Why Collaborative Inquiry Matters to Future Teachers #EDU106

Inquiry never works better alone. Whether you bury yourself in a book or attend a #hackjam you seek answers with others. As a teacher I find how I participate on the Web influences my personal growth more than what I contribute to my networks.

Check out this recent conversation started by David Quinn. He asked if I and a few friends had advice to students who were nervous about blogging. Dave noted that there were concerns around privacy and employment.

@EduQuinn @wiobyrne @anterobot It is a conversation we always have. First they have a fundamental right to privacy. You must provide alts.

— Greg McVerry (@jgmac1106) September 15, 2015

@EduQuinn @wiobyrne @anterobot They can choose which posts go public, which to really promote, and which to go in stream. — Greg McVerry (@jgmac1106) September 15, 2015

@EduQuinn @wiobyrne @anterobot I explain how every district will Google you and those results matter as much as resume.Its not holding back

— Greg McVerry (@jgmac1106) September 15, 2015

@EduQuinn @wiobyrne @anterobot Then finish with a portfolio building. Encourage students to port to their own domain. Few take me up. — Greg McVerry (@jgmac1106) September 15, 2015

@EduQuinn IMHO the important part is having students have the discussion about open/private & digital identity @anterobot @jgmac1106

— William Ian O’Byrne (@wiobyrne) September 15, 2015

As a community we explore tips and practices for teaching in open spaces. We discuss and share great teaching activities. Most importantly we collaborate on problems that matter.

I believe teacher preparation programs (all fields really)  have a responsibility to help candidates shape their online presence. The benefits of learning in the open go beyond skills and knowledge acquisition. If schools use job placement as a key metric of success than helping teachers build up a distributed and networked Web presence is central to  our mission.

flickr photo shared by flazingo_photos under a Creative Commons ( BY-SA ) license

Its simple really.

You have two otherwise equal prospective employees. Candidate one can read, write, and participate on the web. She has a website, demonstrates reflective growth through blogging,  and engages in relevant and current educational topics.

When you Google candidate two you only find private social media silos.

Who would you choose?