Informal Learning Survey - Nov. 25-28, 2009

“What have you learned with/from Dr.
Alec Couros”
Informal Survey – November 25-28, 2009 – Record #1
Name:
Brennen Schmidt
Most recent line of work:
Undergraduate & Entrepreneur
Location:
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

What have you learned from/with Alec Couros?
First and foremost, I have learned what Open Thinking is, as well as
how much potential/possibilities it has. I have learned how to use
Twitter, as well as how to incorporate modern technology into the
classroom from Alec; this has been very beneficial for my pre-
internship at the U of R, as I have received a LOT of praise for my
technological literacy and interest - something that I must credit Alec
for. Simply put, I was interested in technology before; Alec was the
catalyst for making me use it in my educational program.
In what ways have you shared what you have learned

from/with Alec Couros?
In what ways have I not shared what I have learned from Alec Couros is
a better question! I am a part of his EC&I 831 class, which is super
exciting for me, as I look forward to being a part of the Elluminate
session after my final night class each week! I sound like a genius in
my classes, as an undergrad, and I sound like the most intelligent
person bringing up such topics in class such as: "contructionism v
constructionism" and "open vs. closed education," to name a few.
Moreover, Alec has allowed me to get a glimpse into what the Master's
program is like, and quite frankly (after being a part of EC&I 831) I am
appalled at the insignificant and useless stuff that undergrads learn -
compared to Master's students! I am now looking forward to getting
my undergrad completed, so that I can take my Masters (and hopefully
be in Alec's class - officially!)
“What have you learned with/from Dr. Alec Couros”
Name:
Dave Childers
Principal
Location:
Fresno, CA
In just a few months of following Dr. Couros on Twitter, I have

benefited immensely from the thought-provoking discussions that he
has both initiated and participated in. He regularly posts items that
make me reassess some of the assumptions that I have made and
practices that I have instilled as a high school principal. He has shared
his own thoughts, his own teachings, as well as the work of some of his
colleagues and students as evidence that educational technology is
about impacting teaching and learning, not just about fancy gadgets.
In conclusion, by highlighting the importance of practices over tools,
Dr. Couros has made my own practices that much more effective.

I regularly share Dr. Couros's work with my own staff, as well as my

colleagues on Twitter. I have referred individuals to his blog,
recommended that staff members visit and utilize resources that he
has shared, and soon I will include all of his work as reference links on
my own educational technology blog.
Name:
Richard Nostbakken
Technology Director,Teacher
Location:
Regina (Luther College)

I have been following Alec's Tuesday evening course. Apart from the
content, which is significant, I am interested in the methodology of
presentation and the active use of backchannel and live real time
participation off campus.

I teach Information Processing 20. I am attempting to use the

innovations he demonstrates. Twitter/blogs/text messages are part of
the class routine and cell phone texting is an active resource. We are
able to combine big screen presentations with active participation.
Name:
Debbie Gleason
stay at home mom
Location:
Chicago, IL, USA

I have learned about how technology especially Open Source can be

used in education. I caught online his keynote address at University of
Delaware. As a result, I am contemplating how gift economy can be
applied to education. Thinking about how we can reform education in
a post industrialized society.

I know Alec Couros from Twitter. We have opportunity on occasion to

exchange ideas if we are online at the same time.
Name:
John Lawrence MMT, MTA
Session instructor - Concordia University College
Location:
Edmonton, AB
Thanks to Alec Couros, I was introduced to the social networking

revolution, the creation of a personal learning network (PLN) and
Twitter. I now use these tools on a regular basis and have undertaken
more research into e-learning, for educational and professional
purposes.

I have connected with him via Twitter, often following links that he
provides to his presentations or those of other colleagues. He has also
given me some great pointers when I have asked for information about
a particular subject or topic (related to e-learning and/or technology).
Name:
Dan Reid
Teacher
Location:
Vernon, British Columbia

I first met Alec as a member of his EDST 499K summer institute course
at UBC Okanagan. Alec introduced me to the power of social media
and it has transformed my teaching and learning. Alec introduced me
to the value of having a PLN (Personal Learning Network) and the
professional development that I can do independently through contact
with my PLN via Twitter and other tools. Alec also expanded my
knowledge of Google Docs and Google Apps, and I have chosen to
focus my masters project on my use of these tools with my students.
After learning so much by taking Alec's course at UBC Okanagan I

decided to take his EC&I 831 course this fall. I am enrolled as a for-
credit student in this course and I continue to learn valuable
information about educational technology and how it is changing
education. I also see the Alec's influence on others in the large number
of non-enrolling students that take part in our sessions every week.
I know that I will continue to learn from Alec long after my time as a
formal student of his comes to an end. He has played a key role in
transforming my views on education and educational technology and I
feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from him.

I routinely share what I have learned from Alec with others. I have
passed on some of the skills and tools that I learned about to my work
colleagues in both formal and informal professional development
settings. Alec remains a key member of my Twitter PLN and I routinely
"retweet" or share ideas about education and social media to other
members of my PLN. I am also sharing what I learned about Google
Docs and Google Apps from Alec with my school and district
administrators as a part of my masters project.
Name:
Colleen Rampelt
Teacher-Librarian
Location:
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

I was first introduced to Alec via two of his very helpful and engaging
presentations at the recent ECOO conference (Nov. 2009). I am now
learning from/with Alec everyday as I read his Twitter posts and check
out the resources/ideas/links that he shares. I learn from his questions
and from his answers. He has been very instrumental in connecting
educators and finding support/resources for colleagues in education.
He is masterful at helping others to help each other!

I have shared Alec's resources/ideas/links/questions/answers with my

colleagues. More than that though, I am learning about how to share
his mindset (that of open sharing and learning) with others... that has
been the best part and the greatest learning!
Name:
Irmeli Aro
Network Co-ordinator
Location:
Espoo, Finland
How to transform out-dated ways of working by implementing social

media in the way of working, thinking, visualizing, sharing and
knowledge management

Recommended his open courses in my blog, 2009/365 photos, regular

re-tweeting. I've mentioned his name in a number of meetings /
workshops as an example of how to really put social media in practice
in a way that reduces the pain the out-dated ways of working produce
(i.e. ways still in use in majority of organization in my country). I've
transformed my way of learning and working and distribute this new
attitude on a daily basis.
Name:
Chris Craft
Doctoral Candidate
Location:
Columbia, SC USA
Over the years of interacting with Dr. Couros I have learned about the
benefits of open and networked learning. As a middle school teacher
and doctoral student, he has influenced my teaching despite us being
separated by thousands of miles.
Dr. Couros has provided a constant source of inspiration for me to

continue innovating my own teaching and learning. He has also
become a personal friend over the years and one that I cherish. The
transparency of his own learning and his desire to share are admirable,
and personally beneficial.
Dr. Couros regularly presents ideas that run counter to my own,

causing a disequilibration that is welcome as I progress in my own
doctoral studies, nearing dissertation. While the distance between us
would normally prevent me from studying with Dr. Couros, through the
connective power of technology Dr. Couros has impacted my learning,
my dissertation, and my life.

Dr. Couros and I regularly interact in Twitter, as well as through his

well-written blog.
I am also familiar with his online courses, and have watched many a
presentation that Dr. Couros has given. These presentations are
usually keynotes at technology conferences which he is ready and
willing to share.
Name:
Ben Hazzard
Program Consultant: Assessment & Evaluation - K to 12, Lambton Kent

District School Board
Location:
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Alec Couros has been instrumental to my learning and research. Alec

provided the forum and connection for my understanding of the
emerging concept of connectivism. Mr. Couros didn't just expound
knowledge, instead he engaged me in a conversation with his graduate
level class in which the leading theorists in connectivism were
presenting. The conversation was rich due to the fact that Alec had
opened the virtual doors of his classroom and welcomed engaged and
passionate learners into the discussion. My learning from Alec directly
affected my research and M.Ed. thesis at UWO. In fact, he is directly
thanked in my acknowledgments.

