That does not mean; however, that I haven’t been able to learn with my fellow #ETMOOCers!  Thank goodness for the twitter chat, hashtags and google+ group because that is how I have been able to stay in the loop, join great conversations, and check out your blogs and vlogs.  I have even, most recently, joined a Middle Educators Neighbourhood wiki (thanks to Sheri Edwards for including me in this).  What a fantastic way to put it…a neighbourhood!  I just love it!  I have said in a previous blog post that you are all my colleagues in my new virtual hallway via twitter, but there is something to the word: neighbourhood.  

It reminded me of the intro song to Mr. Rogers (one of my childhood favourites).  And just how his neighbourhood had a magical feel to it, so too, does my virtual neighbourhood with all of you!  I feel so grateful to have found you all and to have even made friends in my online neighbourhood.  There is something magical to this indeed.

What fantastic neighbours I have!

• How important is connected learning? Why?
• Is it possible for our classrooms to support this kind of learning? If so, how?

I think connected learning is so important.  And not just for my students, but for me as well.  As an educator, my practice began to transform when I became connected and started joining “neighbourhoods” of learners and educators.  Hang out in these neighbourhoods long enough and you can’t NOT start to reflect on your own practise, start questioning education and make changes/improvements in your classroom. 

And if it works for us, then it should work for our students too?  I believe so.  My students are always excited when they get a comment on their blog from a student in another school.  They loved being a part of the Global Read Aloud, and they keep reminding me that we have to connect with Mr. Hong‘s class again! Connections are HUGE.  To all of us.

Thank you all for connecting to me and for being in my neighbourhood.