The Connected Curriculum - Challenge #6

Engage in Professional Development, Networking and Leadership

With all of this talk about integrating technology into curriculum I’m sure you are wondering just when you are going to find time to do such a thing. As educators we have a fundamental lack of time to participate in organized professional learning. We must recognize that the charge for personal and professional development is on our own shoulders, and not on the district for which we work.

Constructing a Professional Learning Network (PLN) gives you the opportunity to participate in global learning communities, demonstrate leadership and technology skills, assess and reflect on current research, and contribute to the success and vitality of the teaching vocation, school and community.

PLN’s networks give you the capacity to stay in touch with countless people, including specialists in the field, peers, staff, or other school mentors. This type of social networking can also be called “global learning communities”.  It doesn’t matter what you call it, a learning network is essential for professionals to stay on top of current concerns and recent directives.

There are numerous ways to create a PLN.  Facebook offers a great way to stay connected.  The problem is that often school districts block it with internet filters due to the personal and sometimes unsuitable content of the posts. In the next few days I will take a look at Twitter, LinkedIn, and several other professional organizations to show the ways they help educators connect.  These professional types of social networking can be priceless tools as you start to grow your own Personal Learning Network.

Here are several ways that I use my PLNs:

• Professional development – gain knowledge from content-area specialist
• Locate resources for my curriculum, such as free websites and middle school focused content
• Get lesson plan concepts from master teacher
• Discover new technology and how to integrate it into my curriculum
• Find collaborative answer
• Locate interesting links to education news

The very best step I took towards growing my Professional Learning Network was to get active and educated on Twitter.  Twitter is not just about “what I did at the gym this morning”.  There are abundant professionals on Twitter that are connecting and learning from one another. They are constructing global relationships that will be vital to the future of their own professional development as well as their curriculum.

A few years ago, Twitter was in the suburbs of society, quietly gathering steam. It has hit the world full force and you can’t go a day without hearing the word Hashtag. For me, Twitter has made more of an impact on my professional learning than any other development opportunity I have experienced.  The learning is in real time, the ideas are mighty yet simple, and the links to resources and people are immeasurable.

To get started, simply go to Twitter and create an account. Once there, you can follow individuals on this list of educators, which will instantly start filling your column with countless ideas and resources.  Watch this inauguration video, Twitter in Plain English. Explore these Twitter Tips and Tricks to help you get the maximum out of your Twitter account.

Then, get more informed by using a real-time search of the educational buzz using Twitter.  Twitter is one of the most paramount and powerful ways that educators across the globe are communicating and connecting in real-time. For now, just try a search so you can see what the latest discussions are about. Click on the following #Hashtag and encounter some amazing resources and ideas that are happening right now!

Coming up - LinkedIn, ISTE, and Google Plus Communities. Until then continue to ….

Collaborate and connect your curriculum!