What I learned from Alec Couros has been shared within the education
academic community and the general education community. The
thesis that Mr. Couros impacted through joint discussion was
recognized at CSSE with a national award of recognition and the poster
presentation shared this new learning with a traditional academic
audience.
The outcome of my thesis, which used a Design as Education Research

methodology, was an interactive website - teachersconnecting.com
This site was developed as a synthesis of various data sources learning
from Mr. Couros. There are now over 800 teachers around the world
using this tool and the impact on education is great. Mr. Couros
assisted my learning of key concepts that were drawn on to inform this
research object that had a practical application.
Name:
Martin Weller
Professor of Educational Technology, The Open University
Location:
Cardiff, UK
I would categorise what I have learned from Alec as threefold:
Resources: There are many resources I have discovered as Alec is an

excellent source of these, ranging from videos to papers. Most people
in your network share resources, but Alec is particularly active in this
and would count in my top five of useful resource gatherers.
Process: Alec has been a useful peer in rethinking many of the

processes associated with scholarship. I am leading a research project
on 'digital scholarship' which is examining the ways in which new
technologies are impacting upon all areas of scholarly practice. The
manner in which Alec runs his open course, gives presentations and
even this process of seeking tenure are all relevant to this work.
Dialogue: Alec forms part of the network I have established (with

people I have never actually met), who are engaged in a loosely-
coupled, distributed conversation about new technologies, scholarship
and changes in the education and other business models. As such he is
both a useful resource and also a person with whom one develops
ideas.

I keep two main blogs: edtechie.net and

http://nogoodreason.tumblr.com/ - the latter in particular is where I
share any resources I come across, many of these I owe to Alec. In
addition I have given presentations which include ideas from Alec and
am currently working on a digital scholarship paper which again bears
some of his influence.
Name:
Heather M. Ross
Course Designer, Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and

Technology (SIAST)
Location:
Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Since I started in the field of educational technology, Alec Couros has

been one of the people I have always looked to for guidance. He
introduced me to blogging, wikis and a host of other tools and methods
for engaging learners, developing my own learning and actively
participating in an ever growing online network of educators.

I constantly share with colleagues, students and even those outside of

education the things that I have learned through Alec, whether the
information came from a presentation that he has given or a post on
Twitter. I blog about things I've learned from Alec, "retweet" his posts
on Twitter and find myself frequently saying, "Well, Alec Couros
says ..."
Name:
Lisa Read
Info Tech teacher/facilitator
Location:
Duncan BC
I connected to Dr. Couros through my Twitter network. On a daily basis

he posts comments and links to things that are entertaining, thought
provoking and challenging. Like any good teacher, he provides an
opportunity to learn/look at things from a different POV. His Elluminate
sessions are another example-- part of a course he is facilitating for a
graduate program, he has opened the sessions to the Twitter-public. I
have been able to attend a handful of them, and every time it has
made me reflect not only on the content (always current, relevant an
interesting) but also on this new movement of Open education. Rather
than "fearing" I will "steal" his ideas for my own course, he welcomes
and encourages sharing and collaboration. A prime example of how
this "pay it forward method" works, I was able to send him some
links/documents that I had put together for a class he was doing on
that topic.

Perhaps not as much content as approach. I have been certain, for a

long time, that his style of teaching/sharing-- being in the academic
community-- was the "right" one, but I hadn't found the venue yet
where that open, collaborative model thrived. I am now part of his PLN
just as he is part of mine, and the sharing continues to grow as the
network does
Name:
Paul R Wood
Administrator & Director of Technology
Location:
Dallas, TX, United States

I have learned that it is important to share information, for in sharing

we not only become better we become stronger. Dr. Couros has been
instrumental in helping me gear my teaching of my high school
students toward open thinking and learning in our classroom setting. I
continually look to Alec for insights on the different way things can be
done in my own world of education. As a result of things I have learned
from Alec, my classroom is an open think tank striving toward
understanding of the topic of Social Justice with Alec's own Social
Justice wiki the center of our focus to use as a starting point in our
endeavors. http://couros.wikispaces.com/socialjustice

As a result of what I have learned from Alec, I approach any

professional development with my faculty in a manner that is
consistent with what Alec has taught me, open, sharable,
implementable and useful. That has caused me to personally stretch
my limits in a manner which causes me to continually strive for new
heights in my own learning. I just wish my own grad school professors
approached teaching, learning and openness the way that Alec has
shown and taught. They do not know what they are missing.
Name:
Don Dietrich, BBA, BEd, MDE
Course Designer, SIAST Virtual Campus
Location:
Regina, SK, Canada

Hello and thanks for this opportunity to say a few words on behalf of
Alec.
Although I have never been formally enrolled as one of Alec Couros's

students, I have learned many things from Alec over the years. Most
notably, he has helped me to see the relevance of Web technologies to
my own ongoing professional learning, and to the learning
opportunities that I prepare for many students at SIAST.
I appreciate Alec's thoughtful discussions of the ethics around the use

of these technologies. Because of this thoughtfulness, Alec is
recognized by many in the educational community.
Alec is one of the few people that I follow on Twitter and Google
Reader. I have attended several of his conference and inservice-type
workshops. From those I have come away with ideas that are
immediately useful, and some that have needed to percolate for a
while.
All in all, I believe that Alec is a strong candidate for the tenure track
and I wish him much success!

1. As an instructional designer, I have applied many of Alec's

suggestions in the courses I design for SIAST. In particular, since
learning about the ways Alec uses them, I now incorporate blogs and
wikis in a variety of courses.
2. Following Alec's lead, I designed a wiki application for use by the

executive of a non-profit organization in Regina.
3. I use social bookmarking to share interesting web links with different

communities of users.
Name:
Ellyn Schaffner
Masters Student/Teacher/Administrator
Location:
Halkirk, Alberta Canada

Through various conversations, I have secured and validated my own

beliefs surrounding developmentally honoured education for children
of all ages. Alec has sparked an interest of mine and has motivated
me, on several occasions, to write about those inspirations. His
openness and expertise allows other educators to be comfortable in his
presence and after twenty-one years of classroom teaching, I am
grateful for the connection that I have made with him through Social
Media channels, in order to continue on with my exploration of present
and future educational endeavours.

The shared experiences have been driven and guided through the use
of blogging and twitter. We have shared experiences, writings,
explorations and reflections.
Some specific topics surround - communication's servers, being

present, locating information to enhance knowledge and support skills,
trust in education...
Name:
Diane Cordell
K-12 School Library Media Specialist
Location:
Queensbury, NY
In addition to educational content, I have learned the power of online

interaction, both through "attending" his classes and engaging in
dialogue with his students. Alec frequently leads me to looking closer,
investigate more deeply, my approach to education.

I have used his ideas as the foundation for some of my own blog
postings and shared his insights with my PLN (personal/professional
learning network) on social networking sites like Twitter and Plurk.
Name:
Chris Collins
IT Analyst, University of Cincinnati
Location:
Cincinnati, OH, US
Alec Couros is an indispensable part of my personal and professional

learning network. I've participated in many open discussions with him
about the future of education and open access learning materials, and
he's shared copious amounts of research and examples that I've then
used in my own courses and projects. He's been a trailblazer in
creating a culture of open access education and I consider him one of
the brightest lights in our field.

