Robert Dillon - Redesigning Learning Spaces

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My best friend is a high school math teacher. When I started working with Peter on the Corwin Connected Educators series, I excitedly told her about the power of using social media to connect with other educators. I passed on what I learned from the authors in this series: that the greatest resource educators have is each other. At a conference, she heard Jennie Magiera speak and finally made the leap to getting on Twitter. Although I wasnt sure she would continue tweeting, she did, and even joined Twitter chats like #connectedtl and #slowmathchat. A few days later, she texted me saying, I seriously cannot thank you enough. You have changed my life.

Being connected seems deceptively simple: Just get on Twitter, right? But thats really not enough. For those who truly embrace connectedness, its a lifestyle change, an openness to sharing and learning in an entirely new environment. Were seeing the impact of this shift in mindset worldwide. Policies are changing, new jobs in education are being created, hitherto impossible collaborations are happening, pedagogy is evolving, and theres a heightened awareness of each persons individual impact. All of these changes are explored in the Connected Educators series.

While you can see the full list of books on the series page, weve introduced several new books to the series; they published in the fall of 2015 and spring of 2016. These books each contribute something unique and necessary not only for educators who are new to the world of connected education but also for those who have been immersed in it for some time.

Tom Whitby, coauthor of The Relevant Educator, has brought together a group of experienced connected educators in his new book, The Educators Guide to Creating Connections. Contributors Pam Moran, George Couros, Kyle Pace, Adam Bellow, Lisa Nielsen, Kristen Swanson, Steven Anderson, and Shannon McClintock Miller discuss the ways that connectedness has impacted them and the benefits it can have for all educatorspolicy makers, school and district leaders, and teachers.

While all connected educators are evangelists for being connected, connectedness does not necessarily prevent common problems, such as isolation in leadership. In Breaking Out of Isolation, Spike Cook, Jessica Johnson, and Theresa Stager explain how connectedness can alleviate the loneliness leaders can feel in their position and also, when used effectively, help leaders maintain balance in their lives and stay motivated.