EduMatch-Connecting the Dots: Learning with your PLN
Channel: Classroom20LIVE
Date: 29/10/2017

Classroom 2.0 LIVE webinar "EduMatch-Connecting the Dots: Learning with your PLN" with special guest presenter, Dr. Sarah Thomas. October 28, 2017. We are thrilled to have the always energetic, passionate educational leader, Dr. Sarah Thomas,  joining us today to share her vision for connected educators which inspired the creation of EduMatch. Sarah is a model for all of us as someone who is constantly thinking "outside the box" through her inspiration, reflections, challenging questions, cheerleading of the work of other educators and hard work as she spreads her message about the importance of being a connected educator.
Webinar Description:
With seven billion people in the world, we each represent a tiny dot...but what a beautiful picture we make when we begin to connect!  Sarah Thomas, founder of EduMatch, outlines the story behind the magical moment when the project emerged sporadically from a conversation with a fellow educator.  Follow the evolution of this series of grassroots connections (and related projects), which has spread internationally.  By the end of the session, educators will be encouraged to seize their own "magical moments," and to fuel these through the power of connectivity.

Sarah-Jane Thomas, PhD is a Regional Technology Coordinator in Prince George’s County Public Schools.  Sarah is also a Google Certified Innovator, Google Education Trainer, and founder of the EduMatch project, which promotes connection and collaboration among educators around the world.  Through EduMatch, Sarah has published two collaborative books, EduMatch Snapshot in Education (2016) and The #EduMatch Teacher’s Recipe Guide (2017).  Sarah is also on the leadership team of the ISTE Digital Equity PLN. Sarah was awarded the ISTE Making IT Happen prestigious award at ISTE 2017, "ISTE’s Making IT Happen Award honors outstanding educators and leaders who demonstrate extraordinary commitment, leadership, courage, and persistence in improving digital learning opportunities for students," Sarah inspired educators at ISTE with her talk on "Being a Learner and Building a Personal Learning Family."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTqApfP_4ik 

Sarah is passionate about best practices, such as flipped/blended learning and gamification, and her passion has expanded to helping educators connect globally.  This is the rationale behind the EduMatch project, which she founded in September 2014.  The project belongs to all EduMatchers, and together they have grown it to include Voxer, guest blogging, and a weekly Twitter chat/podcast. Their newest development is the publishing arm of EduMatch, under which we have released two books to date. Sarah loves to connect with other educators because she strongly believes that we are all experts at something, and can learn so much from each other!  Her mantra: "Let your voice be heard, and let's all grow together."

http://www.edumatch.org/  
https://www.sarahjanethomas.com/
https://twitter.com/sarahdateechur (Follow Sarah Thomas on Twitter)
http://sarahdateechur.com/ (Sarah’s blog)