Alec's work encouraged me to explore ways that I could contribute to

the network - posting, linking, sharing, inviting all comers to share in
both the process and the results of my research and projects. Through
Twitter, blogs, virtual worlds like Second Life, RSS feeds, and other
online resources, Alec has helped teach a new generation of educators
how to best leverage the web to BE better teachers.
Name:
Jeannine St. Amand
Mom, School Board Chair
Location:
Hanwell, N.B.
My interest in the use of technology in education stems from a desire

to empower students in their own learning. I have long been an
advocate for parent participation and increased student voice in k-12
education. As an individual involved in education governance in New
Brunswick I believe our ability to move the system toward a
participative, learner centric model has been greatly improved by the
tools of modern technology.
Early on in my exploration of the use of technology in K-12 education I

found myself a participant in the “edublogosphere”. Numerous times I
was pointed to the work of Alec Couros because he is so well regarded
by many people who have an interest in the same things that I do. His
ability to engage his students, other educators, and people like me in
the work that he does, has made him an enduring part of my personal
learning network (PLN).
But what have I learned from Dr. Couros?
Because Alec is a part of my PLN I have learned that the participative,

learner centric model I desire has the potential to be even greater than
I imagined. I have learned that the more you share of your own
personal learning journey, the greater the learning of those around you
becomes. I have learned that the best way to ensure the learning of
those around us is to ensure that the systems we work in, and the tools
and the networks we engage with, are as open and accessible as
possible.
I am a mother, a board member, a curious person - I am a networked

learner. I am thankful for the open educators in my network, including
Alec Couros, who have pushed my thinking and who have shown me
the best learning ecology favours adaptability, equality, and openness.

I have shared what I have learned by encouraging those I interact with

to demonstrate their own learning journey to others, by pushing for
open source products when possible, by spreading open education
ideas in social networks I participate in, by encouraging people to learn
more by attending the session he will give in Saint John, NB next
spring!
Name:
Todd Grant
Special Education Teacher
Location:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin
Alec Couros's EC&I 831 Social Media and Open Education course has
deepened my thinking on the role and implications of social media in
my personal learning and my students' learning. The walls of the
classroom have come down to be replaced by a more fluid approach to
learning.
Prior to exposure to the class I saw web 2.0 as simply another tool that
could be used to make a flashier product or simply a gimmick that
would capture students' attention for the 50 minutes or so that I had
them in class. Through the course, following Dr. Couros on twitter and
reading his blog, I now have a better understanding of the true power
of the tool. The true power comes in the connections that are made
that lead to the learner being self-directed in the paths their learning
takes, which has been the result in my personal learning. I have also
been led to self-reflect on my own teaching methods to become more
of a guide in the classroom, modeling the behavior (or language,
according to Stephen Downes in his presentation to the EC&I831 class)
that leads to deeper learning.
What I've learned from Dr. Couros can be summarized as the real
power of web 2.0 is in the connections that are made which can lead
learning in unlimited and sometimes unexpected directions and that
learning in this way is enjoyable and engaging.
Name:
Jeff Mozdzierz
Director of Educational Technolgoy and Information Systems
Location:
Rochester, MI USA
I have the pleasure of being connected to Dr. Couros through the PLP -
Ontario cohort this year. While never meeting Dr. Couros in a
traditional academic setting, I feel lucky to have him in my Personal
Learning Network. Through the use of Ning and twitter I have access to
many of his insightful educational views and thoughts. His sharing of
information through twitter has helped me grow in my position as
Director of Educational Technology.
I believe the most important thing I've learned from Dr. Couros is that
in this day and age of technology, the more you invest in your learning
(networks) the more you get out (for yourself, colleagues and students)

Conversation, re-tweets, presentations, district committees, planning

sessions, staff updates
Name:
jclerch
Secondary Teacher
Location:
Atyrau, Kazakhstan
Alec is a constant presence as part of my PLN. His links are

consistently excellent; I have used many of them in my classroom with
great success. Learning here in Atyrau, Kazakhstan is enhanced
because of Alec. I have learned not only content, but attitude as well.
Alec's online attitude has taught me the importance of optimism and
honesty. He teaches without being demeaning or arrogant, a quality
that I really appreciate, and have learned from.

I often use information forwarded by Alec directly in my classroom. My

students love learning new technology that often comes to me via
Alec. One of my students once asked me, "Who is this Couros guy
anyway?" They know him by name, and they appreciate what he does
for them, as do I. I have also shared his links with colleagues.
Name:
Jennifer Wagner
IT/Help Desk
Location:
Murrieta, CA, USA

I have learned much from Alec Couros this past year.
I have learned that he is a humble man who realizes that as an

educator he must also always remain a learner.
I have learned that he is a generous man and does not limit his
students to his own intelligence but also allows them the chance to
learn from others.
I have learned that he is a family man and that the wows of technology
will always take a back seat to the JOYS of family.
I have learned that he is a learned man and have seen him argue both
sides of an argument and both participants walked away as winners.
I have learned that he is a man who shares and makes his teaching,
thoughts, and resources available to any and all who wish to learn from
him.

Probably not as much as I should ....
I invite people to join us in the Tuesday night class.
I have commented on his students blogs and thoughts.
I have mentioned him a few times on my own blog,

Name:
Ira David Socol
Ph.D. Candidate, Research and Teaching Assistant, Special Education

Technology Scholar
Location:
East Lansing, MI USA
Dr. Couros has been a strong supporter of my teaching and research

during the past year as I pursue my Ph.D. in Special Education
Technology at the College of Education at Michigan State University.
His sharing of teaching strategies and research in educational
technology has added significantly to my knowledge base and my
practice, impacting both my dissertation (on the subject of the
intersection of human communications technology, education, and
concepts of ability and disability) and the ways in which I teach CEP
452 at MSU.
In particular Dr. Couros's investigations into the meaning and adoption

of open learning technologies, and his willingness to share that
research broadly and effectively, have pushed my own research into
new areas. His insistence on strong research methods and effective
communication of ideas has made my research significantly stronger.

I know Dr. Couros from Twitter, but since "meeting" him there, I have
learned from him through his Twitter feed, his blog, his open, on-line
course, and through email conversation, as well as through articles and
data he has referred me to. In exchange, I have shared with Dr. Couros
my research and knowledge via the same social networking and
communication systems. In addition, Dr. Couros has given me new
opportunities to review academic writing, allowing me to strengthen
my skills in that area, and has helped me to become a better live
presenter through my observations of his work, and via supportive
conversations.
I consider Dr. Couros to be an essential part of an informal, but fully

effective, academic "committee," which is as important to my
academic development as any other part of my Ph.D. program, and I
am deeply appreciative of his commitment to our global learning
community.
Name:
Hadass Eviatar
Substitute Teacher
Location:
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Alec Couros has introduced me to open teaching and learning, with his
generous gift of time and patience. His deep thinking on the subject of
learning has definitely influenced my own practice and thought on the
matter.
I wish I had had the opportunity to learn with Alec when I was a pre-
service teacher.

I am fortunately to share a Personal Learning Community with Alec, so

I have been able to discuss his ideas with other educators.
Name:
Chris Harbeck
Grade 8 Math Teacher
Location:
Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada

Alec offers a graduate course every year. He opens this course up to

others from around the world. We can join and learn from his classes
every week. This model of open educating is very important. He is
showing us the power of transparency. How to have a class and have
a world wide audience.
That Alec is teaching this to students in Saskatchewan makes your

province a world leader in education training. I only wish that we had
this course for credit in Manitoba. But here lies the beauty of what
Alec is doing. No matter where you are you can attend his course. Be
it in Canada, North America or the world Alec is allowing anyone to
learn.
He models what he teaches.
Alec is a leader in the educational community on twitter. He is always

there to support his network of learners. He reads, writes and shares
so many powerful experiences with all of us. I will say when Alec
tweets we all listen.
I have learned how to improve my practice and pedagogy within my

own classroom. He has shown me tools and modeled techniques that
apply to my current students.

I participate in many "free" online courses. In these courses I always

use the lessons that I have learned from Alec. In presentations in my
own province I have spread the word of open education. Always
mentioning the ability of a course to be transparent and available to all
24 hours a day 7 days a week.
I cannot count the amount of retweets I have sent out to my network

on twitter. Not that it matters much but all of them follow Alec's
tweets too.
When Alec speaks I listen, think and even mash up what he is saying to
make it work for the students I teach.
Thank you Alec for being a leader

Name:
Derek Moore
Instructional Designer
Location:
Pietermaritzburg, South africa

Alec is THE networked teacher. He's been very willing to share freely,
model open access and discover & engage with hidden audiences. I've
learned much from both his content and his manner.

