Leading and Learning in the 21st Century

Starting this blog has lead me to reflect on the different ways we learn and lead learning in the 21st century.  When I began teaching over 25 years ago, I could choose to attend after school workshops, full day workshops with supply coverage or I could attend night classes or summer courses at the local university.  My co-learners were people from my own board and the instructors were often from our board as well.  If you were really fortunate, you might have funding from your board or your union to attend a conference off site with educators from other boards.

How things have changed!  Last night I was online doing a group presentation with three colleagues from my Doctorate of Education program at Western University.  One of my colleagues teaches in Toronto, one in Tanzania and one in the United Arab Emirates.   We meet via Skype several times and used Google Docs to work on our assignment.  Unfortunately for them, we were presenting at 8:30 pm EST which was 4:30 am for one person and 3:30 am for another.  I guess I can't complain about being tired after work and having to present when they both had to set the alarm and get up in the wee hours of the morning to attend.

All the comforts of home while attending a live streamed meeting for the 2015 EdD class.  

Teaching online for Queens University also allows me to connect with educators from across the province of Ontario and beyond.  It's been great to get the perspective of teachers in IB programs around the globe, teachers working at remote Northern villages, teachers in small rural schools and teachers with diverse populations in urban schools.  Sometimes I think I learn more by teaching courses than the students!