My biggest challenge . . .
The biggest challenge I face is the overwhelming amount of ‘stuff’ available. By this I mean conferences, professional learning opportunities, networks, social media, and so 
on. This bombardment began about two years ago when I became a part time district technology curriculum coordinator. I advocated for part time for two reasons: (1) I felt completely leaving the classroom would limit my ability to fully explore technology integration in the field (and I love teaching) and (2) accepting the job part time gave me a teammate to collaborate with. However, with this posting, came numerous learning opportunities. In the last two years, I have attended the following (while teaching .5 FTE):
INQUIRY
2014: Technology for Inquiry Conference / Centre for Educational Leadership and 
Policy (CSELP), Vancouver, BC
2013-2014: Quality Teaching and Learning (QTL) Inquiry Cohort
2013: Creating and Leading Cultures of Inquiry, Bruce Wellman
2013: Technology for Inquiry Conference / Centre for Educational Leadership and Policy (CSELP), Vancouver, BC
Leadership & Mentorship
2013: Large Project Management / UVic Digital Humanities Institute (Dr. Lynne Siemens-two day workshop)
2013: Mentoring Matters: Learning Focused Relationships (Bruce Wellman – two day workshop)
21st Century / Personalized Learning
2013: International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference, San Antonio, Texas (five day conference)
2013: IT4K12 Conference on “Technology Enabling Innovation & Learning” / Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium (ERAC), Vancouver, BC, (two day conference)
2013: ConnectEd Canada at the Calgary Science School, Calgary, AB (three day conference)
2013: “Enacting 21st Century School and University Research Partnerships” UVic Personalized Learning 21 (PL21) Working Group, Victoria, BC
2013: K-12 Transformation and Curriculum Directions (Maureen Dockendorf & Rod Allen)
2012: Computer Using Educators of BC (CUE BC) Conference, Vancouver, BC
2012: International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference, San Diego, California (five day conference)
2012: Dialogue 2012: A joint initiative of UVic’s Faculty of Education, BC’s Ministry of Education, School Districts 61, 62, 63, & 64 and John Abbott. Victoria, BC
Diversity
2012: Kurzweil 3000 (two sessions)
Restitution
2012: Restitution I (Judy Anderson-one day workshop)
2012: Restitution III (Diane Gossen-one day workshop)
Curriculum & Instruction
2013: British Columbia Teachers of English Language Arts (BCTELA) Conference (2 days)
2012-2013: Canadian Literature for Social Justice Inquiry Project (UVic)
Overwhelmed . . .
In addition, I finished my Masters (with a focus on Digital Literacy) and now have embarked on my Teacher-Librarianship Diploma. There is so much to learn my brain 
feels as if it’s bleeding half the time and just when I think I have grasped a concept it evolves, expands or even completely morphs into something else!
So, as mentioned, I struggle with feeling overwhelmed. My latest strategy is to attempt to slow down and accept I cannot learn everything at once, that I need to focus on specific goals, such as incorporating inquiry into my class. Then, I actually have to give myself the time and space to learn, mess up and reflect that I try so hard to give my students. I’ve come to realize how unforgiving I can be with myself as a learner. As well, I am beginning to accept that I cannot participate in all the opportunities that come my way (at least not well) and that I will need to say no (which still kills me).
What to do . . .
In addition to all the resources available around me (as outlined in the above list), my 
main resource is my teammate Dawn Anderson and my colleagues. Nothing motivates, inspires and sustains me more than being able to collaborate with fellow teachers experimenting in similar areas. The stories, humor, successes and muck ups remind me that I’m a learner too and that there is always support to be had.
Social media networks are a challenge for me as it seems every conference or workshop I go to attempts to create PLN that they want to sustain beyond the session. Although an admirable goal, when you attend as many of these as I do, participating sustainably in so main networks is unrealistic. Again, this brings me to having only one or two main objectives that would then allow me to choose one or two networks that supported these objectives.
Educators and professionals are connecting and sharing their learning through conferences, district initiatives, informally in schools and, of course, through social media. A specific network that is just emerging is the BC EdTech Mentorship Network which I hope will provide a “one stop shop” or portal if you will for the busy teacher looking for support around technology integration. For example, the network provides “how to” videos on incorporating new technology:
The main thing I think I can do during this class and after it is over to maintain my 
connections and networks and to further develop my knowledge, experience and skills would be to slow down, focus on a few specific goals and to choose networks, resources and learning opportunities that serve those specific objectives rather than my current scatter gun approach. I believe I’ve accomplished breadth; now I aim for depth.
I am a huge fan of documenting our learning as teachers. This list of conferences you have attended is impressive (!) and great to have in one long list to give you a sense of areas you might want to explore more in depth. You have inspired me to try to do the same. I particularly like how you arranged them under key headings for ease of reference.
Furthermore, I couldn’t agree more with your statement that you need to “focus on a few specific goals and to choose networks, resources and learning opportunities that serve those specific objectives rather than my current scatter gun approach.” I, too, feel this is my weakness as a teacher and learner. My classroom feels very busy because we are working on too many things at once. I am taking a lesson from one of my PLN members: to focus on what is important and to let the rest fill in the space (should any space be left!).
Thanks for the embedded video about Aurasma. I like the idea of QR codes, and think that this may add a new dimension to my use of QR codes in Math.
Well done post! I think we’ve all been there, where there is so much happening all at once, you get dizzy just from thinking about it! Your strategy for slowing things down, focusing your attention, simplifying your explorations and narrowing your field is a good idea! More depth, less breadth at this time will help you where you need it most. Excellent list of all your Pro-d, this can be super helpful in reflecting where you’ve been and help guide you where you still want to go! Thanks for the shout-out to the ETMN! We are hoping to get the website live pretty soon and have some opportunities for online collaboration and networking. Overall, a solid, honest post about the realities of taking all this in, and the importance of slowing down to digest it all!
Wow. Very interesting to read about your career path. Your masters certainly sounds interesting…Likely you’ve already covered a lot of the terrain that we are cruising in this course.
Thanks for the link to the BC Ed Tech Site. I’m checking it out now…
(Oh, and I can certainly relate to your ‘slow it down, can’t learn it all’ struggle! That seems to be our modern conundrum as teachers. Also, very professional-looking site 🙂
I hear what you’re saying! It seems that through our connectedness and having the world at our finger tips a revolving door of information is occurring. While we have the best of intentions to return to an idea to explore it deeper, it is so easy to become waylaid on the next headline. I actually feel myself absorbing less, while reading more. It sounds like we all need that reminder to stop, breathe, and focus!