Getting back to Twitter

This past weekend I spent an hour separating my work and personal Twitter accounts. I hardly use either, but I felt it was about time I got my work Twitter at least current. I unfollowed or re-followed a number of people that I know and we'll see where it goes from there. I'm trying really hard to not post anything personal.

In the past I've found Twitter quite a lot of work to maintain good relationships. It's a wonderful PLN but I find most of my conversations happen outside of Twitter. It works well as a status check, or getting myself out of the echo chamber that can happen when you fraternize only with like-minded people. Conversely, hanging out with people that are like me is pretty comforting.

Stages of eLearning

At 3pm today the provincial government will announcing the first phase of their "re-opening" plan. The self-isolation and physical distancing seems to have had a positive impact on limiting the spread of COVID-19 so the province is keen to get the economy (and society) going again.

I am anticipating some degree of reopening for schools. Most likely it will be special education and a widening of criteria for school-based childcare. I also suspect a gradual re-entry of primary grades with severe restrictions. Examples from New Zealand and Europe and China indicate smaller class numbers, rotating attendance schedules, and a commitment to some form of virtual learning for students still at home.

Discussions about what might happen invariably get me thinking about this model from Jennifer Chang Wathall:

As we cycle through blending learning with the increase in synchronous teaching I’m aware we’ll need more teacher training. Rather than “advanced” tech training it’s more incisive; ie how giving students more interactivity can encourage displays of understanding. This encourages authentic assessment but also gets us thinking about how to end this year to properly set us up for the start of the next year.