by TeachThought Staff
What’s a professional learning network?
According to Marc-André Lalande, “a Personal Learning Network is a way of describing the group of people that you connect with to learn their ideas, their questions, their reflections, and their references.”
Of course, your PLN is not limited to online interactions, but their always-on availability makes them powerful. Further, the diversity of voices available in a truly global professional learning network makes it possible–and at times necessary–to consider divergent perspectives and thus, over time, become empathetic, connected, and prone to personal and professional growth.
As for this graphic? You can thank Sylvia Duckworth, who always does a great job sharing simple sketch notes to help teachers. (She also took our 12 Rules of Great Teaching and created a predictably wonderful graphic to supplement the text, among others.) We’ve taken the graphic and provided starting points for each ‘reason’ a teacher needs a PLN.
Let us know in the comments if you have other suggestions!
10 Reasons Every Teacher Needs A Professional Learning Network
1. Find great resources, lesson plans, and conferences
Consider: OER Commons Resources
2. Share your resources & ideas
Consider: 23 Ways To Use The iPad In PBL
3. Following amazing educators and their blogs
Consider: 52 Education Blogs You Should Follow
4. Get support when needed
Consider: An example like clarifying the difference between ‘doing projects’ and PBL
5. Make international connections
Consider: Project-Based Learning in your classroom
6. Flatten your classroom walls
Consider: Why Learning Through Social Networks Is The Future
7. Collaborate globally on projects
Consider: 50 Ideas For Using Skype In The Classroom
8. Find round-the-clock inspiration
Consider: Follow your favorite blogs on instagram–edutopia or TeachThought for example.
9. Learn the latest trends in education
Consider: The most popular twitter hashtags in education
10. Never run out of ideas for new things to try with your students
Consider: Shameless plug but TeachThought Professional Development is built for exactly this kind of support.
10 Reasons Every Teacher Needs A Professional Learning Network; image attribution flickr user sylviaduckworth
