[Image credit - NASA; metaphor credit - Kenyon Cummings, session participant]

Six educators (two elementary, two middle, one high and one college) … talking about our schools … teaching and learning … technology … and the power of networks … during “Happy Hour” at a local restaurant.

Nothing out of the ordinary, right?

Actually, it was. While all of us had “met” online already, and a few knew each other, but no one knew everyone; it was a great example of an online “personal learning network” (PLN) making the jump from online to “face-to-face” (F2F). Even cooler, our group represented nearly the entire K-20 spectrum, from primary to secondary to higher education and adminstration,  even teacher preparation.  Our objective was simple: find a way to put the “personal” in “personal learning network,” and begin to explore ways in which we could support each other, creating “real world” relationships that complement and leverage our online ones. And, to help each other’s districts in ways traditional professional development simply hasn’t.

Not everyone was able to attend, but that was okay. We didn’t know what to expect, but we knew we shared similar ideas and interests, and with free food and no workday the next day, why not kill a couple of hours together? As soon as we got underway, one of Sylvia Martinez’ recent blog posts came to mind: The people in the room are the right people. Maybe it was our mutual connections beforehand (either via Twitter or “real life.”) Maybe it was our mutual interests in teaching, learning & technology. Maybe it was the free pizza & perogies. The reasons are unimportant, but the outcome of the meeting is, I think.

In my post a while back entitled On professional development, online social learning, and the “personal” in personal learning networks, I wondered what it would be like to create a support structure comprised of local educators that allows us to “locally” leverage the global online networks we’ve all built using Web 2.0 tools like Twitter, Diigo, Delicious, blogs, and so on. I wondered if the chemistry would be there. I wondered if there would be enough to talk about. I wondered if we’d want to have another meeting. Most of all, I wondered if it would matter.

The answers are yes, yes, yes, and, I believe, yes.

The conversation, excited sharing of ideas, a-ha moments, nodding heads and smiles were clear evidence that we have truly started something. Something casual but committed, focused but friendly, serious but serendipitous. We’re starting small; we’ve going to support each other and teachers in our districts, and most importantly, we’re going to to keep talking, Tweeting, and meeting. With a little luck, and a little more time, we’ll have something more substantial to report, and soon. But for today, we accomplished what we set out to do. We’re moving forward, compelled by a shared vision that incredible global, online networks can be the foundation for outstanding local, F2F professional development for individuals (even entire districts.) Like any journey, all that’s needed is to take the first step. That’s exactly what we six educators just did! Wish us luck, and, stay tuned!

To be continued…

-kj-