Leading and Following and Learning

I’ve joined the Twitter crew, making feeble tweets but getting excited about what it may mean in relation to the whole Read/Write/Think web. So far I have one “follower” and I’m following two people. Not much of a start, but a start nonetheless.

So many of the educators I follow (read “David Warlick,” “Wes Fryer,” “Will Richardson,” etc.) talk about the Flat World in terms of what it means to the relationships between teachers and learners, and learners and the society they are entering, but what about the effect it might have on leaders and teachers? Are leaders also followers, as well as teachers? Are the three terms interchangeable in Real Life?

Back to the people I am following on Twitter…one I met a year ago through Tapped In, a resource I use daily with my Advanced Tech class. The other just recently joined Tapped In.

Sherry joined Tapped In because of an assignment from one of her professors, and TI Helpdesk volunteer Jeff Cooper connected us, two middle school Tech Literacy teachers. Sherry and I started chatting and soon setup collaboration between our online classrooms, allowing our students to explore the differences between a rural Texas classroom and an urban South Dakota classroom.

Miguel (appears to have) joined Tapped In because of the PBS Capstone program. His experience was very different from Sherry’s:

What struck me was that Tapped In with its maze of rooms was so…clunky. Why not use a virtual space like Moodle, or facilitate conversations with Skype? One of the nice things about Tapped In is that it sends you the transcript of the conversation, edited for length…

As soon as I read that in his blog, I wanted to offer him a tour, give him a chance to get to know Tapped In. But I haven’t. It’s not that I don’t have faith in what Tapped In has to offer (I’ve been a member since 2004). It’s that I feel a bit odd offering to help someone who has led me to so many new ideas!

I find myself wanting to lead a leader, to show him new ideas, new relationships with (seemingly) old tools. And why shouldn’t I? The old roles are changing, and not only in the classroom! If the classroom teacher is moving from “Sage on the Stage” to “Guide on the Side” to “Learning Mentor” to “???,” then it only stands to reason that the roles of the leaders are changing as well. Are we all, leaders, teachers and students, standing side by side, shoulder to shoulder?

Why should I be shy about offering suggestions to someone who is a Director? I’m quite comfortable being a fellow learner with my students, and they thoroughly enjoy taking the lead in teaching. I delight in working with other teachers, each of us learning as we explore new ways to reach students.

So what’s the problem? Miguel would be gracious in his response to my offer, I’m certain.

What the heck!

Miguel, I’d like to offer you a guided tour of Tapped In. Come explore with me – we’ll wander the maze of rooms, check the Calendar, maybe even set up an office for you. (You’ll be in good company, Will Richardson and Wes Fryer are members as well!) Let me know when you’ll have an hour free and I’ll be waiting for you in Reception, wearing my Helpdesk cap and ready to lead a Leader.

---

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Teachers and Students Meet in the Middle
• “And I can’t understand a word you say”
• The Ideal Teacher
• Teachers On Leave For Allegedly Making Gay Taunts