Here we are at the end of the 9x9x25 blog for the third year in a row. Each year it seems to get easier to come up with ideas to write about. My latest strategy is to gather notes when I go to conferences and then to blog about these. As long as I have been a teacher here at Yavapai College, I remember going to conferences and then coming home full of enthusiasm to put into action the new ideas I have gathered. Then I get back here and get overwhelmed with the pace of teaching and going to meetings and find little time or energy to initiate these new ideas. Just knowing I can write about these ideas helps me to keep my commitment to myself to remember and apply what I have learned.
Why just last weekend I went to an OnCourse one day conference at Paradise Community College and came home with a few new ideas. Will these end up in a 9x9x25 blog next fall? We shall see, but I do enjoy writing these thoughts down and sharing them with the rest of my colleagues who didn't go to the same conference. Just imagine how smart we would all be if everyone shared even a few of the top ideas s/he learn at conferences, workshops, and other training events.
I also find it is worthwhile to talk about practical experiences from the classroom. Many of my colleagues have been writing about their time teaching math, nursing, physical education, humanities, and so on. I enjoy hearing from faculty who teach other subject areas. We share many of the same challenges as well as blessings.
One more valuable topic for blogs is technology tools. I have written about using the Kindle, iPad, and iPhone in different blogs. Actually, I have found the Kindle to be best used for stress reduction after a long day of meetings. But I do find technology tools to be gaining more and more importance and availability for our students.
Lastly, I find the 9x9x25 blog to be a great place to share important changes here at the college. This semester I wrote about the First Year Experience class that Amber Davies-Sloan and I are co-coordinating. This blog was primarily written to let the rest of our colleagues know what changes are taking place with this class. This class is foundational to helping first-year students at Yavapai College become familiar with college success strategies, gain personal responsibility, and become familiar with all of the support built into our system.
Todd, thank you for creating the 9x9x25 opportunity. I have enjoyed writing each blog. Each blog seems to be easier to write as well. I hope that more of my colleagues will take the challenge next fall. You will be glad you did. Even without the cookies, ice cream, conference bags, plants, books, and so on, it has been worth it. Signing off one more time!
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