Courtesy of Maddie, @HallMiddle 8th grader
We often talk about influence as a commodity – something to be “peddled.” People make careers out of influencing others (e.g. lobbyists), yet the concept of “influence” can also have an unsavory undertone. Influence as a contagion, something difficult to contain once let out into the open; an idea or mentality (or substance) that sullies something pure.
What if we took more time to think and talk about influence as a spirit of connection, a frame of mind – one that encourages us to both share ideas with others (and perhaps see them take root) and open ourselves up to what other people think and believe (and to feel those ideas take root in us)? (more…)
For connected educators, it seems like there is a never-ending flow of new ideas. From education websites and blogs to the ‘drinking from the firehose’ experience of trying to keep up with all things education on Twitter, you can find great ideas any way you turn. How do you take those ideas and make them into reality?
Monday: Share an idea you recently implemented in your school.
Tuesday: What are your favorite sources for new ideas?
Wednesday: How do you manage the flow of ideas?
Thursday: Share an idea you are working on now. How are you moving from idea to reality?
Friday: How can we support each other and our colleagues to implement new ideas?
With everyone sharing their ideas you may pick up some new ones of your own. Hopefully, it’s worth the risk.