Managing the Information Pipeline 

   

C. Seaman photo

 Springtime on the farm begins in a flurry with the arrival of baby calves and tender seedlings. The workload shifts a bit to a slower, peaceful pace pierced only by the shrill chirping of the yellow-bellied marmot commonly known as the rock chuck or chuck. The Border Collies, furloughed from their duties with the cattle, spend hours tracking these large ground squirrels. One chirp sends the pups running here and there, looking in random pipes, holes, and stumps without a plan or a successful outcome. Managing the plethora of information in today's society can resemble this scenario; individuals with their heads in the pipeline, running out of time, on the hunt for new and meaningful data. 

     Fortunately, with the assistance of aggregators (feed readers, news readers, RSS readers) the task can be managed simply and efficiently. Subscription to a feed reader such as RSS (Real Site Summary or Real Simple Syndication), scours websites, blogs, browsers, and feeds to consolidate the updated information; creating for the user a personal and unique information space. Aggregation technology brings the information directly to the user saving time and honing the information to the interests of the user. Feed readers may be web, mobile, or desk-top based to meet the demand needs of the user and can be accessed anywhere by the user with an internet connection. 

     Examples of popular web-based feeds include: Bloglines, FrescaNews, Feedly and Digg Reader. Personally, I selected Feedly (http://www.feedly.com) as my current feed reader. The application met my needs for ease in use and the streamlined, categorized display of feeds makes it easy to navigate. Based on my interests, Feedly routinely suggests other sources of information to enrich my lifelong learning experience.

     Manage your information pipeline! Start today by bringing the information to you with the efficiency and accuracy of a feed reader that meets your needs. Let your feed reader be the chirp of the chuck that guides your information hunt.

RSS -Bing Images

Feedly-Bing Images

It Takes a Team! 

Getting Started with Developing a PLN

The Tooth Team for a Lifetime of Healthy Smiles.
C. Seaman Photo

     Healthy lifestyles begin with good oral hygiene. Gum disease and dental decay have been positively linked to heart disease, diabetes, immune and digestive system disorders. Optimum oral health can be achieved; though, it takes more than a toothbrush and the Tooth Fairy. Contemporary dental professionals are trained to teach patients about oral-systemic links, current techniques and products while applying the most current evidenced-based care. 

     Patients are unique! And within the context of the care plan, teaching styles and lessons delivered are tailored to meet the needs and conditions of each patient. A critical facet of the care plan is evaluation. This is where dental professionals establish what works and what is relevant to the therapeutic needs of the patient while giving consideration to patient preferences. Evaluation of outcomes guides the patient and the clinician to success.

     Developing a Professional Learning Network (PLN) is initiated in much the same way as a patient care plan. Care plans are developed via the acronym ADPIE, denoting the stages the professional takes to treat the patient: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. In the beginning, interests for professional development are assessed much the same as patient needs are noted. Assessment of interests may reveal you may be interested in teaching, learning, cultures, clouds, adventure, or gems. In the diagnosis phase of PLN development, you will determine what you want to know about these interests and who are the thought leaders represented in these areas of interest. Mapping out a strategy for how you will link to your new found resources and how you will stay in contact fulfills the planning phase of the process. Linking with the selected individuals on social media outlets such as Blogger or Twitter quickly fulfills the implementation phase. As with patient care, evaluation is ongoing and critical to the overall success of any plan. To ensure success in the PLN development process, establish a routine to evaluate current contacts and seek out new sources to bolster and/or broaden your knowledge. Remember, it takes a team to develop an effective PLN!

     In developing my personal PLN I selected several areas of interest and searched these topics on Twitter and Google Blogs. This method was used as a means to quickly sort and study the most prolific and current leaders in their fields. As with selecting a mentor, I valued experience in my selections and I sought out thought leaders who were "nailing" my areas of interest in a thoughtful, sometimes opposing yet, timely manner. After all, current information was valuable from diverse perspectives; for, if we all agreed all the time we'd never stretch and grow. Second on my selection criteria list were blogs that were current and up to date. Out of date and irrelevant information in today's knowledge-driven environment has no value and can rapidly diverge our focus, so it is wise to look at the dates on the most recent posts. If the source was up to date on the most recent post, yet had not posted for several months in between, I passed this candidate over. 

     My initial selections for resources were based on my current interests and perceptions of the sources as noted above. Guided by my PLN plan I selected: Lisa Kidder-For The Love of Teaching, Connie Malamed-The eLearning Coach, NPR Education, and Edudemic. You may access the blogs I am following on my Blogger page, http://www.drcseaman.blogspot.com under the Blogs link or review my favorites list under the Links tab then select "My Feedly". Begin your knowledge journey with a vision and a plan. Develop a team through a PLN. The time to begin is now!

