Original Post: 2/23/08
Who Is Listening To You??
In the last few days, I have been totally redoing my website as I move to a new location and I spent quite a bit of time working on my "Sessions" page. And in the last few weeks, I have spoken at 3 in-services at my school as well. Though I don't present as much as some, I do feel that I have a nice little portfolio growing of sessions/in-services and am looking forward to some coming up in the next few weeks and months.
But when I stop and think about it, the people I am speaking to has turned into a daily occurrence -- via twitter, my blogs, and emails -- and I am realizing that I had forgotten their importance.
Yesterday, I had made a comment on twitter about my admin was listening to me, and a friend twittered back "When JLWagner speaks, every listens" -- which is not entirely true......but in actuality there are a lot more people listening to me than I probably really give credit to.
And what kind of Jen am I letting them see? And what kind of Jen do I want them to see?
It is important to me that #1 I wish to be an Authentic. When you meet me F2F, I want you to feel that you already know me from our email, twitter, or blog conversations. I don't wish there to be any -- wow, she was much nicer on her blog or twitter. I want what you see to be what you get.
#2 -- I want to be Tech-Smart. I have worked hard to make quality online projects for the PreK - 6th grade teacher. For 10 years I have learned, listened, read, listened, researched, listened, etc etc etc to make each project even better than the one before. I am not as smart as some, but when I know what I am talking about -- I DO KNOW what I am talking about....and I wish to be respected for that.
#3 -- I want to be an Encouragement and Cheerleader for all teachers using Tech and feeling un-noticed. I want to "HIP HIP HURRAH" for you and celebrate your successes and offer you support in your disappointments. Those baby steps will get you to the final destination -- I promise.
But what I am realizing is the majority of my audience are people that I might never meet -- and the only Jen they will ever see will be Virtual Jen -- and I have a responsibility to them. To keep them in the back of my mind at all times, because I can forget that they are there.
Smiles, I might have only 59 people I follow in twitter.....but I have 300 that follow me........and what I might say to ONE will probably be read by many more. And I need to remember that.
I only have 38 subscribers to my blog..........but I believe that I have more readers than that..........and I need to remember that.
WOW2 has about 40 people who enter the chat room each week..........but we have many many more who listen...and I need to remember that.
My current project has 415 teachers enrolled so far, which could be 12,000+ students and 1,000 parents plus admin and more............and I need to remember that.
My upcoming sessions could have 600 attendees but my resources, handouts, and powerpoints.....are available on line to whoever.........and I need to remember that.
I never want the professional Jen to overwhelm the personable Jen.......but I do wish to be respected in my field.......and perhaps by stopping to remember WHO is listening and not just Who I "think" I am talking to, I hope to continue on the road to that goal.
Just My Thoughts Today.
Jen
Who Is Listening To You??
In the last few days, I have been totally redoing my website as I move to a new location and I spent quite a bit of time working on my "Sessions" page. And in the last few weeks, I have spoken at 3 in-services at my school as well. Though I don't present as much as some, I do feel that I have a nice little portfolio growing of sessions/in-services and am looking forward to some coming up in the next few weeks and months.
But when I stop and think about it, the people I am speaking to has turned into a daily occurrence -- via twitter, my blogs, and emails -- and I am realizing that I had forgotten their importance.
Yesterday, I had made a comment on twitter about my admin was listening to me, and a friend twittered back "When JLWagner speaks, every listens" -- which is not entirely true......but in actuality there are a lot more people listening to me than I probably really give credit to.
And what kind of Jen am I letting them see? And what kind of Jen do I want them to see?
It is important to me that #1 I wish to be an Authentic. When you meet me F2F, I want you to feel that you already know me from our email, twitter, or blog conversations. I don't wish there to be any -- wow, she was much nicer on her blog or twitter. I want what you see to be what you get.
#2 -- I want to be Tech-Smart. I have worked hard to make quality online projects for the PreK - 6th grade teacher. For 10 years I have learned, listened, read, listened, researched, listened, etc etc etc to make each project even better than the one before. I am not as smart as some, but when I know what I am talking about -- I DO KNOW what I am talking about....and I wish to be respected for that.
#3 -- I want to be an Encouragement and Cheerleader for all teachers using Tech and feeling un-noticed. I want to "HIP HIP HURRAH" for you and celebrate your successes and offer you support in your disappointments. Those baby steps will get you to the final destination -- I promise.
But what I am realizing is the majority of my audience are people that I might never meet -- and the only Jen they will ever see will be Virtual Jen -- and I have a responsibility to them. To keep them in the back of my mind at all times, because I can forget that they are there.
Smiles, I might have only 59 people I follow in twitter.....but I have 300 that follow me........and what I might say to ONE will probably be read by many more. And I need to remember that.
I only have 38 subscribers to my blog..........but I believe that I have more readers than that..........and I need to remember that.
WOW2 has about 40 people who enter the chat room each week..........but we have many many more who listen...and I need to remember that.
My current project has 415 teachers enrolled so far, which could be 12,000+ students and 1,000 parents plus admin and more............and I need to remember that.
My upcoming sessions could have 600 attendees but my resources, handouts, and powerpoints.....are available on line to whoever.........and I need to remember that.
I never want the professional Jen to overwhelm the personable Jen.......but I do wish to be respected in my field.......and perhaps by stopping to remember WHO is listening and not just Who I "think" I am talking to, I hope to continue on the road to that goal.
Just My Thoughts Today.
Jen