my head on that drive home.  Then I sit down at the computer and it all just spills out of me like a tap has been turned on.  Or, I sit down at the computer and... nothing.  The idea that formed on the drive home just doesn't work when I try to put it to paper.  Maybe it's because I've had too much time to think about it, and talked myself out of it.  Maybe the fire I felt on the drive home has been extinguished by the time I get home, or I get sidetracked by some other chore or some other idea.  Perhaps that is a post that just wasn't meant to be.  I still save the false starts.  Maybe they are an idea that needs more time to become fully formed.  Eventually, I come back to them with a clearer idea of what I'm trying to share and finish the post.  Maybe I don't go back to that original idea at all and go on to something new.

A while back, I saw a tweet that said "podcasting is the new blogging."  For me this is not the case.  At least with my I Wish I Knew EDU podcast it isn't.  The podcast is a chance for me to talk to other Educators, get them to share the great things they are doing and share some of the wisdom that they've gained in the classroom with new and experienced Teachers.  It's not about me.  I may be directing the questions and reflecting on what they share, but the podcast is about them.  Certainly, talking to these folks has lead me to blog (like right now), but it really isn't the same as blogging.

Blogging comes from inside my head and heart.  It is less in the moment and more reflective.  I don't spend a lot of time writing it, but I may spend a bit of time thinking about it before I actively start typing it out.  I've spent a few weeks thinking about this post.  But, I'm writing it down in one sitting and will likely hit post once I've read it over once and checked it for spelling mistakes (undoubtedly missing a few).  Once I've got the idea out of me and digitized, I need to set it free by hitting publish.

I guess if I'm going to sum up my definition of a good blog post, it would not be about the rules.  A good blog post, whoever writes it, comes from inside the writer.  It's real.  It's passionate.  It gets me thinking, gives me something new to try in the classroom, makes me laugh or it chokes me up a bit.

My blog posts aren't going to always connect with every reader. That's cool.  Maybe this one hasn't connected with you - although if you've read this far... 😉




Your thoughts on what makes you hit publish, or what makes a good blog post?  Drop them in the comment box below.

#edCampLdn Reflections

So...it's over.  

Ed Camp London has come and gone.  I'm feeling like Christmas Day at about 9 pm.  All the excitement is over, the presents are opened, the huge meal it took days to prepare has been devoured, the guests have all gone home and I'm feeling very full (but instead of a full tummy, it's my brain that is experiencing the turkey sweats) and a little sad that it's all over.   Time to chill, review the day, and perhaps squeak in a nap before supper (I told you, my brain is tired!).

If you have never been to an Ed Camp before (like me!), it is a workshop/conference with no set agenda.  As you arrive, you fill out sticky notes of things you would like to learn about, or would be willing to share about.  The organizers then start to build sessions around common themes.  Nobody actually presents.  You gather and discuss these topics.  You share ideas.  Have a question?  Someone in the room may be able to answer it - or may ask you another question.  It's some pretty rich discussion and an amazing environment to learn in.  This may have been my first EdCamp - but it sure won't be my last!

The Day began with some Ignite talks.  That's where the speakers get a set time and a slide show that advances every few seconds automatically, to share a message with the attendees.  Jay Dubois gave his very first Ignite about trying new things - encouraging us to write in pen so we can't change our mind and erase our good intentions.  Jen Giffen spoke about moving away from the game of school and encouraging our Students to create, not imitate.  Melanie Mulcaster talked about the vision behind great makerspaces.  Derek Tangredi and his former student, Valentina, talked about teachers making a difference by the headlines that don't happen, the importance of empathy, and that students don't need Teachers to be perfect, they just need us to care.  David Carruthers reminded us not to tone it down - not to let the naysayers dim our light.  I love watching Ignite talks.  They don't just fire you up for the rest of the day - they leave you with lots to think about going forward.

I was a part of a small but might session on Coding with Derek Tangredi, his former student Valentina, Doug Peterson, Luigi @TeachCodeCreate (sorry Luigi, I forget your last name!), Melanie Mulcaster and a few others and was blown away by some of the new things discussed.  I picked up some new coding sites too - I can't wait to try Codemoji.com with my students!  Doug brought up an important point as well - that coding is not always about training coders - that it is also about the logic, computational skills and type of thinking that Students are doing when they learn to code.  And Luigi - who works for the Boston Celtics by the way - where the heck would I ever meet someone who does what he does and be able to learn some of the amazing applications coding has in the real world, and the way he is able to condense that into some real world applications for students. 

Then I went to the makerspace at Sir Arthur Currie PS (and thanks to Principal Sue Bruyns for hosting this event in her amazing new building!) and played with some Ozobots and Blue Bots.  Luigi and Melanie were there again - and just listening to how they were working out a lesson using several ozobots and applying it to solving big city traffic issues was like watching master coding teachers at work.  And I will also admit - the bots are just fun to play with too.

After lunch I got to spend an hour discussing FlipGrid and Podcasting with a great group of educators, but for me a real highlight was getting to spend the hour just chatting with Jen Giffen about these subjects (I but a lowly apprentice to the great master) - who I am in awe of.  We also migrated into the power of Twitter for learning, ideas and your PLN. 

My last session was on Global Competencies.  I must apologize to my fellow attendies - my cold medication was wearing off and I was going a bit in and out of focus on this one.  But it was great to have a Student with us and sharing her insights on empathy and communication.

