Growing the Personal Learning Network – LIBE 477 Inquiry Post #2

I am forever a student.  I am passionate about learning and if I could make a career out of being a student, I would.  As an educator, I am always looking for ways to improve my practice and one of the best ways to do this is through my own personal learning network.

Timberley says that “to make significant changes to their practice, teachers need multiple opportunities to learn new information and understand its implications for practice.  Furthermore, they need to encounter these opportunities in environments that offer both trust and challenge” (Timberley et al 15).  Learning needs to be authentic and on the teacher’s own terms.  Face to face discussion with colleagues both at our own schools as well as in the region are vital to our learning network, however the personal connection is not a necessary part of our professional learning.

Source: https://fcit.usf.edu/matrix/project/teachers-talking/

Digital platforms are becoming a significant part of teachers’ personal learning networks.  In her article “Leveraging Social Media to Build a Digital PLN,” Kyleen Gray says that “the fact that there isn’t always a personal relationship creates a nice amount of autonomy for both parties in these relationship – when you aren’t face to face on a regular basis, its easier to take the ideas you want from your network and make them your own, or to leave the network when you’re ready” (Gary 2019).  There are many social media networks that I use regularly in order to seek out – and also to share – lesson plans and ideas.  Facebook is not one of those sites.  I do have a Facebook account but that is strictly a personal account and I feel as though Facebook lacks the professional learning image as does Twitter, for example.  I have a Twitter account that I use as my “teacher account” which I have been attempting to grow as of late, adding members of my LIBE classes, the teachers of my courses, and various libraries and publishers from across the country.  I also regularly use Teachers Pay Teachers and Pinterest for ideas.  There is no need to completely reinvent the wheel for every lesson we plan.  There is so much knowledge and creativity amongst our colleagues, the digital platform is an incredible resource.

Source: https://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/teacher-agency-self-directed-professional-development/

All of these sites can have value in a professional learning context, however we must choose which platform best suits our needs for a particular task.  It is also important that we use these social media sites effectively in order to get the most benefit from them.  In the following video, Jerry Pettigrew interviews Tom Whitby, author of “The Relevant Educator.”  Whitby suggests ways to get the most out of your social media platforms.

Whitby says, “[…]you use the personal learning network to direct your learning and you determine what it is you need to know to move on.  But the beauty about that is not only can you direct what you need to know, you also find out that which you don’t know” (Pettigrew).

I found some incredible resources to help develop and grow my personal learning network as a teacher, teacher librarian, and avid reader.  Two sites that I found particularly useful are www.wabisabilearning.com/blog/25-great-education-tools and www.wabisabilearning.com/blog/8-tools-personal-learning-network as they offer lists of other sites and tools that can be helpful to teachers in their professional development.

Going forward, I will begin to use hashtags such as #Edchat and others in my Twitter posts to help connect with others and to grow my network.  I will continue to follow those from my LIBE courses through blogs, websites and Twitter accounts to follow them on their journeys to becoming a certified teacher librarian as well.  I have been actively seeking out blogs and podcasts to help broaden my perspective and shape my teaching and learning.  I will continue to discover new and exciting ways to learn and will continue to share exciting finds and great reads with my colleagues via social media.  Happy learning all!

Works cited:

Gray, Kyleen. (2019, May 15). Leveraging Social Media to Build a Digital PLN.  Retrieved from: www.edutopia.org/article/leveraging-social-media-build-digital-pln

Pettigrew, Jerry. (unknown) How Teachers Create Personal Learning Networks on Social Media.  Retrieved from: www.crisisprevention.com/en-CA/Blog/June-2016/How-Teachers-Create-Personal-Learning-Networks-on

Timberley et al. (2008).  Teacher Professional Learning and Development.  Educational Practices Series 18.

Wabisabi Learning (2018 September 14). The Best Tools for Nurturing your Personal Learning Network.  Retrieved from: www.wabisabilearning.com/blog/8-tools-personal-learning-network

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