When I saw this week’s topic for CEP810-- “Building Your Professional Learning Network”-- I’ll admit I was a bit apprehensive. I don’t use social media, I tend to find “networking” slimy, and I am not a member of online professional networks like LinkedIn. I try not to even think about work after 5pm, so as far as I was concerned, my PLN was nonexistent.
Oh, how wrong I was! As soon as I started brainstorming where/who I go to for information related to my profession, I was overwhelmed by connections. I was raised by teachers, many of my closest friends work in education, and I am in regular contact with both current and former colleagues via Slack and Messenger. I regularly check sites like TechCrunch and The Verge for news that can inform decisions I make in my role as a Technology Specialist, and I am part of a community of technology educators in my state via an email group. I utilize all of these connections (and more) to perform my job successfully, and I turn to them when I need help.
I realized how vast my PLN actually is, as well as areas in which it could definitely improve. If the purpose of a PLN is to share ideas and knowledge, I am certainly succeeding at the local level. The tech office at my school is something of an information hub, and I collaborate and solve problems with different faculty members on a daily basis. However, by not actively taking part in online communities like Twitter I know I am missing out on further opportunities to learn and share. My goal now is to stop being a passive member of the online ed tech community and to start exploring and expanding my PLN. By doing so, I only stand to broaden my network and become a more competent and connected educator and technology leader.
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