Professional Learning Network (PLN): How Do I Fit In?

Professional Learning Network (PLN)

    Prior to this week, I had never heard of Professional Learning Networks (PLNs) before, or so I thought. After reading up on the topic, I realized that I already engage in these networks and forums, but I just didn't know the term for it. As discussed in the article, From PLN to Practice: Tips from 5 Educators on Personalizing Your Professional Learning (from Common Sense Education), PLNs can be such a powerful tool and resource for educators because they can customize what they get out of their PLN based on what will benefit them most in their practice. When reading the Common Sense Education article, I particularly enjoyed the following thoughts on why/how PLNs can have such a positive influence on educators:

Screenshot taken from the article, From PLN to Practice: Tips from 5 Educators on Personalizing Your Professional Learning, 

Knutson, 2017.

I think that PLNs are very compatible with the format in which we learn now. While there are benefits to still creating and attending Professional Developments the "traditional" way (think: sitting in conference spaces with colleagues, listening to various presenters and watching Powerpoint presentations), utilizing PLNs is a quicker, more convenient way for educators to seek the support they need to improve their practices.  

It's Always Good to Have a PL(A)N

    PLNs can help educators with social growth, affective growth, cognitive growth, and identity growth. After watching this short video, I feel that I connect most with using PLNs to help grow cognitively within my field. Often, I find myself looking for different resources on websites such as Pinterest or Teachers Pay Teachers to supplement my instruction and come across different teaching strategies or other ideas to try on TikTok. Additionally, I started listening to the podcast "Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers" on Spotify and I have found that the information presented in each episode is really relevant to my experience in teaching thus far. It's nice to find an outlet of support, even if it's from people I do not know, as I push through my first few years of teaching, trying to hone my skills in the classroom.

Image Source: The Teacher Challenge, https://teacherchallenge.edublogs.org/pln-define/

 Using PLNs in My Career

    I am seeking to learn more about how I can support myself and my educational goals through PLNs. In wanting to learn more about using technology in the classroom, I joined the Facebook group, "Teachers Teaching with Tech". This group on Facebook is a place for teachers from various grade levels to share ideas and offer advice on how to incorporate current technology to enhance curriculum and instruction. For example, one post I read discussed how to use Wordle in the classroom to enhance students' vocabulary instruction. While this suggestion may have been geared towards upper elementary or high school grade levels, since the language demands of Wordle are often more intense, I think it would be interesting to try with my 3rd graders as a way to have them think outside of the box. Many of my students enjoy playing Wordle, individually during free/recess time or as a class with me projecting it on to our front board. If I could find a way to create my own game board and use our math or science vocabulary words as the possible answers to the daily game, that could help my students build their understanding of the academic language and help them begin to use it correctly within context. I'm excited by this challenge and am looking forward to getting more ideas from this new forum!