The Adult Learning Theory – Andragogy – Infographic | e-Learning Infographics

The Adult Learning Theory – Andragogy – Infographic | e-Learning Infographics

Professional Learning Networks (PLN)

     

    Developing my Professional Learning Network (PLN) will begin with a web search looking at directories of PLN sites that reflect my interests in higher education, PTE type training, healthcare occupations, and technology in teaching. I prefer to be connected to educational sites that introduce new teaching technologies and issues relating to educational leadership, and andragogical rather than pedagogical issues. I was able to connect to and join a PLN that meets these requirements. It is called edWeb.net and essentially is a vibrant, active community of leaders in education who are focused advancement and innovation. Being a member of this organizations will keep me abreast of the emerging research and technologies available to my profession. It will channel me to new knowledge of current trends and issue though discussions with others who day to day share these challenges. Knowledge will be transferred, collected and reflected upon to heighten my own understanding resulting in personal, professional, and societal growth and development.

    PLN are repositories of personal knowledge that are socialized via social media applications for the benefit of learning. According to Peritus (2013), “learning is always socially constructed and often interactive.” Realizing this we find value in learning from the experiences of others. Bingham & Conner (2010) suggest only a fragment of learning is derived from formal training. Most learning and development is a result of real time, real life experiences. On another level, learning is apparent in the reflective process where socialization unlocks the tacit knowledge making it explicit. It is the explicit knowledge that is readily shared, usable, and valuable to society.

References:

Bingham, T., Conner, M. (2010). The New Social Learning. American Society for Training &

            Development: United States.

Peritus Blog (2013). Best Practices III. Retrieved May 22, 2014 from

            http://www.lessonpaths.com/learn/i/learning-pln/best-practices-in-education-part-iii-

            peritus-blog

The Tube, The Rocket and the PC…….Technology and Learning

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/BW+TV.jpg

     When I was a child, technology was coming of age with the NASA space exploration program. I vaguely recall watching the launch of Apollo 11 mission in July of 1969, resulting in the first landing on the Moon. As my family sat before the wood encased, rounded corner television; we were awestruck at the black and white images of the astronauts, the rocket launch, and the Moon walk. This was my earliest recollection of my engagement with technology. Additionally, during this era computers emerged with the advent of integrated circuit technology and advancements moved rapidly from here.

     When I entered Dental Hygiene school in the early 1980’s, technology and learning began to merge. Dentistry was evolving rapidly with the use of digital radiography, intra-oral cameras, lasers, and computers. In the dental office I began to augment patient education with computer animated videos and digitally enhanced radiography. My experiences with technology and learning have been many and began early in life. As I worked through my career I was able to use technology to complete online continuing education courses, product update webinars, and advanced college degrees with the assistance of a personal computer (PC).  Technology has contributed greatly to my learning in many aspects. For example, I was able to work full-time and study when I could without sitting in a brick and mortar classroom for set hours.

     The learning in the technology assisted online classrooms was deeper, richer, and much more robust. I was able to access resources that would have not been available to me in the past. I learned new technologies and applications that assist me today in my career as a college professor. Interacting with other students online offered a global perspective with a greater cultural competence that would not have been gained in a traditional academic setting. This is where learning and technology really intersected in my life. I was able grow rapidly as a professional and develop a valued network of colleagues. In retrospect, where technology met learning in my life became the touchstone of measurable forward progression that is yet to yield or stop.

Hello and Welcome to My Blog! About Me..... Education Information Bachelor of Science Dental Hygiene Master of Arts in Business Administration Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership Dental Hygiene Licensure  National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer

Background/Personal Information Dr. Cindy Seaman came to the College of Southern Idaho with over 30 years practicing as a Registered Dental Hygienist. Over the years Cindy worked in a variety of settings from private practice to franchise dentistry. She is laser certified and supports evidenced-based decision making and risk management in the clinical setting. During her career she served in the capacity of Expanded Duties Dental Hygienist, Lead Hygienist, and Team Leader. Professional leadership activities include serving in officer and member positions in the local and state components of the American Dental Hygienist's Association. Dentistry has been an exciting and rewarding career which she enjoys sharing with others. Currently, Cindy is completing a Master's in Training and Development at Idaho State University which complements her interests in both education and business. Recently, she completed product development, trade marking, and marketing for Safe Sprout,  a family of biologic-based soil amendments for home gardeners who are interested in maintaining safe and sustainable environments.