Sunday, February 8, 2009

I'm Sharing :)

Since one of my New Year's resolutions was to share more, I am going to push myself out of my comfort zone and post my ADE application video here. Why is this a big deal? 
I am pretty sensitive and maybe a little bit shy. I haven't told anyone except my husband (and you people) that I even applied to ADE. It was a big stretch when I shared  it in another post.

It makes me feel vulnerable. If I don't tell anyone, then I don't have to tell anyone if I don't make the cut. I am working on changing that way of looking at things. Instead of feeling vulnerable and exposed, which comes from a feeling of self-doubt, and, if I'm not accepted, to take it hard, as a personal and professional failure, I would like to get to the point where I embrace everything as an opportunity to learn and grow and to possibly help someone else in some way.
Okay, therapy session over. Here's my video.

 

4 comments:

Rob Wall said...

Sharing is always a good thing. Sometimes it takes a little move out of your comfort zone to do that, so I appreciate that you took that leap.

One of the best presentations I've seen on the topic of sharing was titled "Lesson #1: Share" by my friend Dean Shareski at the TLt Summit in Saskatoon last year. He even shared a copy of the presentation with full audio on his blog. I think you'd like it.

Andrea said...

Hi Rob. Thanks for the encouragement. I do appreciate it, as well as the link to Dean's blog post.
It's the final line of his post that, I think sums up why sharing is hard for me.

"So if you’re doing good work:share. If you’re doing a lousy job:keep it to yourself."

I want what I'm doing with my students to be good work, but what if it's not? Later, in the comments, he writes:

If teachers, students are making an effort to post and share, it’s highly unlikely their work will remain lousy. Possible but not likely.

I think that says a lot. Just being the kind of teacher who questions and cares if they are doing good or lousy work counts for a lot. Sharing invites feedback and collaboration, which help us grow and improve.

Anonymous said...

Andrea, good luck on the ADE app. I pushed myself to apply this year as well.

As a facilitator, 'sharing' is paramount. I learn from what others, like yourself, share online with their network. I share with my teachers. They share with their students. Students share with their families. A lot of it starts with one educator sharing with his or her network of peers. Thanks for sharing!!

Andrea said...

Thanks, and best of luck to you as well!