Chapter Seven

This blog post will discuss the content of Chapter Seven in The Connected Educator by Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach. I will discuss the most significant elements of information I found informative, and how I can tie it to my future career as an Educator. The first topic addressed in this chapter is how to sustain a virtual learning community. Maintaining a virtual learning community is not easy. There has to be strong implementation to keep one afloat. Another word the chapter emphasizes is momentum. To keep a virtual learning community alive and well is through the momentum created. It is crucial to keep the momentum going so that the community stays thriving. If it is neglected then nothing good will come out of it. Virtual learning communities are simply as important to take care of as physical education. You have to be generative in your virtual learning community. This involves taking opportunities to redesign and develop your community to allow it to grow and flourish.



Being present and allowing yourself to transform and develop as times change is a paramount part of being an educator. In education, every day is different. Being prepared to be generative in your work is of the utmost importance. The chapter discusses the two strategies that help engage network participants to stay diligent to sustain the change. They are Appreciative Inquiry and Action Research. The book states, “In appreciative inquiry, community members acknowledge and explore others’ ideas and ask provocative questions to see where their conversation will take them” (pg. 110). This allows there to be a different viewpoint on topics within the community. This strategy also offers the opportunity to open others’ minds. With this strategy, educators can see more and also be more in tune with their community. It's always important to be aware of the many different views and perspectives of the community. This will help educators develop an approach to change. The book states, “Action research is a collaborative activity among committed colleagues looking for answers to everyday, real problems related to classroom instruction, systemic change, or a more global issue” (pg. 113). This is a super beneficial tool for educators as it allows them to share ideas and help each other throughout the school year. These strategies and tips can be helpful for everyone in any field. Allow yourself and your community to share different perspectives, ideas, answers, etc. Once these strategies are incorporated into your network, your community will continue to blossom and build momentum throughout the year. I will accept change and ideas from different perspectives because they help maintain a steady community that will keep moving forward and stay persistent in development.

How would you implement these strategies into your career? What is a strategy that you think will help your online community maintain momentum?   



Citations: Nussbaum-Beach, S. (2011). The Connected Educator: Learning and Leading in a Digital Age. Solution Tree.

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