Greetings all! Well, I am so glad it is Friday and the end of the week. It feels so great to once again connect with education professionals from around the globe. This is such a good thing to share with others. Connecting with other teachers and educators. Real teachers and real educators.
You are all so refreshing and so simply intelligent. You are all peers that I can actually communicate with without judgement. We are all fellow travellers on a journey of discovery. Seeking new ideas, the answers to questions and the quest for more real and lifelong learning outcomes in the classroom.
Now this week we have someone very special indeed for our Friday Follow Twitter Interview. It is none other than the Clever Sheep. The Clever Sheep! You may be wondering… the Clever Sheep? Shall we be bleating? Who is the Clever Sheep? Of course, it is Rodd Lucier and I am so glad that Rodd is our special guest this week. Rodd is an incredible chap and a very friendly bloke. Rodd is a leader and not a follower. He goes where no sheep has gone before. He is a woollen Captain Kirk, a Mr Spock of the technological paddock! Let’s put the shears to one side, sit back and sink our teeth into the lamb cutlet of ideas that are the thoughts of Rodd Lucier…
1. Please share a little about yourself with the readers.
My name is Rodd Lucier, and I’m a learner. I get motivated when colleagues adopt new tools; I get excited when classroom walls become semi-permeable; I am engaged by unique learning challenges. Most of all, I get jazzed when breathing life into novel learning experiences. I think of myself as one who’s more likely to lead in new directions than to follow in the footsteps of others, and that’s part of the reason that I chose ‘the Clever Sheep’ as my online identity.
2. Describe the role played by social media in education.
First and foremost, the educational social media landscape is inhabited by learners. If you’re reading this, you probably already aware that social media, and the relationships fostered among participants, might best be considered as the fourth ‘R’. I’m intrigued by the potential for tools like Twitter and blogs and podcasts to impact professional learning. As more and more teachers engage in meaningful conversations online, the inclination to bring similar strategies to the classroom is sure to take hold. But before that happens, I believe it’s incumbent upon us to learn the power and limitations of emerging technologies.
3. Tell me about your relationship with social media. How do you feel about social media?
Like many teachers who break with convention, I used to teach with my door closed. Social media allows me to reflect the learning of my students and colleagues, and to engage in discussions with distant educators who share my interest in learning out loud. Along with co-learners, I’ve embarked on a number of learning experiments in social media. A little over two years ago, I hosted ‘Educhat’, the first live synchronous conversation on Twitter, exclusively for teachers. Today, there are literally hundreds of educational discussions that take place almost every day of the year. Most recently, I hosted the ‘31 Day Game’, the first PLG or professional learning game on Twitter.
4. What do you feel are you strengths?
My greatest strength has to be that I model risk-taking. I don’t shy away from trying things that have never been done before. Whether it’s leading a large group to set a world record, or leading a much smaller group to host a summit for widely scattered educators, I’m at my best when bringing collaborative projects to life. I love making things happen that others have trouble even imagining.
5. What advice do you like to share with people?
Engage!
Rather than simply reading the work of edu-bloggers, take time to leave a comment. Rather than simply posting a stream of ideas on Twitter, take time to engage in give and take with other teacher-learners. Rather than simply replicating the learning experiments of others, model risk-taking and try something that’s never been done before. If you know educators who are trying to make sense of the social media landscape, let me suggest ‘Clever App’, a free iphone/ipod app that I developed to gather the most compelling PLN news of the day.
6. Are there any questions you would like to ask?
What will you do today that will remind your students how lucky they are to have you as their teacher? What remarkable thing would you love to do, and why aren’t you actively trying to do it? What are you going to learn next?
Thank you Rodd! Yes, engagement is the way to go. 2011 is the year of engagement for me and I intend to engage on as many professional levels as I possibly can. I echo your philosophy of experimentation, leading the way and sharing new ideas. I am so heartened by your ideas Rodd and I an sure the readers of your story will be too. Thank you. ^_^
Now, remember to explore Rodd’s rich array of insights, resources and creative ideas throughout his blogs, wikis and even his app! Way to go Rodd!
Blog: thecleversheep
Twitter: @thecleversheep
About.me: http://about.me/roddlucier
Clever App: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/clever-app/id354477006?mt=8
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thecleversheep
Delicious Bookmarks: http://www.delicious.com/thecleversheep
Presentations and Slidedecks: http://slideshare.net/thecleversheep
The Clever Sheep Podcast: http://thecleversheep.libsyn.com/
The Golden Fleece Wiki: http://thecleversheep.wetpaint.com
Apr 02, 2011 @ 23:01:16
Wow! I am so inspired! Thank you, John, for continuing to highlight some of the great #ff names that are always being passed around on Fridays. While I had heard of Rodd (well, actually I knew him as “the clever sheep”) I didn’t really KNOW him. Now I am one step closer to developing more of a connection. I, too, am joining you on the “Year of Engagement” and wanted to thank you for these blog posts. They are always my first step in that goal!
Jessica