I've been teaching an educational technology module to approximately

80 pre-service teachers in at at the local university. Alec's course
outlines and wiki pages have provided me with ideas and inspiration. I
have also had to put proposals together for the establishment of an
education technology centre, and some of Alecs papers and research
that he posted on the 'net was useful as I pulled the idea together
Name:
Lisa Winebrenner
Instructional Systems Specialist
Location:
Fayetteville, NC
I participated in the WebHeads in Action (WiAOC) presentation Alec

gave 5/23/09 Open & Networked Teaching: A Transformative Journey.
While I want to participate in other courses Alec offers between my job,
my volunteering w/teens and my own educational pursuit I end up
reviewing his archived presentations.

I referenced Alec Couros in a few assignments as he mentions the

comment from the Dissertation Committee stating that they would
probably be the only ones who read his dissertation besides his mother
and provide the link to Alec's dissertation link. With the Webheads in
Action events I am proposing that I be allowed to defend my
dissertation in an open and networked environment rather than
teleconference and PowerPoint. I try to support his students when Alec
posts a request on Twitter and I am on a homework break. Sad but true
part of this...I can remember Alec Couros' name better than the last 10
online facilitators, educators or mentors that have led courses I have
taken
Name:
Wendy Jackson B.A., M.A. B. Ed., OCT
On-line Additional Qualifications Instructor, Faculty of Education,

Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario.
Location:
Vittoria, Ontario, Canada
Initially, Dr. Couros provided me with numerous types of web 2.0 sites
(via Twitter) that I could use in teaching English at the secondary level.
Resources are important, but perhaps more importantly, Dr. Couros
and his philosophy about open technology and education has made me
rethink some of my initial trepidation in using web 2.0 in teaching and
learning. His blog and his presence on Twitter provide a major source
of professional development for me. I hope to get to a conference
where he is speaking in the future.

I teach online Additional Qualifications courses for teachers for Queen's

university. The course has a major module on technology and
teaching. Although a relative newcomer to the Web 2.0 world, I
endeavor to share with those teachers the importance of preparing
their students for 21st century literacy skills and to engage those
professionals in dialogue and discussion on open technology and
education. I share routinely information, sites, articles and blogs
shared by Dr. Couros. I also try to comment on the blogs of his
education students, whenever he requests that via Twitter. It is great
to see these future educators embracing the skills needed for teaching
in the future.
Name:
Mike Nantais
Assistant Professor
Location:
Brandon, MB, Canada

Alec has been a valuable member of my PLN, especially as I begin a

new career as a teacher educator. I met Alec when I was considering
applying to UR for a PhD program. Although I have decided to attend
the UM, I often lament the fact that I would not be working with Alec.
He is a forward thinker and very approachable for advice, input,
resources and conversation. I have obtained valuable resources for my
own work from Alec through my PLN, email, his web sites/blog and
listening to some of his presentations online.Even though I do not know
Alec really well personally, it seems like I do from exchanges in Twitter
or via email. Alec is certainly deserving of tenure/promotion at UR.

I have shared many of the resources and ideas I have obtained from
Alec with colleagues and students in my classes.
Name:
Kristina D.C. Hoeppner
research assistant at University of Luxembourg
Location:
Luxembourg
I think I came across the writing of Alec early in 2008 when somebody
mentioned his blog either in a blog post or presentation. Alec is an
open scholar who blogs, opens his classrooms and gives presentations
that are either livestreamed or at least recorded. That way I was and
still am able to follow his work from afar. He sets an example of how
scholars can teach, learn, facilitate, do mentoring, interact, and
engage their learners in the 21st century. Alec uses the technology
available to him to foster the learning not just of his "formal" students,
but of himself and also of all others who are interested in his work.
I have been influenced in many ways because his work and his
questions encourage me to reflect my own presence online in general
and in the community of educational technologists, my teaching, my
use of media. Alec's microblogging on Twitter proves to be a wealth of
information similar to Stephen Downes "OLDaily". He lets us know
about web sites and videos to check out that are connected to the field
of media use (in education). In contrast to the OLDaily, his comments
are very succinct (it's Twitter with its 140 character limit) but
nevertheless convey meaning. In addition, he is not only interested in
information, but also shares humorous videos, stories etc. that allow
me to get to know the person behind the digital identity of @courosa.
Alec is not just a scholar, but also an inspiring mentor. I have not been
the recipient of his mentorship, but I see it regularly when he send
tweets about his students' works, when he encourages them, when he
asks about feedback from others on his students' works to give them
the appreciation they are worth it.
I am confident that Alec is very comfortable in what he does and is

open to invite others into his learning, teaching and presenting spheres
at any time which then again gives him feedback about his work that
he can then take to reflect upon his practices and make changes
where necessary.
Currently, I am participating silently in his EC&I 831 course by

reviewing the recordings of the synchronous sessions (live is not
possible due to the time difference).

A direct result of watching Alec, but also George Siemens and Stephen
Downes, present online and livestreaming their presentations, led me
to be confident in trying that out myself with presentations at my
university. I had had the idea of recording lectures before due to
exposure to iTunes U for example, but seeing others do it on a regular
basis is encouraging. Due to technical limitations, a livestream has not
yet worked, but we have recorded all our public lectures of the past 2
years as well as have already put videos of informal software
presentations online that did not require a lot of editing.
I share a great deal of resources that Alec points to in his blog or via
Twitter with colleagues and students. Occasionally, though by far not
enough, I comment on his blog, or retweet his messages to spread the
word.
Experiencing the exemplary work of Alec, George Siemens, Dave

Cormier, Alan Levine, D'Arcy Norman and others who openly discuss
their work, encourage participation and produce openly online, I also
opened a number of the resources that I create for students and do not
hide them in a learning management system, embrace social media,
and attempt to use methods that they have trialed in my own
activities.
Name:
Stephen Banks
Vice -Principal
Location:
Delburne, Alberta, Canada

The meaning of Transparency, that openness can, no must have a

place in the classroom. That a PLN really does impact one's learning.
how to run an elluminate classroom, through his open eci831 class.
Alec models to the world what he teaches in his classrooms. I have
read or viewed countless educational blogs and videos, thereby
increasing my knowledge of theory as well as practice. He is truly an
inspiration to us all...

Spread the word about eci831. Used his material, with permission in
my teaching. I preach the benefits of openness and transparecny as
often as I can.i try to emulate Alec's sense of community as much as
possible. I have tried to share the feeling that we are not all alone, and
that we need not work in isolation.
Name:
Stephen Banks
Vice -Principal
Location:
Delburne, Alberta, Canada

The meaning of Transparency, that openness can, no must have a

place in the classroom. That a PLN really does impact one's learning.
how to run an elluminate classroom, through his open eci831 class.
Alec models to the world what he teaches in his classrooms. I have
read or viewed countless educational blogs and videos, thereby
increasing my knowledge of theory as well as practice. He is truly an
inspiration to us all...

Spread the word about eci831. Used his material, with permission in
my teaching. I preach the benefits of openness and transparecny as
often as I can.I try to emulate Alec's sense of community as much as
possible. I have tried to share the feeling that we are not all alone, and
that we need not work in isolation.
Name:
Rob Wall
Teacher, North Battleford Comprehensive High School
Location:
North Battleford, Saskatchewan

I've learned many things from Alec. I'm probably going to forget many
things, but here's the list of what I can think of.
I worked as course co-designer and teaching assistant with Alec for his
initial offering of EC&I 831: Social Media and Open Education in the
winter term 2008. With him I learned how to create an online course
for graduate students using freely available online tools - wikis, blogs,
youtube, etc. Traditionally online courses have been developed and
housed in an institutional course management system such as
Blackboard. Our course design made use of a more decentralized
system using tools that were also freely available to students in the
class.
While working as teaching assistant, I learned the value of opening up

an educational experience beyond the traditional group of students.
Opening up a course allows anyone to participate from anywhere,
bringing in a diversity of knowledge and values. This increases the
value of the class for the students.
I have also learned the importance of having a professional learning

network (PLN). Alec not only stresses the importance for teachers of a
PLN, he models how one successfully participates as part of a network.
Finally, I have learned from Alec that the roles of teacher and student
are entirely arbitrary constructs. In a real education, all involved are
learners and teachers. This has been a profoundly important influence
on my work as a classroom teacher.

