This document provides information to help educators become more connected online. It discusses creating accounts on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to build a personal learning network. It also covers using blogs, ePortfolios and online profiles to showcase work. Tips are provided on finding and organizing resources online as well as doing self-directed professional development through online communities. The goal is to help educators embrace new technologies to connect and collaborate with other educators.

1. “Become a
„Connected‟ Educator”
Description: Increase (or
develop) your online presence. I
will help you create a PLN of
educators that will furnish you
with resources and advice. We
will create accounts and then
explore:
Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, ePortf
olios, online business
cards, and do-it-yourself
professional development.
Valerie R. Burton
@MsBisOnline
Connected
Educators

2. How do I learn?
I am contact with
people who tweet,
blog, discuss and
share resources,
activities and
educational news
bits.

3. What is a
Connected
Educator?
A teacher who
recognizes and
embraces the new and
emerging web
technologies that
connect us all in ways
never before possible.
Networking

4. How can I
use ePortfolios to
document and
provide evidence of
what you do in the
classroom?

5. How can you connect with
other educators?
Find
Mentor
s
Take
classes
Chat
and
Collaborate
Be a
Mentor
Read
and
Respond

6. I am stillllll
figuring
everything
out.

7. Let me help you to sort it all out
Twitter
Facebook
Do It Yourself
Professional
Development

9. It’s okay
if you
don’t get
it now.
You will
understan
d more
when you
PLAY!!

10. If you DO get
it, think
about the
ideas and
resources
that you want
to share.

11. Why would I
ever post
anything on
Twitter?

13. Not Familiar - 1
not familiar with tool, no knowledge
Beginning - 2
beginning awareness, know what it is/haven't used it,
limited knowledge
Developing – 3
awareness, somewhat experienced and worked with it a
few times, somewhat knowledgeable
Proficient - 4
active awareness, experienced and proficient user, very
knowledgeable
Transformative - 5
flexible awareness, the integration of multiple tools at a
high level of functionality

16. Microblogging
at its finest
Twitter allows you to send out
quick, brief messages from your
computer or mobile device.
● Twitter’s “tweets” are microposts of a
maximum of 140 characters.
● Tweets may contain links videos and
photos to stay within the character
limits.
● Today you will create an account (if
needed) and follow teachers within
your discipline.
● Click here for your Twitter Assignment
Twitter

17. Faceboo
k
friends
really
want to
know
what I

19. Not Familiar - 1
not familiar with tool, no knowledge
Beginning - 2
beginning awareness, know what it is/haven't used it,
limited knowledge
Developing – 3
awareness, somewhat experienced and worked with it a
few times, somewhat knowledgeable
Proficient - 4
active awareness, experienced and proficient user, very
knowledgeable
Transformative - 5
flexible awareness, the integration of multiple tools at a
high level of functionality

22. Posting for
“your friends”
1. Post a “Tool of the Week” or
“Article of the Week” on your
page
2. Use the “Events” feature of
Facebook to invite students or
teachers to participate in events
3. Use Facebook to remind
everyone of upcoming deadlines
and due dates for class/school
goals Communicate with
students, parents, teachers or
administrators
4. Click here for our Facebook
Notes.

23. Blogging
is only
done by
paid
writers.

25. Not Familiar - 1
not familiar with tool, no knowledge
Beginning - 2
beginning awareness, know what it is/haven't used
it, limited knowledge
Developing – 3
awareness, somewhat experienced and worked with it a
few times, somewhat knowledgeable
Proficient - 4
active awareness, experienced and proficient user, very
knowledgeable
Transformative - 5
flexible awareness, the integration of multiple tools at a
high level of functionality

