Leading Connected Classrooms: Engaging the Hearts and Souls of Learners

Help your students find and keep the joy in learning! When creative use of technology meets outstanding teaching, incredible learning happens. This insightful guide is for all educators ready to move into a new commitment to true learning. Principal and respected digital educator Robert Dillon shows readers how to: Use student engagement to promote authentic, thoughtful learning Learn how 16 innovative connected educators provided incredible learning opportunities for their students Implement new technology resources and strategies for all classrooms and grade levels Help students build critical thinking skills and gain confidence in their unique voices "This book combines the voices of seasoned connected educators with great suggestions for growth for those new to building connected classrooms as well as those educators who have been connected for years. Most importantly, the book paints hope for how we can build the connections in classrooms that all kids deserve." Thomas C. Murray, State and District Digital Learning Director Alliance for Excellent Education, Washington, DC "Dillon provides useful tips and resources for transforming your classes into communities in which students help each other succeed. This book is full of examples of teachers using technology to support collaboration and motivate students. Integrating technology is a tough journey, but teachers who implement the tips in this book will see how taking that journey transforms their practice and helps them make meaningful connections with their students." Shelly Terrell, Education Speaker and Trainer, Author Being a connected educator is a requirement today for relevant teaching. However, often, many do not know what effects being connected has on learning. What Bob lays out in this book are the stories and methods every educator needs to know to ensure they are providing the best possible learning for students. The ideas are practical and can work in classrooms that are rich with technology or even those without. A must-add to any professional library." Steven W. Anderson, @web20classroom, Author, The Relevant Educator

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments About the Author Chapter 1 Sharing and Collaboration: The Engine for the Connected Classroom Chapter 2 Respecting the Power of Student Choice Chapter 3 A Passion for Learning Chapter 4 Knowing the Core of Your Learning Chapter 5 Learning That I Never Expected Chapter 6 From the Mouths of Babes Chapter 7 Everyone Listens to a Kid Chapter 8 Student Voice Breeds Opportunities to Change the World Chapter 9 The Final Resting Place for Student Work Chapter 10 Engaging Your Community as Listening Partners Chapter 11 The World as the Playground for Learning Chapter 12 Authentic Audience Grows Innovative Learners Chapter 13 When Communities See Students as Assets Chapter 14 Schools as Idea Incubators Chapter 15 Service Learning: A Catalyst for Community Change Chapter 16 Connecting the Pieces Chapter 17 Educational Leaders as the Catalysts of Change Index

About the Author :
Dr. Robert Dillon serves the students and community of the Affton School District as Director of Technology and Innovation. Prior to this position, he served as a teacher and administrator in public schools throughout the Saint Louis area. Dr. Dillon has a passion to change the educational landscape by building excellent engaging schools for all students. He looks for ways to ignite positive risk taking in teachers and students and release trapped wisdom into the system by growing networks of inspired educators. Dr. Dillon has had the opportunity to speak throughout the country at local, state, and national conferences as well as share his thoughts and ideas in a variety of publications. He is supported by his wife, Sandra and two daughters, Emily and Ellie. Dr. Dillon is also an avid runner, reader and cyclist.

Review :
"Being a connected educator is a requirement today for relevant teaching. However, often, many do not know what effects being connected has on learning. What Bob lays out in this book are the stories and methods every educator needs to know to ensure they are providing the best possible learning for students. The ideas are practical and can work in classrooms that are rich with technology or even those without. A must-add to any professional library." "Leading Connected Classrooms is not just any technology integration book. Robert Dillon provides useful tips and resources for transforming your classes into communities in which students help each other succeed. This book is full of examples of teachers using technology to support collaboration and motivate students. Integrating technology is a tough journey like most learning adventures. However, teachers who implement the tips in this book will see how taking that journey transform their practice and helps them make meaningful connections with their students." "The layout of the book is structured in a way that helps me to feel organized as I am reading, learning, and taking notes for future use. The resources are relevant to the classroom connection so I can continue making connections after I am finished reading, and the book gives many excellent examples but also allows room for you to think and grow through the essential questions available in every chapter. This book is well worth your time!" "Leading Connected Classrooms: Engaging the Hearts and Souls of Learners is a great book for all teachers and teacher leaders. It combines the voices of seasoned connected educators with great suggestions for growth for those new to building connected classrooms as well as those educators that have been connected for years. Dr. Dillon writes with an optimism that is contagious. The energy of the words jump from each page. Most importantly,  the book paints a hope on how we can build the connections in classrooms that all kids deserve."