As a teacher I try to model the good practices of leading in an open
style of class (as much as possible within a K-12 setting). As a
professional, I follow his model of sharing my knowledge and expertise
with my colleagues as much as possible. I have also recommended
Alec's course to several colleagues and friends who are studying for
their M.Ed.
Name:
Julia Hengstler
Educational Technologist & Instructor, Faculty of Education, Vancouver

Island University
Location:
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Alec was one of the earliest academics in the field of Education to

recognize the emerging trends in open source culture and their
implications for education. More than that, Alec has modeled his
commitment to open source culture in the way that he has openly
shared his work--especially in the field of higher learning where such
openness is not really encouraged by the traditional culture of
competition--by using tools such as SlideShare, Twitter and various
other forms of web publishing to share his knowledge & skills.
Therefore, I have benefited not only through the content he has
shared, but the model way in which he has shared it.
As an Educational Technologist & Instructor in the Faculty of Education

@ Vancouver Island University, I have used Alec's conceptualization of
the "Networked Teacher" numerous times and have also posted on my
office door as I believe it's a critical conceptualization re. how the
teacher's role has shifted.
Alec has contributed much to the professional community of educators,

and continues to do so through all the insights and assets he shares. I
believe that he would be an asset to any forward thinking Faculty of
Education especially in a period where open source technologies &
open content are being increasingly examined and adopted not only in
the field of education, but in business, government, etc.

As I have mentioned, I have posted his images of the "Networked

Teacher" on my office door. I have shared his insights on open source
with my colleagues at the Faculty of Education at Vancouver Island
University. I have shared his resources posted in places like SlideShare
with faculty and students as well as any others in my networks on
Twitter and Delicious. As part of my Twitter network, I retweet content
that he has shared which may be of relevance to my faculty, students
and Twitter followers. I also share content he and his students have
created with my faculty and students via my Delicious (social
bookmarking) account. I recommend Alec as one of the people that
educators and especially educators with an interest in technology
should follow.
Moreover, I appreciate Alec's willingness to help others in their

projects. For example, I started a project where I am attempting to
collect school/district policies with pro-social networking language
because there is so little scaffolding for policy or procedural language
available. I was part of Alec's Twitter network and realized that he had
a broader following than my own. When I reached out to Alec to
mention that I had created a shared Google documents folder as a
collection point that could be shared by all, he did not hesitate in
Tweeting this to his audience to help me solicit more submissions. I
have seen him do similar things for others in his network. I greatly
appreciated that.
Name:
Jenny Luca
Head of Information Services, Toorak College.
Location:
Melbourne, Australia.
Alec first taught me through his blog and his writings helped inspire me
to begin writing a blog myself. His thoughts on the validity of learning
using connective tools and building community have helped to shape
my thinking about the future of education. His contributions to Twitter
lead me to new ideas regularly. I appreciate the presentations he posts
on Slideshare to help others with their learning.

I regularly link to Alec's blog through my blog. I present at conferences

regularly here in Australia and reference his ideas; in particular his
Networked teacher diagrams.
Name:
M. Jolene Schweitzer
Teacher (Grade 7/8)
Location:
Regina, SK, Canada

Everything that I know about the use of technology in education I have

learned from Alec. His class was the most valuable and practical class
that I took in University, and I still look to him for guidance with
technology to this day (about 7 years after taking his class). Alec
taught me how to make a web page, web quest, and even a power-
point. He helped me learn how to do effective research. He taught me
the power of social networking sites as a tool for learning, and showed
me the value in incorporating a variety of forms of technology into
lessons to enhance learning. He also helped me to learn about open
source software, and open teaching. I consistently look to Alec
(especially in the form of his Educational Technology Blog, and his
Tweets) for ideas and guidance in the use of technology in Education.
Without his help I would not have been able to keep up with the rapid
and constant developments in technology and education.
Name:
Kathy Cassidy
Grade one teacher
Location:
Moose Jaw, SK
I have learned a lot about what social media is and how it shapes us. I
have also begun to learn how to use it to learn.

I have shared things that I have learned from Alec with family, friends
and colleagues. Many of his ideas have also become part of what I
share through workshops and presentations.
Name:
David Truss
Principal, Dalian Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School
Location:
Dalian, Liaoning, China.

Alec does not just preach Open Learning, he lives it.
It is too difficult to say what I've learned from Alec as the breadth of
the learning is too wide to contextualize. He is an integral part of my
PLN meaning both Personal Learning Network and Professional
Learning Network. I've participated in many learning discussions with
him and I have participated in his open classes.
He is a co-learner. He is a teacher. He is a mentor. He is a leader.

• His "Networked Teacher" images from his dissertation are the first
things people see when they watch my "Brave New World Wide Web"
video http://blip.tv/file/1262079 (viewed about 35,000 times so far).
• An image from his Thinning Walls metaphor are shared in my POD's

are Coming presentation http://www.slideshare.net/datruss/the-pods-
are-coming presented at BLC09 in Boston. The concept is key to the
outline of my presentation.
• I mention the use of this same Thinning Walls metaphor in my video

about blogging, "Why I blog. Why blog with students":
http://pairadimes.davidtruss.com/blogs-as-learning-spaces/ -It is the
only reference that I make in the video.
• So far he has been tagged on my blog in 11 different posts:

http://pairadimes.davidtruss.com/tag/alec-couros/ I can't say how many
links I have discussed on my blog after Alec pointed me to them via
Twitter, but I know his influence on my blog goes beyond when I've
tagged him.
• I've bookmarked some of his online work 12 times:

http://delicious.com/search?
p=courosa&chk=&fr=del_icio_us&lc=1&atags=&rtags=&context=user
posts|dtruss| (More than any other educator, and just for the 12 things
I've bookmarked about 1,500 other people have also bookmarked
these items.)
• And there is no one else that I have Re-Tweeted (quoted by re-

posting a tweet) on Twitter than Dr. Alec Couros @courosa
Name:
Tom Fullerton
Faculty Associate, Simon Fraser University
Location:
Burnaby, British Columbia

Alec's EC&I 831 course is a model of open, online course delivery. He's
found a balance between private and public interactions that allow his
students to participate in a community of learners they would not have
access to if the course was taught in a traditional university classroom.
He proves that the value of a good instructor is not in his slides or his
personal stash of academic readings, but in the conversations that he
has with his students, inspiring them and scaffolding their learning.

I've been working with Simon Fraser to redesign their Leading and
Learning with Technology grad diploma program this year. I shared
Alec's course with the other Faculty Associates as a model of
interactive, inclusive, rigorous, open course delivery. I've shared Alec's
work with the other instructors and would like to invite my grad
students into the conversation starting next term.
Name:
Jeremy Brueck
e-Read Ohio Web Services Manager at the University of Akron
Location:
Akron, Ohio
I have gained a greater understanding of the open source culture,

free/libre open source software and the concept of open thinking. I
learn from and with Dr. Couros on a daily basis. He has stretched my
thinking in regards to socially networked teaching and learning and
continues to be an important influence on my view of education and
21st century learning environments.

