How I’ve Missed You All

Posted on December 14, 2008
Filed under Personal Learning Network, Social Networking and tagged network, pln

After what has been possibly the busiest year of my life, I have finally got some time to sit down, write and read. This semester started as per usual, and I was out and about on a few PDs – which usually means trips to Melbourne, three and a half hours away. Then, I went to China for 6 weeks with 20 kids which was fantastic but exhausting, and since returning from then I literally have not stopped. I’ve presented several times which means prep work, and I’ve been in Melbourne every weekend apart from the last two (my husband is in Melbourne which is one of the reasons I’m moving back there in a week!), and so have spent 7-8 hours per weekend travelling. Then there was reports, and all that other stuff that needs to be done. No wonder I was walking around like a Zombie these past couple of weeks, and the kids were not getting much sympathy for “Mrs McCulloch, Tom’s got my ruler.” “Mrs McCulloch, James looked at me mean and made me upset.”I write this not to whinge (though that helps a bit), or to seek sympathy, but to make the point that there is something I really feel like I have missed out on with all this busy-ness – connecting with my Personal Learning Network (PLN).

Until last night, I could not remember the last time I left a comment on someone’s blog, let along read a full post in my reader. Now I have and I am starting to get a sense of a few things that I’ve missed out on – mainly just the conversations. I really enjoy reading blogs and writing comments. I really enjoy having conversations on Twitter. I’m connecting with real people and real ideas – just as valid, and I’d say more so in many senses, than an official organised PD session. So, I have decided that next year my PLN and the Edublogosphere are most certainly going to be more of a priority when it comes to Professional Learning. I will think twice before signing up to go to a PD but will not think twice about delving in to read a few good blog posts and take part in a few good conversations. I’ll keept track of the things I do and claim it officially as the PD time I need to clock up to maintain my registration. I learn more from my online PLN than I do from most ‘live’ sessions I go to. A mix is good, but I know what my priority will be.

So, here I am again – please let me know the main things I have missed. What has been your favourite conversation over the past three months or so? What have been your favourite new discoveries as far as tools go? Any tips, tricks, and links would be greatly appreciated

P.S The photo was taken when I took myself out to dinner to finish (start!) my reports recently. I was getting too distracted at home by the thought of sleeping, so I had to get out and do something about it. Pasta and wine was the way to go!

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3 Responses to “How I’ve Missed You All”

Tony Searl on December 14th, 2008 9:03 pm

Jess
Agreed, I want to extend my PLN in 2009, meet with the people behind the names and be more selective about f2f professional learning. As a newer blogger, I love this learning and as my confidence has grown I feel I can contribute more next year.

All the best, get over to http://tinyurl.com/5bsuv6 to avoid the Wally, the award no one wants.

Tony
Jess on December 15th, 2008 12:11 am

Meeting the people behind the names is one of the best things! It’s great to go to a conference and all of a sudden there are whole bunch of people you know, even though you’ve never met them before
Chris on December 31st, 2008 8:53 am

Welcome back Jess. We missed you!
I totally get what you mean about the PLN… you can start to feel quite disconnected if you’re away from it too long.
Good to have to back in the land of the (virtually) living!
Chris