My #OneWord for 2016

My "One Word" for 2015 was LET'S...and how prophetic and apropos it was! I've never felt so entrenched in collaborative efforts as I did in 2015. I've had the honor of having more amazing educators in my professional learning network than ever before. I've had more face to face opportunities with amazing educational technologist than ever before. I am no longer a lone wolf educator, I've embraced the power of others and the strength in learning and working together to meet the needs of my teachers and students that I support. "LET'S do this" was a great mantra for my year. Even when I wanted to be stand alone and prideful, I was put in my place and shown that there are times you just have to embrace help. The value of team and LET'S will always resonate in my 2015 memories.

Beta means precursor. So this year my "one word" is BETA. According to thefreedictionary.com the definition of beta is based on this:  "beta version - Alpha version describes a development status that usually means the first complete version of a program or application, which is most likely unstable, but is useful to show what the product will do to, usually, a selected group—and is alsocalled preview version; the beta version is usually the last version before wide release, often tested by users under real-world conditions."  I love innovation. I love trying things that have the possibility to change education for the better. I love being a risk taker. I love learning, adapting, trying, adjusting, all to make educational opportunities better. 

"Better" is a vague term that might mean more fun, more challenging, more engaging, more cost efficient, more dynamic, or maybe more EFFECTIVE. Regardless of what "better" happens within my year, I want to live 2016 in BETA format. Allowing myself opportunities to try new things but balancing it with knowing when something isn't working. I want to be used in the educational world to make a difference. I want to be the tester of ideas. I want to hold tight to those things that have been tested, tried, and have proven value to education as I always do, but this year I also want to be given opportunities to have more BETA experiences. BETA means letting go of fear that stops me from going with my gut and the Holy Spirit. BETA means being faster and stronger in my thought processes, trusting myself in my decisions. It means moving forward knowing I'm trying my hardest and (heaven forbid) even allowing myself a few failures along the way. BETA may mean I'm not always the popular one or the favorite. BETA means I'm a risk taker but not just for the sake of taking risks...for the journey of finding something that doesn't already exist- a better me, a better educational option, a better environment. LET'S BETA! (See what I did there?)

My One Word: The power of "LET'S"

After thinking for a few weeks about the #oneword concept being talked about so much on Twitter, etc. I have been self-reflecting a lot lately trying to dig deeper and ascertain what I needed to do to be better at what I do. As an instructional technologist, I work with others on a regular basis- other faculty, other students, other parents. This year I am looking for ways to improve my collaboration efforts with these people. My word is "Let's." There is power in numbers, strength in togetherness, growth in unity. 

According to Ecclesiastes 4:12, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." I want to use that concept to help others, to help myself, and to help my school.

One of my greatest joys in what I do is seeing others smile when what they are doing with technology works, or when they gain a concept they didn't know before, or when they see the benefit of some type of technology for their classroom. It is very easy in my position to say "Now do this, then do that, call me if you need any help" but for the timid or reluctant technology users, that is often overwhelming. This year I will be more purposeful in saying "Then WE will do this...this is what I will do, this is what you will do, and together, this is what will happen." The word "Let's" tells those I work with that we are in this together, all on the same team, trying to find what benefits our students the most. "Let's" tells them that we are a team working together for the greater good.

If as a technology coach I am approachable and available, I am seen as an asset to have in the classroom, not a nuisance or "one more thing to do." My desire this year is to become as much of a team player as possible. I want to show my belief in collaboration- to give and take, lead and learn, listen and be heard- all within a supportive culture of forgiveness when we fail each other and excitement when we see each other succeed.