I have contacted Dr. Couros on a number of occasions to seek

permission to use portions of his slideshow presentations in
professional development workshops and seminars that I conduct. Dr.
Couros has always granted permission and on several occasions
provided me with full versions of his PowerPoint and Keynote files.
In addition, I also choose to critique Dr. Couros's dissertation for a

doctoral seminar that I was enrolled in. During one class, my professor
asked me a number of questions regarding the dissertation that I was
not able to immediately answer. To try and find the answers, I send Dr.
Couros a message via Twitter containing the questions. Not only did he
reply, but he ultimately ended up joining our class session at the
University of Akron via Skype. Dr. Couros graciously spent 15-20
minutes discussion, explaining and defending his dissertation to my
professor and colleagues. His willingness to contribute to our class
greatly enhanced our understanding of the course material and also
made a huge impact on my professor, who until then did not realize
that guest could join our discussion by a means other than face-to-face
meetings.
Name:
Karen LaBonte
Instructor, Doc student, Teachers Collge, Columbia Univ.
Location:
NY NY USA 10027
Although I have been integrating technology into my classes for many

years, Dr. Couros' educational philosophies of openness and
collaboration have challenged me to review and expand my own
pedagogy, and to develop contexts for learning and teaching that are
not bound by physical or temporal elements.

I teach in the M.A. Program in the Teaching of English at Teachers

College, Columbia University (in New York); Dr. Couros' philosophy and
practices have informed my course design in three of the seminars I
teach, most notably Literacies and Technologies in the Secondary
English Classroom.
I model creative problem solving during instruction. For example,

about five weeks ago, students in my four-hour seminar reported that
they were spending twice the amount of time on our class than on any
of their other classes. The reason? The blogs and forums on our class
Ning were so compelling, they didn't want to miss anything. Because
the Ning is simply asynchronous class time, I immediately suggested
that we cut an hour off of our face-to-face time. I'm not sure I would
have even thought to do that a year ago.
Dr. Couros' lectures and the professional development sessions that he

has made available online will be valuable resources for some of our
faculty, who need to be prodded to learn new tools as well as
recognize some of the new opportunities for teaching and learning that
social media affords.
Name:
Jennifer D. Jones
Learning Media Consultant
Location:
Seattle, WA, USA

I have been following Dr. Couros' work for two and a half years and
both my professional and personal practices are heavily influenced by
his teachings and the connections he has facilitated for me. As a
professional in the field of educational technology, it is easy to feel
isolated within a system or organization. I always published my
content openly online, but was unfamiliar with the potential scope of
influence in sharing across disciplines, institutions and international
boundaries.
Dr. Couros' open teaching model created new opportunities for me to

collaborate with learning technologists, educators, and students
around the world to generate ideas, test solutions, and gather
feedback for better-informed decision-making. Additionally, he has
always been available to connect me with resources and support to
help me further develop my ideas and research.
While he is known for his extensive knowledge of educational

technology and media, I have found more personal benefit from his
honest expression of core human values that influence his work on a
daily basis. I am humbled by his compassion and deliberate attention
to social justice and human rights. His willingness to sacrifice personal
gain in pursuit of fair copyright is an example that outshines many of
his peers.
I have connected many others in the state of Washington with Dr.

Couros. His work is respected and modeled within our education
systems, where budget cuts in higher education are now reaching 30%
at some institutions. By openly publishing his work, he creates learning
opportunities for so many people who would have been cut off from
local professional development and travel. His documented
engagement with learners has served as a positive, open example to
local educators who have previously been afraid to adopt new media.
Not only are they able to see him engage with learners, but they can
connect with him to ask him directly about his experiences.
I've had the privilege to travel to meet him and attend several of his
presentations in person and have watched him engage with the
audience before, during and after the presentations. I have witnessed
his dedication to all learners, and not just his own students. His
generosity in his own personal learning community allows him to easily
connect his students with the best educators in the field, who are
openly enthusiastic about sharing and relating to his students.
Dr. Couros' work currently informs my practice as an independent

Learning Media Consultant. Without institutional sponsorship, I am
responsible for my own professional development. I have saved
countless hours and dollars by following Dr. Couros' work and
participating in his open learning opportunities, as well as those of
others who are now modeling their work after his. I reuse and remix
his work into most of my presentations and publications, with his
encouragement and support.
As a model for the future of academic practice, Dr. Couros is the

professor I will look to as an example of the potential transformational
power of Open Teaching and Learning. I will continue to share his work
with others and observe as they, in turn, pass the learning on to their
contacts. In a world dominated by information, where high value is
placed on the knowledge worker, Dr. Couros is a rare asset. He is truly
wise.
Name:
Taryn Romanowich
Student, University of Regina Kinesiology
Location:
Regina, Saskatchewan
Alec is a professor in the Education faculty. I have never had the

opportunity to be one of his students, and it is highly likely that I never
will. However, this is not to say that I have not learned anything from
him.
Ten months ago, Alec was simply another person I followed on Twitter.
I mainly followed him because he was from Regina and some of my
friends followed him. What I would soon would find out is that Alec is a
tremendous and valuable resource.
The reason that I am writing this is not because of something Alec may
have taught me to use in my education. I am writing this to reflect on
the inspiration Alec provoked in me to learn. Too often people focus on
what it is that we have learned. I would like to focus on how Alec
inspired me to learn.
Over the summer I tweeted about being frustrated because I could not
find a used acoustic guitar for sale that was cheap enough. I
previously have never played guitar and was interested in learning, but
could not afford to do so. It was also something that was simply in the
back of my mind; something I didn't pursue whole heartedly since I
could not afford it. Alec quickly responded and offered a used guitar
he had sitting in his office, that if I could come and get it then I could
have it for free. His generosity and willingness to help was initially
what started me on my path to learning how to play the guitar -
something that is probably not expected in a response to a question
like this.
I picked up the guitar (and also met him face to face for the first time),
with high hopes on learning how to play, but unsure of how to go about
it. Lessons were too expensive. I didn't have any friends who knew
how to play. I was pretty much on my own.
Alec set me up with an iPhone app that would ultimately save me a lot
of effort. It was a guitar tuner, chord dictionary, etc. For a beginner,
this was gold.
Alec also set me up with an extensive guitar lesson YouTube link.

Using this, I taught myself how to play guitar well. Without him, I
would have spent all kinds of money on chord books, guitar lessons,
guitar tuner, etc. Alec ultimately made this learning adventure
incredibly easy for me.
The main reason I share this story is because of his generosity and
willingness to help. Upon picking up the guitar, he stated that
although he was giving me the guitar for free, it was on the basis of
"pay it forward." Meaning, once I learn, I must pass it on to someone
else who wants to learn. So upon considering Alec and his tenure
application, I ponder this thought upon you.
I can answer the question, "What have you learned from/with Alec
Couros?" or I can tell you how he inspires those around him to learn,
and encourages continual learning and teaching. I will eventually pass
this guitar on to someone new who wants to learn, and then they will
be encouraged to learn. I may even teach them depending on the
situation. I will also only give them the guitar on the basis of pay-it-
forward, so that this learning continuum can transpire. This rolling ball
of learning initially started with Alec.
Although this guitar story is by far the biggest influence on my learning

capabilities, I also have learned a lot from him through Twitter. Alec is
always sharing new links and information on different topics. I am not
an education student, however I find the links and information that he
posts incredibly interesting. It does not relate to my educational field
at all (Kinesiology), but it sparks an interest from within me. The main
point is that I am always finding better ways to enhance my online and
educational experience from Alec that I otherwise would not know
about.
He is a passionate professor who is committed to each one of his

students. Although I am not an education student of his, I am
connected to him through the guitar. This may all sound surreal, but
eventually I will pass that guitar on, and this story will be retold.
Obviously in relation to my previous answer, I haven't had the

opportunity to share my main learning experience. That time will
come when I reach the moment in my guitar career in which I will pass
the guitar on to someone new. In that moment I will share the story of
Alec and the "pay it forward" idea. From there, learning will start and
be transferred on to someone new, etc.
Although this story is about a guitar, I think the underlying concepts

are much more powerful. Teaching others is a powerful skill. Alec has
perfected it. If I had the opportunity to take a class from him at the
University, I would not hesitate.
Name:
Scott S. Floyd, M. Ed.
District Instructional Technologist
Location:
White Oak, TX
I had the good fortune of having Dr. Couros present to my staff and
about 100 other educators in Texas last summer. Everyone walked
away with an understanding that outdated instructional methods do
nothing to move students forward in a society that is built around 24/7
technologies. It is a society that they must grow, communicate,
collaborate, learn, unlearn, and re-learn both face to face and virtually.
Without the practice of utilizing current tools and methodologies in a
safe environment such as a classroom, students may very well learn
how on their own resulting in poor decision making and bad practices.

