cc licensed flickr photo shared by tnarik
Surprisingly, my one year anniversary of blogging came and went over the weekend and I will have to admit that I am surprised that I have lasted this long! The intent of my blog was to basically to play around and learn about the platform. In my first post, I wrote the following:
As we are moving in both the area of successful technology integration, along with embedding critical thinking into everyday practice, I have decided to try and lead by example by creating a digital portfolio through WordPress, similar to my brother Dr. Alec Couros, amongst many other successful educational practitioners. The vision is that students and staff would be able to learn from my own practice, with both the success and failures, to develop their own portfolios.
It is amazing that it has turned out to be so much more than that for myself.
I have shared about a student’s courage that inspired myself, while inspiring so many others. I discussed my beliefs and our school’s movement away from awards ceremonies. I have also tried to convince other administrators to see the power of social networking for themselves while then creating the Connected Principals’ website. I have even dealt with loss and felt a community reach out and comfort myself through a tough time. I love coming back and looking at my year and seeing how I have developed throughout the year. It has been a fantastic experience.
If I could think of a few things that I could really say were important in my first year of blogging it would be this:
- As school leaders, we need to be learners and do this in an open way. If we are really being role models to our students, this is the number one example that we should be setting; that as of a learner.
- Learning is messy and in a blog, things can be rethought, edited, and redone. My writing has become secondary to the learning that others have shared with me in this space.
- It is essential that I continue to lead by example. I should never ask any teacher or student to do anything that I would not be willing to do myself. This is so essential to all leaders. I am glad that I have gone through this experience not only for the understanding of how to do it, but more importantly, why should we do it.
Thanks to everyone who has stopped by and shared their learning with me. It has been a great experience and I am looking forward to another year 🙂
