What is a PLN? A PLN stands for “Personal Learning Network”. Your PLN consists of people who you learn from and share ideas with and resources, tools and materials to support your learning. Having a PLN enables teachers to develop ideas, find solutions to challenges, learn from expert colleagues, build your own skills and learn how to use these skills in the classroom, and establish collaboration to set up professional development opportunities.
Personal: Making connections and building personal relationships with other educators, administrators, professors, and experts around the world. Having a PLN allows you to talk to anyone around the world because someone is always available to answer questions, share advice and just chat about what is happening in their classrooms and lives. Learning: With a PLN, educators are able to share ideas and resources, able to collaborate, and learn. We can share about our ideas in different ways using media tools such as twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. The PLN is a great way to participate with fellow educators to learn more about certain topics. Network: The PLN is a global learning network by definition. People are able to communicate on teaching strategies, issues and types of technologies.
Why is a PLN important? A PLN is important for educators because it allows them to collaborate and share new ideas a teacher might not think of. While participating in Twitter Chats, educators can collaborate with experts and share resources, ideas, educational issues or just about life. Maintaining your PLN will allow you to have hundreds to thousands of teacher friends always willingly to help you when you can’t think of anything to do in your classroom. One of the best things about a PLN is that it is personal and you can choose what you want to research, the tools you wish to use, and the people you talk to.
How has a PLN helped you grow as an educator? A PLN has helped me grow as an educator by participating in Twitter chats and liking and replying to expert teachers all across the US. I was able to collaborate with other teachers during chats where we talked about the importance of special needs children becoming independent, if schools should be year round or have summer breaks, and fun Christmas chats. It is so much fun to hear what other teachers do in their classrooms and gave me ideas to use in my future classroom. I like knowing that these teachers were also in my shoes at one point in their life. I believe I have an advantage being able to listen to their great advice and they are all ready to share their ideas. I have a goal to participate in at least one Twitter chat per week. I am excited to tell fellow educators about this wonderful opportunity to create a PLN. In the beginning when I first got my Twitter I was skeptical and didn’t really think it was that important, but now I know it is a resource everyone should use and take advantage of!
How does PLN fit into Danielson Framework? A PLN relates to Danielson’s component 4e – Growing and Developing Professionally. Teachers need to continue to stay informed and increase their skills to become more effective in the classroom. Growing in content, pedagogy and information are essential to good teaching. Educators need to learn from another and the PLN gives this opportunity to educators. As teachers gain more experience developing their PLN they will be able to contribute to their colleagues and other educators. Educators can share ideas when engaging students in learning and they can also advance in their own knowledge. Enhancement of content knowledge and pedagogical skill – using a PLN will allow teachers to enhance their knowledge. Receptivity to feedback from colleagues – teachers can talk to other teachers and give feedback and receive feedback. Teachers can ask questions and with a PLN, they will always get an answer. Service to the profession - Teachers are active in professional organizations so they can improve their practice and participate in Twitter chats.
Check out my professional Twitter and Pinterest accounts!
Sources: PLN Wordle. (2017). Metamorphosislochs.pbworks.com. Retrieved 7 December 2017, from http://metamorphosislochs.pbworks.com/f/1236548685/PLN%20Wordle.jpg Shutterstock_34. (2017). Edsurge.imgix.net. Retrieved 7 December 2017, from https://edsurge.imgix.net/uploads/post/image/9424/shutterstock_348354551__1_-1487295999.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&w=2000&h=810&fit=crop PLN. (2017). Teacherchallenge.edublogs.org. Retrieved 7 December 2017, from https://teacherchallenge.edublogs.org/files/2011/06/pln-sxm8q0.png Teacher's Corner: Personal Learning Networks (PLNs). (2017). Americanenglish.state.gov. Retrieved 7 December 2017, from https://americanenglish.state.gov/resources/teachers-corner-personal-learning-networks-plns Step 1: What is a PLN?. (2015). Teacher Challenges. Retrieved 7 December 2017, from https://teacherchallenge.edublogs.org/pln-challenge-1-what-the-heck-is-a-pln/ Danielson Group » The Framework. (2017). Danielsongroup.org. Retrieved 7 December 2017, from http://www.danielsongroup.org/framework/