As the district instructional technologist, literacy specialist, and

educational consultant, I have been able to count on the teachings of
Dr. Couros to guide my own instruction in a sound manner. As part of
my larger PLN, Dr. Couros has played an integral part in sharing a
higher ed perspective demonstrating the necessity of the skills needed
for incoming students. I utilize this knowledge throughout my work
including legislative policy creation affecting positive change for all
Texas children. These educational experiences continue to extend his
work.
Name:
Ann Leaness
Adjunct Lecturer, HS English Teacher
Location:
PA
I recently started following Aec Couros on twitter. He offers so much to

this networked online community. He offers superior resources for
teachers using technology. He shares his student blogs, offering a way
for both his students and other educators a means of open-
communication and shared thinking. He shares conversation and offers
help with technological problems. He also seeks information,
continually learning and growing as an educator.

Alec has been very helpful to me whenever I needed a tip or resource t

make my own grad students' experience richer. I enjoy reading his
student blogs and responding. His websites are all tagged and
bookmarked for future reference. I have also shared links and
conversation with Alec. I hope to get to meet him face to face at
Educon 2.2, so I can thank him in person for all his help.
Name:
John Hadley Strange
Professor of Professional Studies, University of South Alabama; Former

Vice President Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL);
Founding Dean College of Public and Community Service, University of
Massachusetts/Boston
Location:
Mobile, AL 36688 USA
From my observations, interactions, reading and watching

performance as a teacher would conclude that Dr. Couros is extremely
knowledgeable about media, educational media, impact of media on
society, open education, networked communities, technology, the
educational "establishment," communication technologies, implications
for education of changes in communication technologies.
Know him (from July 2009) from Twitter, viewing all are parts of his
presentations several of his presentations (University of Delaware,
etc.), taking ECI 831 as a fully participating but unregistered student,
commenting on most of blogs posted by registered students on a
weekly basis. I have included in my EDM310 course
(http://edm310fall2009.blogspot.com) many of the materials Dr.
Couros has collected for use in his courses as assigned materials; two
links to ECI831 student blogs as material for my EDM310 class this
semester, used material from his undergraduate media class (ECMP
455) as examples for my students to consider when preparing their
presentations.
I consider Dr. Couros to be one of the five most informed scholars on

new media and education with whom I have come into contact.
I do not know Dr. Couros personally, only through contact on the

internet. But consider him a colleague in every sense of that word
because he makes the internet work in building a learning community
with people all over the world.
Would recommend him enthusiastically and without reservation for
tenure.
John Hadley Strange, Ph.D.
(http://www.johnstrange.com)
EDUCATION
Duke University B. A. (with Honors), Political Science, 1960
Princeton University B. A., Politics, 1963
Princeton University Ph. D., Politics, 1966

Name:
Colin Jagoe
Instructional Leadership Consultant: Science & Technology
Location:
Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB, Peterborough, Ontario

I have participated in some of his online open class sessions. One of

the best things I observed was final presentations from Education
students. I was inspired to listen to their thinking and energy on the
ideas of embracing openness and technology to leverage student
learning. I learned that building an online network of professionals is
about gaining and maintaining trust. Trust in each other as supports
and guides. His model of sharing and learning has lead me to engage
in similar styles in my day to day work with teachers and students.

I have shared his ideas and thinking with colleagues. I've build an
online network based around education and working together. I've
presented at conferences and workshops and used his ideas to work
with teachers on building a network and working online. I've
incorporated his thinking into an online community of science
educators within our school district who are actively sharing and
collaborating using all sorts of available tools.
Name:
Lisa Parisi
elementary teacher, staff developer
Location:
Long Island, NY
It is difficult to narrow down my learning to one or two points. From his

webcast to his tweet links to his joining my own webcast show, Alec
continually contributes great ideas, thought-provoking articles, and
educational links that help contribute to my growth as an educator. He
is always available to help out and always willing to share his learning.

I retweet Alec's tweets often, sharing his ideas with my own followers.
I also talk about his ideas frequently in my Sunday morning webcast.
Name:
Andy Duckworth
eLearning Director
Location:
Tacoma, WA USA
I have learned that the network is the new filter. Sharing is incredibly
powerful.

His philosophy of "openness" has been very inspiring. His enthusiasm

for "openness" has spread to faculty on my campus.
I have thouroughly enjoyed attending his open classes and have

learned a great deal. It has also allowed me to connect with others thta
have taught me a great deal.
Name:
Barbara McLaughlin
Academic ICT Consultant, OCDSB
Location:
Ottawa, Ontario
I have learned that Alec is absolutely committed to his belief in open,

shared learning. While many people speak to this theory, Alec models
this time and again, sharing his many theories and models, in line with
Creative Commons. His willingness to help any of his PLN was never
more demonstrated than when I told him, via Twitter, that I was guest
lecturing at Ottawa University on Educational Use of Technology to Pre-
service teachers. His response was immediate, let's Skype, and
collaborate. I have met Alec only once, and yet this open-ended
sharing is consistent with everything that he writes, and purports
throughout a large educational community.

Alec is a deep resource of research, networked colleagues and

collegiality, and I often converse with him, and retweet his comments
on Twitter. His willingness to share his work resonated deeply with me,
and as I result I openly share any resources that I create, and advise
colleagues who are still retentive, do so as well. I believe, as Alec does,
that the more sharing and collaboration that we as academics do, the
greater the knowledge creation. I received my MEd 5 years ago, and I
would have very much liked to have had the opportunity to have Alec
Couros has a facilitator at that time.
Name:
Dr. George Veletsianos
Lecturer of Digital Technologies & Education (Assistant Professor

equivalent)
Location:
Manchester, UK
I joined Twitter after reading Alec's proposal for a book I was editing
(Emerging Technologies in Distance Education, published by Athabasca
University). Right after I joined, Alec welcomed me and announced to
his network that I was joining. Thereafter, I discovered a community of
like-minded educators who share ideas and resources and find joy in
helping others. This community has helped me push my research and
scholarship to new directions and has often provided me with "critical
friends" who have reviewed my work. Alec himself has been helpful in
push my thinking in my work and for that I am very thankful!

Alec's work has motivated me to be more open. I now offer more and
more of my work freely available online. Indeed, the people who have
benefited from the posting of my work, would not have benefited had it
not been for (virtually) meeting Alec.
Name:
Errin Gregory
Secondary Art/Photography Teacher
Location:
Gold Trail district, British Columbia

I've learned quality information regarding teaching and learning. I've

learned about new ways to integrate technology into my practice. I've
learned about what it means to be a connected educator and I've
learned about the power of a global professional network.

Today I shared his 'Networked Teacher - Updated' image (found on his

Flickr account) with teachers in a presentation I did on creating and
maintaining a personal learning network. I did a Twitter demonstration
and sent him a tweet asking him to say hi and retweet my request to
show how fast and far-reaching my Twitter PLN is. He didn't disappoint
- he tweeted back to say hi, then retweeted my request which led to
people saying hello to us from all over the world. It was a very
successful demonstration, largely due to Alec's willingness to help.
Name:
Rodd Lucier
http://thecleversheep.blogspot.com/2008/10/top-20-uses-for-
wordle.html
Location:
Komoka, Ontario
Just a few of the links he's led me to:
http://delicious.com/thecleversheep/aleccouros
I've been lucky to use Alec's Creative Commons licensed work to

create my own mashup of the digital learner.