27. http://2blog2share2learn.edublogs.org/

28. http://msbisonline.edublogs.org/

29. Edublogs supports
Educational Bloggers.
One of the best ways to build your
personal learning network is to become
a blogger and use your blog to network
with others who write and share online.
● Follow the easy steps in this teacher
challenge activity from Sue Waters. The
Teacher Challenge involves free 30 day
professional development challenges
where participants are stepped through
weekly tasks.
● She’s got tips on choosing a name,
setting up your blog, and customizing a
theme.
● Here is a link to a video that helps with
creating first blog post. Blogs in plain
English.
● Click here for our Blogging Notes

30. How do I
corral and
display my
digital
footprints?

32. Not Familiar - 1
not familiar with tool, no knowledge
Beginning - 2
beginning awareness, know what it is/haven't used
it, limited knowledge
Developing – 3
awareness, somewhat experienced and worked with it a
few times, somewhat knowledgeable
Proficient - 4
active awareness, experienced and proficient user, very
knowledgeable
Transformative - 5
flexible awareness, the integration of multiple tools at a
high level of functionality

35. Display Your Work
Gather your sites
together, package them and make
them look pretty
● Online ePortfolios allow you to
showcase your best practices.
● With ePortfolios you can house your
lesson plans, materials, curriculum
guides and share them with
colleagues
● Online business cards supply people
with your worksites. These can
either be sites for your PLN or Class
Sites.
● Click here for my Online Profile
notes

36. What do I
do with
the ideas
that I
find
online?

38. Not Familiar - 1
not familiar with tool, no knowledge
Beginning - 2
beginning awareness, know what it is/haven't used
it, limited knowledge
Developing – 3
awareness, somewhat experienced and worked with it a
few times, somewhat knowledgeable
Proficient - 4
active awareness, experienced and proficient user, very
knowledgeable
Transformative - 5
flexible awareness, the integration of multiple tools at a
high level of functionality

39. You have lots of
resources…. What now?
Use a variety of sites to help you
organize your documents, links and
other resources.
● Delicious.com - to collect and organize
bookmarks
● Dropbox.com/ - to store documents
● PBWorks.com - to create an online file
cabinet
● Evernote.com - to collect, store and
organize resources
● Click here for our notes

41. Not Familiar - 1
not familiar with tool, no knowledge
Beginning - 2
beginning awareness, know what it is/haven't used
it, limited knowledge
Developing – 3
awareness, somewhat experienced and worked with it a
few times, somewhat knowledgeable
Proficient - 4
active awareness, experienced and proficient user, very
knowledgeable
Transformative - 5
flexible awareness, the integration of multiple tools at a
high level of functionality

42. What do YOU WANT to
learn?
Do-it-yourself Professional Development
allows you to get what you want out of
the experience.
• Twitter and Blogs can give you more
information than a boring lecture.
• Online communities allow you to
connect with other people and try
new things.
• Webinars are available when you
want on any subject that you want to
learn about.
• Design your learning experience to be
what must benefits you.
• Click here our Do It Yourself notes

43. You decide how
and what to share
● Some educators choose to reserve
Facebook for the sharing of personal
information and pictures with only
close friends and family. On the other
hand, for many, Twitter is the place to
share and exchange professional
information and pictures.
● Regardless of your preference, start
using these tools today and connect
with other educators.
● Share your successes. Share your
failures. Let us learn from your
mistakes and successes. We can all be
inspired with how you are forging
ahead and making a difference.

44. Ms. B. is
Online
eCard:
● http://about.me/VRBurton
Presentations:
● http://MsBisOnline.weebly.com/
Twitter:
● http://twitter.com/MsBisOnline
Google+:
● https://plus.google.com/10576511077
5938991404/posts
Facebook:
● http://www.facebook.com/MsVRBurton
PLN Blog:
● http://2blog2share2learn.edublogs.org
Class Blog:
● http://MsVRBurton.edublogs.org/
Class Wiki:
● http://MsBurtonisonline.pbworks.com/
I am an English I teacher
from New Orleans, LA. I
currently teach at West
Jefferson High School. I
look for all opportunities
to integrate technology
into my lessons.