Another great thing about being a part of Ed Camp (as Dawn Telfer and I discussed) is that there are really only positive, innovative, on the band wagon, driving the train folks in attendance.  You would be hard pressed to find a safer environment to get your ed-tech or edu-geek on.  Those who would tell you to "dial it down" or "stop making the rest of us look bad" - are not getting up on a Saturday morning for an event like this.  And some folks, like Jen Giffen and Doug Peterson had pretty long drives to get here.  We were all there because we wanted to be.  We all wanted to learn and we all wanted to share.  Pretty amazing.

Really, though, I think the real power of EdCamp is the connections you make and the conversations you have.  I got to meet Derek Tangredi, Cliff Kraeker, Jay Dubois, Peter McAsh, Andrew Forgrave, Sue Bruyns, Jen Artan, and Diana Hughes, IRL (aka in real life) for the first time.  It is always cool to meet the folks you count as part of your PLN, or chat with online.  I even recruited a few of these folks for future "I Wish I Knew EDU" podcasts.  (You know who you are and thanks for taking the leap and saying yes to podcasting with me!  If you are reading this and would like to make that leap - DM me - I'd love to chat with you!).  It's also a great place to chat with folks you don't get to see much, but whose input you value greatly.  I caught up with Doug Peterson, Melanie Mulcaster, Jen Giffen, Dawn Telfer, David Carruthers, and Heidi Solway, to name a few.  I also met a lot fascinating people who I have added to my PLN.

Thanks to the EdCamp London organizers (my apologies if I have missed anyone): Sue Bruyns, David Carruthers, Heidi Solway, Jay Dubois, Dawn Telfer, Diana Hughes.  You put a lot of hours into a fantastic event and I thank you.  If you were there or have been to EdCamp before, please feel free to share some of your reflections in my comments section below.  I'm always interested in what you have to share.  But right now, I'm going to try and sneak that 15 minute cat nap in.  My brain is Full!

I'm a Podcaster!

Image from Flickr

On Monday February 5th, 2018, I became a Podcaster.  Wowza!  Did that really just happen?  If you had told me a year ago I would be doing a podcast, I would have laughed at you.  I only started blogging just over a year ago...the thought of a Podcast would have been much too daunting to even contemplate.

I have to thank Stephen Hurley for giving me the push I needed to do this.  He planted the idea in November when he talked to me about how I might be a creator of content for VoiceEdRadio.  I had to do some reflecting and thinking about what I would want to talk to other teachers about.  I let it percolate for a bit.  I needed to get my head around:  (a.)  Actually confronting my fear about it and
(b.) What I would want my podcast to be about?  After some reflection, I had my concept, but still a lot of fear.  I messaged Stephen that I thought I might have a concept for a podcast and would he still be interested in putting it on VociEdRadio?  He was putting together a radiothon for VoiceEd's first anniversary on Saturday and suggested I come on the live broadcast and sort of workshop the idea with some of the VociEd community.

OK - so now I'm going to be on a live broadcast, talking about an idea for something I'm feeling both excited and terrified about - with folks who are seasoned Podcasters - folks whose podcasts I have listened to and admired, and let's be honest, been in awe of.  Bless the VoicEdRadio family - they could not have been more supportive of the idea - both the folks who were chatting with me live, and those who were responding on Twitter while we were broadcasting.  My thanks to all of you - especially Stephen, Chris Cuff, Brad Shreffler, Sarah Anne Lalonde, Shane of theedpodcast, Leanne Hansen and Noa Daniels.  Your words of encouragement gave me the boost I needed to get this thing done.  I was DM'ing with Noa after the broadcast and she shared some words with me that Derek Rhodenizer had given her about the fear of taking a risk: "take the leap and build wings on the way."  Well said.

I had mentioned to a colleague that I was contemplating doing this.  I always enjoy "talking teaching" with Heather Jacobi and thought if I was going to do this, she would be the perfect first guest.  She didn't hesitate for a second, bless her!  With my live radio broadcast experience from the weekend still fresh, I decided to leap before I thought/talked myself out of doing it.  She was available after school Monday - so we sat down and got it done.  She was the perfect first guest too - it was just two gals talking teaching.

I've already learned a few things about podcasting:
1.  Use the paid version of Zencastr - you get more postproduction options.
2.  Don't worry about the technical aspects during recording - stay focused on the conversation and let the magic happen.
3.  The hardest part about podcasting is deciding to do it and clicking record.

Now that the deed is done and I have pushed send to VoicEdRadio, I really do feel like I have sprouted wings and could actually fly.  Is it the world's best podcast?  Nope.  But, I confronted my fear and became a content creator, not just a consumer.  I'm feeling an adrenaline rush - a bit of a high really.  And it feels good.

Blogger's/Podcaster's Note:
My podcast is called "I Wish I Knew - EDU" and the concept is talking to experienced educators about the things they wish they knew when they started teaching.   If you want to hear Episode 1 with Heather Jacobi - check it out on Soundcloud by clicking this link or clicking the play button below.  I welcome your comments on how I can improve and expand it.  I'm recording Episode 2 this weekend - so if you enjoy Episode 1, watch for my next podcast when I talk to T. Scott.




This post was featured on VoicEdRadio.ca's "This Week in Ontario Edublogs" on February 28, 2018.  Click on this link if you would like to hear the discussion between Doug Peterson and Stephen Hurley.