The Online Village

Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider.

Over the past two decades, teachers have increasingly turned to social networks to create and grow their professional learning networks (PLN). A professional learning network is a group of educators who come together to share ideas, resources, and support each other in their efforts to improve their teaching and better serve their students. In some schools, teachers have dedicated planning time in their schedule to meet with an in-house PLN that may consist of a teaching partner or grade-group but for many schools (especially those in small communities) this type of time simply isn’t possible. For example, we have multiple schools in MVSD with under 10 staff members. With this scale it does not allow for more than one staff member to be without students at a time.

In these instances, as well as for all educators, social networks offer a number of benefits for teachers looking to create and maintain a PLN. First and foremost, they provide an accessible platform for teachers to connect with one another and share their knowledge and expertise. For example, teachers can share lesson plans, teaching strategies, and other resources with their colleagues on social networks, which can help save time and improve the quality of instruction in their classrooms.

In addition to sharing resources, teachers can also use social networks to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in their field. For example, they can follow education news outlets and experts on social media to get the latest information on new research and best practices in education. It is also increasingly common for guest speakers to share their social media handles with staff so that they can follow along after large-scale divisional PD to assist in their understanding and implementation of the topic. This can help teachers stay informed and stay ahead of the curve in their profession.

Furthermore, social networks can also provide teachers with a sense of community and support. For many teachers, especially those in small and rural settings, the job can be isolating and they spend much of their time in their classrooms with their students. By joining online communities of teachers on social networks, teachers can connect with others who are facing similar challenges and offer each other support and advice. This can help teachers feel less alone and more supported in their work.

Overall, social networks offer a powerful tool for teachers looking to create and grow their professional learning networks. By connecting with other educators and sharing resources and ideas, teachers can improve their teaching and better serve their students. So, it is important for teachers to embrace social networks and use them to their advantage in their development and maintenance of their PLN.

Wondering where to start with your PLN? Join us on Twitter for #TweetTheHalls! Our daily prompt on Friday, December 9th had us sharing our favourite educational accounts to follow which has resulted in a list of over 100 accounts that can be the perfect starting platform for someone new to the space.