Professional Learning Networks

There are different ways that a large number of people always come together with different purposes.  People join together at concerts to enjoy the live music.  Others get together in family social events such as family reunions, Thanksgivings, and/or Weddings, for example, to celebrate together or to enjoy each other's company.  Also, people get together for conferences or conventions to learn more about specific topics or their interests or careers.   All of the aforementioned examples have a limited number of people that can be there together at once.  That is exactly what makes a Professional Learning Network so unique and convenient.  There is no limit to it, and you can access all of the benefits necessary for whatever purpose you may need at any moment.  

What is a PLN?

A Professional Learning Network (PLN) is a dynamic learning environment, which will consist of people, spaces, and tools that meet an educator’s professional learning needs, interests and goals according to the article Professional Learning Networks.  Some of the things that you will see if being part of a PLN are career based feedback, advice, ideas, emotional support, and/or mentoring on any specific topic.  The spaces within a PLN could be digital, physical, and/or hybrid places, which will support or permit professional knowledge sharing within with and from others.  These can include, for example, conferences, workshops, webinars, Twitter chats, unconferences, Reddit forums, and/or massive online open online courses.  Finally, the tools that you may find within the PLN are physical resources, like books or curriculum materials, and digital technologies, like Internet search databases, social bookmarking tools, and blogs.  These are all used to access, curate, construct, and disseminate professional knowledge, according to the article.  Finally, the people, spaces, and tools within a PLN can support ongoing professional learning and growth for individuals in any academic or organizational context with no limit. 

How is a PLN useful?

According to the article Professional Learning Networks, PLNs are useful because learning can be organic, individualized, self-directed, and interest-driven, and it can happen anytime and from anywhere.  Also, educators can choose which people, spaces, and tools support their own unique needs, interests, and goals.  They can decide when and where they would like to learn, how much time to spend learning, and how they would like to engage.  Lastly, educators can shift and evolve their PLNs, as well as their PLN actions and engagement, over time based on changing professional needs, interests, goals, professional communities, relationships, confidence, time, technologies, and broader contexts.

What are the Benefits?

Being part of a PLN brings so many benefits.  The article Professional Learning Networks outlines multiple.  Some of those benefits include:

• PLNs can support educators’ affective, cognitive, identity, and social growth:
• affective-educators might feel more invigorated after participating in a Twitter chat or become more willing to try new teaching practices based on inspiration from a keynote speech
• cognitive-the development of professional knowledge and skills that occurs when educators come across new information, ideas, and resources from their PLNs and when they critically reflect on their practice
• identity-consists of shifts in how educators see themselves and their roles, like when individuals shift from being leaders in their classrooms to also being a leader in their school, university, or professional communities
• social-includes an increased sense of connectedness with others, reduced feelings of isolation, and exposure to diverse people and communities

Where Can I Begin My PLN Journey?

Common Sense Education highlights some of the best Professional Development Websites and PLNs for teachers.  Those highlighted include:

• BetterLesson-Take advantage of the offerings of this professional community to improve the quality of your classroom instruction.
• Common Curriculum-Flexible and collaborative lesson planning, calendar design, and classroom site creator save teachers precious time.
• KQED Teach-Stay on top of the trends and take the fear out of media-making in the classroom.
• Smithsonian Science Education Center-Use the SSEC's site as a stop on your changing-science-instruction path; just be prepared to reach out to them for constructive details.
• Annenberg Learner-A hodge-podge of resources and video courses may help some teachers brush up on their content knowledge and instructional skills.
• California Academy of Sciences-A perfect companion to (or substitute for) the Academy, this site delivers highly interactive resources and research with a lot of depth.
• OER Commons-Impressive resource opens access to quality materials for all educators.
• Learning for Justice-It's an invaluable teacher tool to help reduce prejudice and encourage tolerance in schools, as well as within society as a whole.
• ReadWriteThink-This is a trustworthy site that teachers of all grades/subjects could find a way to use weekly for lessons or professional development.
• Share My Lesson-Not a quick fix but a solid resource for pre-K through adult ed planning, supplemental resources, and professional development.
• Teaching Channel-Professional educators can watch, share, and learn in a continually updated environment.
• The Current-A great resource to share and gather ideas on teaching with technology and media.
• Microsoft Teams-Educators will likely find that the wide variety of features Teams offers is worth the time it takes to learn how to use it.
• KQED Education-For those willing to dig around, the site is an exceptional place for both educators and students to find inspirational digital media resources.
• The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History-In class, a good resource for U.S. history; beyond, a great website for free teacher PD and some great in-depth exploration of primary sources.
• Voxer Walkie Talkie Messenger-A cool tool for teachers to collaborate with each other through voice and text messaging.
• Youcubed-A fantastic resource for teachers working on changing attitudes toward math and teaching it in an innovative and engaging way.
• Pinterest-An effective way to search for new ideas and save them for later use.
• Twitter-offers something for everyone: information, resources, and an easy way to connect with just about anyone.

Check out the infographic to learn more about where to expand on your PLN and best practices for participating in a PLN.   

Image source: personal photo, using canva.com

Interested in building/creating your own Professional Learning Network?  Check out this page!

References

Best professional development websites and PLNS for teachers. Common Sense Education. (n.d.). https://www.commonsense.org/education/lists/best-professional-development-websites-and-plns-for-teachers

Build your PLN. Introduction to Personal Learning Networks. (n.d.). https://clt.manoa.hawaii.edu/projects/pln/build-your-pln/

Trust, T., Carpenter, J. P., Krutka, D. G., Trust, Carpenter, & Krutka. (n.d.). Torrey Trust. Professional Learning Networks. https://edtechbooks.org/encyclopedia/professional_learning_networks