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Better Together*: Personal & Professional Learning Networks
Sometimes the biggest challenge we face is finding ideas to innovate and engage our learners. We ask those immediately around us, but sometimes we just need more...
Let us introduce you to PLNs.
What Is a Personal & Professional Learning Network?
According to EdWeek, a personal & professional learning network is a vibrant, ever-changing group of connections to which teachers go to both share and learn. These groups reflect our values, passions, and areas of expertise.
So... It's Like My PLC?
Not exactly. Your PLC is a group you work with on the same content, students, or both. However, there are times that your PLC does not reflect your values, passions, or areas of expertise. There is research and value in not only working with a PLC, but also having a PLN. It's opening up our "idea toolbox" to more than those we see each day, but those outside of our buildings, even outside of our district. Educators across the nation are facing similar classrooms every day, and finding great innovative approaches to some of the same challenges we face. Why not learn from their experiences too? Aren't we better together*?
Hmm... Why a PLN Too?
There are mountains of research behind the use of Personal & Professional Learning Networks by educators. Here are a few highlights*:
- PLNs
- provide alternate perspectives, and have proven to help change thinking about teaching, and
- support social, cognitive, and identify aspects of teacher growth, and
- have proven to help teachers modify instructional practices, and finally,
- have shown positive impacts on student learning.
We also love that we can personalize our network based on our own values, needs, passions, and expertise.
Need more? How about this?
Alright, I'm Open To It. How Do I Get Started?
Glad you asked! We'll dig into this more over the next few weeks. But for now, here are a few ideas.
- Join Twitter! See a quick tutorial below.
- Follow blogs and newsletters. More on this idea next week...
- Head to an "Unconference", like EdCampJoCo (2nd Annual) on November 4, 2017 at West Johnston High School.
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