October is Connected Educator Month (CEM). This is a time when educators from all over the world are connecting, collaborating, and sharing resources with each other. It’s a time when you can share your ideas, discover new ideas, and take some time to develop relationships with like-minded educators who can inspire and motivate you to continue to develop your teaching strategies and skills.
2014 Connected Educator Month Themes
Unlike in years past, this year’s CEM themes were nominated and voted upon by the CEM community. Hundreds of organizations and educators cast ballots. Below is a list of the themes that were selected by the community:
- Blended Learning
- Collaboration and Capacity Building
- Diversity, Inclusiveness and Global Education
- Educator Professional Development & Learning
- Leadership For Change
- Student Agency, Student Voice, and the Maker Movement
- Whole Community Engagement (Parents, Teachers, Students, Community Members)
To find out more about these themes and the organizations leading the events for a particular theme, go to http://connectededucators.org/connected-educator-month-2014-themes/.
CEM 2014: How To Get Started
If this is your first year taking part in CEM, then the best place to start would be the Connected Educator Month Starter Kit. You can find the link to that kit, plus a number of other great resources on the CEM Getting Started page.
You can also stay up to date with everything that is happening throughout the month by signing up for the CEM newsletter. If you if you’re an avid tweeter, then you can also follow all the action using the hashtag #CE14.
Get Connected With Edublogs
As part of CEM 2014, Edublogs is inviting educators to take our “Build a PLN” Teacher Challenge.
We all have a personal learning network (PLN) that could be made up of friends, colleagues, mentors, and even students. Our challenge will show you how to leverage the power of the web to expand your PLN online, and make meaningful connections that can be a continuous source of knowledge and inspiration as you continue to grow as an educator.
The PLN challenge is perfect for individuals who are just discovering what it means to be a connected educator and for those of you looking for a refresher on all of the benefits of being connected through your own personal learning network.
How Does The PLN Challenge Work?
Getting started is easy. The PLN Teacher Challenge is completely free of charge and lasts for 30 days. You can enroll by filling out the Google form on our blog The Edublogger.
The next PLN challenge begins tomorrow, October 3, 2014! So sign up now if you are interested.
When you finish the Teacher Challenge, we’ll give you a badge to proudly display on your blog and we’ll send you a certificate of completion.
If you have any questions about getting involved in this year’s Connected Educator Month events, feel free to leave a comment and we’ll do our best to get you the answers you need.
You can also visit the CEM 2014 website for a ton of helpful information, or ask a question on their Facebook or Twitter pages.
Have fun exploring all the amazing events happening this month and Happy Connecting!