The Power of the Professional Learning Network
May 31, 2008
When I first began teaching in the 1980s as a graduate, the people I would turn to for support would be my fellow teachers and my leadership team. They knew everything I needed to know about what to teach and how to teach it. Or so it seemed.
At times, depending on budget allocations, I could go off to a PD to hear what was happening with Literacy or with new technologies. This information sat with me until I was ready to use it or would be buried within my mind with all the chores that were more pressing at the time.
In 2008 this would no longer be enough for me and wonder if it is enough for others. Admittedly I am not a graduate teacher anymore but still feel that there is a wealth of new knowledge and experiences, especially in the area of ICT out there that I cannot ignore. So would my immediate colleagues be able to support my desire to learn and grow now?
In the last 8 months my life as a teacher and learner has changed somewhat to include a new online Professional Learning Network (PLN). A network that is growing and fluid enough to accommodate my wonderings and discoveries, my shifts in mindset and my whims.
I joined online communities such as –
Classroom 2.0 – http://classroom20.ning.com/profile/helenotway
Twitter – http://twitter.com/helenotway
And social book-marking networks -
Delicious – http://del.icio.us/helenotway
Diigo - http://www.diigo.com/dashboard/helenotway
As a result of joining these online communities and developing them into my own PLNs, I have been on a huge learning curve and also a journey that I have some say, in how and when I learn. I am able to self regulate my professional growth and can share my reflections along the way through the same networks that support me. This blog helps me to process and document my journey.
Recently I met up with, what I choose to call, my new Learning Partners. These were educators who I had met online through Twitter and our respective blogs, through Diigo and more recently Second Life. It was wonderful to meet them in real life, but know they are just a tweet away in my PLN.
This is a photo taken recently at the ICTEV 2008 Conference, on Saturday May 24th. Jo McLeay, Tony Richards and Jess McCulloch are enjoying an ‘unconference’ in the sun. Without my online PLN I would not have known these educators, nor would I have been able to share and learn with them.
Earlier this month Sue Tapp organised our first Bloggers Feast in Melbourne. We had a wonderful time. You can hear and read about it here -
Tony Richards – EdTechCrew Podcast
Sue Tapp – And Another Thing
Jo McLeay – The Open Classroom
Could you get by without your PLN?
Entry Filed under: 21st Century Skills, ICT, Web2.0, learning, spaces. Tags: bloggers, classroom 2.0, ICTEV, online communities, PLN, Professional Learning Network, twitter.
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1.
Martin Pluss | May 31st, 2008 at 7:12 pm
It is interesting that you use the expression PLN. Makes me wonder how it is different to a Community of Pracrice (CofP),
A good post about what a lot of us are experiencing.
cheers Martin ( Plu from Twitter)
2.
soulcradler | May 31st, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Helen, This is a great reflection on the power of the PLN. I have found that utilising the resources of my Ning networks, Twitter, Diigo and the Oz/NZ Educators group has led to exponential professional development for me personally.
I have been wondering, though, where this PD fits within the traditional (externally delivered) model of PD for teachers. I find it difficult to explain to others that are not using these networks exactly how it is formatted, and wonder whether they see such PD as legitimate, or whether it is just “spending a lot of time on the internet”, as several people have commented. I feel so many steps ahead it is difficult to explain to them. What do you think? Does this count?
3.
helenotway | May 31st, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Hey Martin, I haven’t heard of CofP but then again I’m not sure how I came to using PLN.
Nirvana, I agree the growth has been huge for me too, and in such a short time. I can’t imagine that this type of learning wouldn’t be legitimate. More and more online learning is being encouraged, including Online Conferences that are initiated by our Education Department.
4.
murcha | May 31st, 2008 at 10:39 pm
The ICTEV conference was a great success and thanks for all your input into it. You must have been very tired at the end of the day. It was great meeting you and I wish to strongly endorse some of the comments in this post, as my PLNs have also developed strongly over the last 12 months. Prior to that, it was difficult to attend many pd sessions due to my distance from Melbourne where most conferences etc are held. Budget constraints at school have also had an impact but now due to my online networks, I have attended conferences in the USA and learned so much of the up to date web2.0 tools and their applications to my classroom.
I have also really enjoyed my membership with classroom 20 as that is where I really found the power of PLNs and those PLNs have increased in magnitude and powerful learning has been generated.
This year, it has been great to see the emergence of online conferences initiated by our Education Dept and I have joined in as many as I possibly can.
5.
helenotway | May 31st, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Anne,
Thanks for the comment. I was lucky enough to join some of our other blogger freinds at dinner after the conference. Nice to get to know people f2f. Hoping to have you as part of our online conference in August.
6.
Mark Pilson | June 5th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Hi Helen,
I enjoyed your post, as it somewhat mirrors my journey. This is only my fourth year as a teacher, and my PLN has begun since attending the ICTEV conference last month. As yet I have only joined the OZ/NZ educators wiki, joined Twitter and started a blog. Next on my list is diigo and/or del.icio.us.
7.
helenotway | June 5th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Mark,
Wow! You certainly have come a long way considering you have only just got started. Sounds like you got a lot out of the ICTEV conference which is good. I look forward to having you in my PLN.
Helen