With three a long time in edtech and two within the Discovery Educator Community, Rita Mortenson gives a front-row view of how related communities drive change.
INTERVIEW | by Victor Rivero
KRISTIN FURDAK SMART / DISCOVERY EDUCATOR NETWORK MIDWEST REGIONAL INSTITUTE
This 12 months, the Discovery Educator Community (DEN)-one of the oldest skilled studying communities in edtech-celebrates its 20th birthday. Among the many earliest members of the DEN, which is supported by Discovery Schooling and connects members throughout faculty methods and around the globe by way of social media, digital conferences, and in-person occasions, fostering worthwhile thought sharing and inspiration, was Rita Mortenson.
‘I consider there’ll at all times be a necessity for in-person meetups—that’s what makes conferences so worthwhile. It’s like asking why do individuals go to the films once they can stream movies at dwelling?’
An educator with over 30 years of expertise within the area, Rita at the moment serves as a highschool Academic Expertise Coach for Wisconsin’s Verona Space Excessive College, the place she works with about 1,800 college students and 200 employees members on a wide range of know-how subjects. Rita is an Apple Distinguished Educator, a Google Licensed Innovator, an ISTE licensed Educator, and a DEN Star.
Lately, EdTech Digest sat down with Rita to study her ideas on skilled studying communities.
Good morning Rita and nice to satisfy you. So, take us again 20 years in the past to the founding of the DEN. Why had been skilled studying communities just like the DEN wanted? How was it shaped?
Twenty years in the past, Coni Rechner, who’s now Discovery Schooling’s Govt Vice President of Strategic Relationships, led a small crew with the imaginative and prescient and foresight to create the Discovery Educator Community. They acknowledged what so many people didn’t even understand we had been lacking: an opportunity to be part of one thing larger – a neighborhood the place educators might share experiences, join with passionate, like-minded individuals, and construct lasting friendships that will lengthen far past the classroom.
The earliest DEN Institutes had been regional occasions, going down throughout the U.S that very same summer season. I selected to attend the one in Chicago, because it was solely a couple of 2-hour drive. On the time, I wasn’t positive what this might actually be about. Little did I do know that this might be really life- altering. I’ll always remember strolling into that enormous room with greater than 100 educators. The vitality was unbelievable – it felt like a celebration only for us. I had by no means skilled something like that earlier than. To be welcomed, honored and celebrated in that method was not simply enjoyable – I felt so particular.
‘They acknowledged what so many people didn’t even understand we had been lacking: an opportunity to be part of one thing larger – a neighborhood the place educators might share experiences, join with passionate, like-minded individuals, and construct lasting friendships that will lengthen far past the classroom.’
What’s the distinctive worth of taking part in an expert studying neighborhood to lecturers?
What made the DEN really distinctive wasn’t simply skilled studying – it was the individuals and the spirit of the neighborhood.
In contrast to different PLC’s, the DEN created a world community the place educators might join, collaborate, and help each other. I bear in mind numerous occasions once I, or somebody else- would submit a query or problem, and throughout the hour, responses would pour in from all around the nation.
The collective wealth of information from individuals close to and much was wonderful. There was at all times help and encouragement. All of us wished one another to succeed, and you can actually, actually really feel that help within the DEN. The knowledge-sharing was spectacular, however the empathy and real need to see others succeed made the DEN particular.
That form of belief, responsiveness and connection is what made the DEN stand out – and what continues to make it in contrast to another studying neighborhood I’ve ever skilled.
You take part in a number of studying communities. How do they differ? How did you choose which of them to take part in?
I’ve been lucky to be part of some really distinctive studying communities – every among the many better of one of the best. What makes them so highly effective is that every has provided one thing uniquely significant, each personally and professionally.
As an Apple Distinguished Educator, I had the chance to raise my experience throughout the Apple ecosystem – exploring revolutionary instruments, artistic methods, and significant methods to reinforce educating and studying.
Equally, as a Google Licensed Innovator, I dove into the Google instruments collaborating with educators who had been enthusiastic about reimagining studying and main change.
As an ISTE Licensed educator, the main target broadened past instruments for pedagogy, function and affect.
Every of those communities pushed me to develop and impressed me to steer and join with educators around the globe.
How have skilled studying communities modified because the founding of the DEN 20 years in the past? What has stayed constant?
I feel that the evolving digital platforms have allowed us to remain related all year long. With video conferencing platforms, collaboration can occur at anytime, wherever. What has stayed the identical is the core precept of the PLC – bringing educators collectively to study, develop, join, and share data.
‘What has stayed the identical is the core precept of the PLC – bringing educators collectively to study, develop, join, and share data.’
This July you’ll attend the Discovery Schooling Summer time Institute once more in Chicago for a number of days of in-person studying. Why is connecting in individual so essential for educators in that form of setting so essential post-COVID?
Once I first discovered that the DEN Institute could be again in individual, I used to be so excited. We’ve been eagerly awaiting this present day since Covid-19. It’s really {one of the} highlights of my summer season and an expertise that’s arduous to explain until you might have participated. Subsequent 12 months marks my thirty ninth 12 months in my district and I’m simply as excited now as I used to be almost 20 years in the past attending my very first DENSI. There’s something so particular about attending a Summer time Institute. Being collectively and studying and exchanging concepts is so enjoyable.
With the rise of AI and its capability to generate solutions to any query, will skilled studying communities just like the Discovery Educator Community survive?
Most positively. Whereas I like studying in every kind of codecs, nothing can really substitute the ability of connecting in individual. There’s something particular about sharing every week, or a number of days in a dorm with 100+ different engaged educators – residing, studying and laughing at foolish issues. A few of my closest friendships had been shaped by way of the DEN. These friendships have lasted over time. I nonetheless journey with them and attend conferences although we dwell in numerous cities and states. You’ll be able to’t replicate the DEN Summer time Institute with a web-based expertise.
What’s the largest skilled lesson you discovered out of your participation in skilled studying communities?
To at all times keep curious and by no means cease studying. If you collect in individual with so many passionate, proficient and galvanizing educators, it reignites your pleasure for educating. You need to deliver again these concepts and check out them.
How in regards to the largest edtech lesson?
I nonetheless bear in mind these late nights within the dorms, with our laptops out, sharing our favourite Net 2.0 instruments. We had been so excited, sharing on-line crossword puzzle mills, websites with free clipart graphics or different sources we couldn’t wait to check out with our college students and lecturers.
What’s the future {of professional} studying communities in edtech?
I consider there’ll at all times be a necessity for in-person meetups—that’s what makes conferences so worthwhile. It’s like asking why do individuals go to the films once they can stream movies at dwelling? In-person gatherings provide extra than simply studying about new instruments or methods. It’s the reference to individuals – the vitality and the motivation that comes from assembly head to head. The training and knowledge shared is significant, however the conversations and friendships made are life altering. I’d prefer to thank Discovery Schooling for bringing again the in-person DEN Summer time Institute. I’m so excited to study alongside passionate educators. I do know it’s going to be a lot enjoyable!
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Victor Rivero is the Editor-in-Chief of EdTech Digest. Write to: victor@edtechdigest.com
