Inspiration via Connection

When I started blogging I promised myself that I would only write when I had something to say. Time has been flying fast these past couple of months and this weekend I found myself inspired to return to my virtual thinking space.

First, I realize I have some hanging strings to tie from former posts; there are projects I started talking about and will revisit in posts to follow. For now, I want to give attention to one person who brought purpose to my entire weekend at a local technology conference.

Innocently sitting down at a friend's presentation I landed next to a fellow educator who was ready to listen and learn about using Skype and Embedding in the classroom. This teacher shared that she teaches history to high schoolers...who are in prison. Due to their "situation" they aren't given access to 1:1 technologies, therefore she couldn't benefit from the session she was looking forward to and I just couldn't let her walk away empty handed.

Being mindful and sensitive to the presenter, I took her aside and gave her a session on tools that she could use personally and professionally. I spoke with her about arts integration through Google Art Project and the Metropolitan Museum's virtual catalogue, virtual field trips with Discovery Education and handy apps like Evernote. Her students may not be able to literally travel, but it doesn't mean they can't virtually. Through art she can take them places, ask them questions and let them travel around the world.

This hap circumstance provided this meaningful and memorable moment of connection and affirmation of  my tireless (and often squirrel-ish) pursuits in educator professional development. While many other amazing moments happened throughout these last two days, it is this one that is placed in a dear mental pocket.

Thank you to NJEA & Teq for #njeactl13