I've posted resources to Alec's 'Open Learning' wiki, and he's

participated in numerous discussions and presentations which I've
been privileged to experience from afar.
Name:
Kristen Jacobson
Librarian, Glenbrook South High School
Location:
Glenview, Illinois, USA

Dr. Couros’ approach to the field of educational technology exemplifies

the discipline at its best. Most practitioners whose work I am familiar
with are conversant with the changes going on in both technology and
education and do a good job of disseminating this information
effectively through the relevant web 2.0 professional networking tools.
The better ones provide evaluation and analysis of the effect of
technological change on the delivery of information and help educators
like myself to understand how these changes are affecting education
and provide some direction for incorporating new technologies into the
classroom (or in my case, the library). By providing excellent
resources like his Open Thinking Wiki, Dr. Couros takes educational
technology instruction to a higher level. This is not merely an online
syllabus for his coursework with relevant resources. It is an excellent
online guide to educational technology for educators. He introduces
major concepts such as media literacy and digital citizenship clearly
and effectively and also provides excellent and well-organized
resources for the users to continue their research and enhance their
understanding.
Specifically, his section on Digital Storytelling is one of the best

resources I have ever seen on this topic. He concisely explains what it
is and how this type of narrative can be used effectively. He then
provides links to excellent examples of the form and tools one can use
to create digital stories. Dr. Couros never gets caught up in the “cool”
factor of the medium, but rather clearly identifies and effectively
communicates best practices. His Open Thinking Wiki is a model of
what online texts of this type should be.
Our school is in the process of creating a school-wide educational

technology plan. I am sharing Dr. Couros' Open Thinking Wiki with
other educators at myschool so that they can understand the benefits
and strengths of incorporating these tools into our teaching as well as
the responsibility we have to teach information literacy and digital
citizenship. So far, the response has been very enthusiastic. I believe
his thorough, thoughtful and hype-free approach to educational
technology will receive a positive response from even those who are
more reluctant to use some of the tools and methods described in his
work.
Name:
Lesley Edwards
Teacher Librarian
Location:
North Vancouver BC
I take every opportunity I can to watch, listen and learn from Alec
Couros as I know he produces quality content for today's educators.
He has taught me much about:
-social media in education
-using a PLN
-presentation design
-bringing technology to my colleagues
-supporting others using technology
-networking
-being open to new ideas
-becoming a lifelong learner
Alec is one of those rare people who models what they teach and is
unstintingly generous with his time and resources.

I often discuss ideas that have come from Alec with colleagues as we
plan professional development for teachers in our district.
Name:
Stephen Rahn
Instructor of Foreign Language Education
Location:
Kennesaw, GA USA
Alec shared some techniques for monitoring teaching interns. He

suggested the Flip camera for videoed microteaching for
analysis/reflection, Tokbox for asynchronous video, Ning for private SN
for many interns.

I have shared his ideas with five colleagues at my university. These

colleagues are all involved in the supervision of student teachers.
Name:
Luann Lee
high school science teacher
Location:
Washington State
As a doctoral candidate at another university, I've looked to Dr. Couros

as a role model in open learning. I've learned that it's not only OK but
necessary to make use of different means of electronic communication
with my high school students.

My high school science classroom has benefited from many

technologies shared and encouraged by Dr. Couros.
Name:
Anne-Marie Holmwood
Media & Creative Arts high school teacher
Location:
Kelowna, B.C.
I met Alec Couros at UBCO this past summer - I was looking to learn
about how social media (and related web-tools) could be used in
education – both for a PLN and for direct classroom applications. My
expectations were more than met as I discovered a virtual world I knew
little about. My commitment to delving more thoroughly into these
topics led me to use the Western Dean's Agreement and register at the
U of R for Eci 831. Once again I have been keen to explore concepts of
blogging, social-media (Twitter, in particular), open education, 21st
century languages, digital storytelling, remix and open data, the back
channel, and even gaming. Alec utilized his vast PLN and introduced us
to specialists every step of the way as they presented to our class. I
appreciated how Alec modeled the class as a true open education
experience, and though this was intimidating – I am a for-credit
student – I always felt supported and understood. Indeed, Alec has a
way of validating his students various needs and concerns while
challenging them to explore and discover new ideas.

I have shared my experiences with the high school students I teach,

with undergrad students (I have presented at UBCO on social media),
and with my colleagues at the large high school I teach at. In addition, I
have created a blog (my 'creative media test kitchen') where I try out
ideas and tools and then link to my my postings when I teach.
My students love that I am able to challenge them with many new tools
and possibilities on the web, but more importantly they have
responded positively to the concept of digital identity, and, I believe,
truly are beginning to appreciate its importance.
My presentation to the undergrad education students resulted in some

of them creating their own PLNs on Twitter, and in a neat twist some
have connected with U of R undergrad education students.
Lastly, I discuss all of the topics covered in Eci831 with my colleagues

every chance I get. I recently recorded a podcast (for my blog) where I
interviewed our school librarian. In terms of district presentations for
Pro-d the possibilities are endless, and include an invitation to present
at the provincial teacher/librarian conference next fall.
Alec Couros is an excellent candidate for tenure at the U of R, and I

support his application wholeheartedly.

Informal Learning Survey - Nov. 25-28, 2009

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Informal Learning Survey - Nov. 25-28, 2009

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

“What have you learned with/from Dr.

Informal Survey – November 25-28, 2009 – Record #1

Most recent line of work:

Undergraduate & Entrepreneur

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

In what ways have you shared what you have learned

Informal Survey – November 25-28, 2009 – Record #2

Most recent line of work:

In just a few months of following Dr. Couros on Twitter, I have

In what ways have you shared what you have learned

I regularly share Dr. Couros's work with my own staff, as well as my

Informal Survey – November 25-28, 2009 – Record #3

Most recent line of work:

Regina (Luther College)

In what ways have you shared what you have learned

I teach Information Processing 20. I am attempting to use the

Informal Survey – November 25-28, 2009 – Record #4

Most recent line of work:

stay at home mom

Chicago, IL, USA

I have learned about how technology especially Open Source can be

In what ways have you shared what you have learned

I know Alec Couros from Twitter. We have opportunity on occasion to

Informal Survey – November 25-28, 2009 – Record #5

John Lawrence MMT, MTA

Most recent line of work:

Session instructor - Concordia University College

Thanks to Alec Couros, I was introduced to the social networking

In what ways have you shared what you have learned

Informal Survey – November 25-28, 2009 – Record #6

Most recent line of work:

Vernon, British Columbia

After learning so much by taking Alec's course at UBC Okanagan I

In what ways have you shared what you have learned

Informal Survey – November 25-28, 2009 – Record #7

Most recent line of work:

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

In what ways have you shared what you have learned

I have shared Alec's resources/ideas/links/questions/answers with my

Informal Survey – November 25-28, 2009 – Record #8

Most recent line of work:

How to transform out-dated ways of working by implementing social

In what ways have you shared what you have learned

Recommended his open courses in my blog, 2009/365 photos, regular

Informal Survey – November 25-28, 2009 – Record #9

Most recent line of work:

Dr. Couros has provided a constant source of inspiration for me to

Dr. Couros regularly presents ideas that run counter to my own,

In what ways have you shared what you have learned

Dr. Couros and I regularly interact in Twitter, as well as through his

Informal Survey – November 25-28, 2009 – Record #10

Most recent line of work:

Program Consultant: Assessment & Evaluation - K to 12, Lambton Kent

What have you learned from/with Alec Couros?

Alec Couros has been instrumental to my learning and research. Alec

In what ways have you shared what you have learned

The outcome of my thesis, which used a Design as Education Research

Informal Survey – November 25-28, 2009 – Record #11

Most recent line of work:

Professor of Educational Technology, The Open University

I would categorise what I have learned from Alec as threefold:

Resources: There are many resources I have discovered as Alec is an

Process: Alec has been a useful peer in rethinking many of the

Dialogue: Alec forms part of the network I have established (with