Social Media — Page 5

Making connections…being connected…

March 21, 2013 by Amber Leave a Comment

The twitter verse is mighty. It constantly roars. It would almost be impossible to consider everyone in the twitterverse as a close confidant…but what you can find in that subculture are connections that can guide you along your path either personally or professionally.

I have SkypeD with complete strangers. I have google hang outD with complete strangers. I have asked for advice and guidance from complete strangers. This is perfectly normal, 🙂

However, traveling to #ASCD13 literally knowing IRL NO one that was going to be there was a stretch even for me. I’m the girl who needs company walking to get tea, remember?

I knew that my first “meeting up” would be with @Principalj, aka Jessica Johnson. We were going to meet in the media room first thing so I knew that from there, hopefully, I’d find another familiar face. And by face, I completely mean avatar.

And I did, 🙂 I was able to put a face to many a name that I’ve spent years interacting with, but not actually known. Names that I’ve actively tried to emulate professionally, like @NMHS_Principal, @gcouros, & @web20classroom. Names that I’ve thought were witty and an outstanding educator example, like @thenerdyteacher. Names that I’d seen but have been too intimidated to “tweet” to, like @paulawhite & @tomwhitby.

That was amazing.

That was my goal in being there…meeting the twitterati. Right?

What I didn’t anticipate were the connections I didn’t even know I could make. Random connections, from people who I wasn’t even “following” before the weekend….but now have texted every day since.

@erinklein, over at Kleinspiration is a teacher from Michigan.@Angela_Watson, from The Cornerstone for Teachers, is an author from New York. The thought provoking conversations and inspiration that these two were able to provide were eye opening. Having dinner with them was like hanging out with my best girlfriends, except almost better. We all have a similar vision, passion, and a heart for technology & education. I truly feel that these two connections were the reason I went last weekend. To remind me of who I am and who I want to be. An educator, an assistant principal, who cares about her Lions and staff, and above all…relationships.

I’m SO thankful that I get to add this one to the list!

connected,

Amber

A social media sabbatical…or why social media isn’t for sissies…

March 7, 2013 by Amber Leave a Comment

Today is November 30th, 2012. I, Amber Teamann, of sound body and sound mind, do hereby declare a social media sabbatical.

Sounds so solemn, eh? Totally mean it. I am vowing to take the ENTIRE month of December off from social media. No FB, no twitter, no instagram. No Tumblr stalking or meme talking. I am taking a break.

Why? Amongst many a post of “unfriending them all” and “following them all”.

Amongst be yourself! no wait, be professional! no wait!

Amongst “facebook is the devil” and “don’t be the old, unrelatable person who ISN’T on social media”. I’ve made a decision.

Sigh.

I am taking a month. A month to read, evaluate, and get some perspective on the kind of leader I want to be. The one who has relationships with their employees because of SM transparency? Or the one who dies on their transparent sword? Can you be transparent without SM in 2012? Are you stronger/weaker because of it?

Is everything I’ve waxed poetically necessarily true? Can I be a relational leader in this day and age and NOT be on social media? If so, how? Will that add a layer of complexity and “extra” to my plate?

Flip it. If you’re NOT involved in social media does that make you less of a leader? What can you do to develop those relationships without it? (It obviously wasn’t a problem some 10 years ago…so it HAS to be true.) But can it work for ME?

It’a lot to think about, right? That’s why I am taking a WHOLE month. Will my whole PLN be there when I get back? Will the “surface” relationships I have through all these avenues fade? What does that say about them? How much do I dedicate to those who may or may not be…worth it. (So harsh!)

It’s going to take more of an effort to keep up with my IRL friends. I might actually have to make REAL phone calls.

GULP.

It’s a good month to take a break seeing as how we’ll all be super busy. And I do still plan on blogging. (It’s a work necessity, :))

I’ll see you in a month. (I hope.)

epiphany seekN,

Amber

Sabbatical Sense…or why I’m back!

March 7, 2013 by Amber Leave a Comment

Back in November, I decided to take a social media sabbatical. I really wanted to reevaluate why I was as involved as I was online and what my true purpose entailed. Professionally, I’d been burned this past semester and needed some distance. Personally, I felt overwhelmed and unsure of my “presence”. ( I really have THAT many friends??) (albeit, this prolly had more to do with the being burned part.;))

GC wrote a post about the irony of trying to keep your personal life and professional life separate and how impossible he thought that was.

After my sabbatical, I concur.

I asked the question of whether it was essential for a leader to be involved in SM: whether it be FB or Twitter or whatnot, and at the end of my month, I do know that for me, it is. I was no less busy, no less occupied, but I did feel as if I was missing something.

I read several books…but had no one to discuss them with.

I thought several PD thoughts…but had no one to dissect them with.

I had several questions…but no one to ask them.

The brevity of learning through my PLN is unmatched through blogs, texts, or even phone calls. Not knowing and being involved with my teachers (some who are true FRIENDS), was difficult. I genuinely felt as if I wasn’t able to connect in the ways that were important to me. Some days are SO busy, I don’t get to every classroom, but being able to interact through a form of SM keeps me connected.

While talking to a colleague at work, whose opinion I definitely value, she again pointed out that 10 years ago, it wasn’t necessary to be “online” to be successful, and those people did just fine. Compare that thought to a fabulous sorority sister who I shared that with and she said, “Yea…but this isn’t the same world!”

And that’s the bottom line. I can’t lead from a place of fear. I can’t be different than who I am. I will be involved because it DOES make me a better person, and hopefully, a better leader.

So there.

sabbatical stopN,

Amber

PS: VERY curious as to other admin’s thoughts on “friending/tweeting” your teachers…and what your experience has been!