“Technology is just a tool. It’s a powerful tool, but it’s just a tool. Deep human connection is very different. It’s not a tool. It’s not a means to an end. It is the end – the purpose and the result of a meaningful life.”
Melinda Gates, Philanthropist (Gates et al., 2013).
Professional Learning Networks for Continual Professional Growth
In a digital age with information literally at our fingertips, it is important to model continual professional learning for students and peers as we move toward organizational change. One way to encourage such learning is through Professional Learning Networks or PLNs. What is a PLN? According to Three Steps for Building a Professional Learning Network (Crowley & Chaffey, 2014), it is a “vibrant, ever-changing group of connections to which teachers go to both share and learn,” including, “organizations, communities, and individuals who help me learn and grow as a professional.” They are not only useful to keep up with everchanging technology but as a way to create authentic learning environments for students and network in your career.
Why Professional Learning Networks Work for You
As all learners young and old begin to question facts, PLNs create learning partnerships between and among professionals and learners (Fullan et al., 2014). They also re-structure the learning toward purposeful knowledge creation (Fullan et al., 2014). Finally, the right PLN utilizes, “digital tools and resources that enable and accelerate the process of deep learning” (Fullan et al., 2014, p. 10).
How to Build or Choose the Right PLN
How should you go about building or choosing the right network for your needs? It’s simple – be intentional and dig deep! It is important that learners invest “time to find and connect with people they trust, who have shared interests and passions” (Crowley & Chaffey, 2014). Also, I suggest being open to change. Maybe you decide that a network that served you for a long time no longer meets your needs. On the same token, maybe you discover a new network that meets a different need as you grow in your career. It is important to remain reflective, as with any endeavor. Finally, take it slow! I need to remind myself often that I can’t eat the elephant all at once.
Selecting My Professional Learning Networks
Like I suggested, it is important to know yourself and your personal and professional needs. For me, the main categories I looked at so far are:
- Educational Technology
- Social Emotional Learning
- Leadership
Now that I considered the categories I want to explore, Three Steps for Building a Professional Learning Network (Crowley & Chaffey, 2014) suggests three steps for identifying PLNs to meet my needs:
Annotated Bibliography of Professional Learning Networks
Step 1: Find the professionals.
Texas Computer Education Agency
TCEA is one of the largest global, nonprofit, member-based technology education organizations in the United States (TCEA, 2020). They support technology integration in schools through conventions, conferences, and events (TCEA, 2020). TCEA also provides innovative information for its members (TCEA, 2020). I was fortunate to attend the TCEA conference in Dallas in 2022!
International Society for Technology in Education
ITSE is the largest global, nonprofit, member-based technology education organization. They support technology integration in schools as a way to transform teaching and learning (ISTE, 2022). Their main areas of focus are professional learning, membership, events, community, and publishing. ISTE also provides standards akin to state standards and common core that focus on technology integration in the classroom.
Education Service Center Region 11
Region 11 provides “professional development, technical assistance, and management of education programs” to ten counties in Northeast Texas (ESC Region 11, 2021).
Step 2: Find your niche groups.
Region 11 North Texas Canvas User Group
ESC Region 11 also provides quarterly training in which Canvas administrators, district leaders, and teachers network to share best practices with Canvas integration in their schools. I attended one in fall 2021 and met many peers! My goal is to attend another meeting this March 2022.
Future Ready Leadership Academy
This year, I joined the inaugural group of aspiring leaders in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD by joining the Future Ready Leadership Academy. We meet monthly to discuss books, learn about leadership roles in the district, and discuss common leadership outcomes in GCISD. I am responsible for completing a capstone project that supports a district WIG. I plan to share my Professional Innovation Proposal, my Why, my Influencer Strategy, and how I plan on Installing the Four Disciplines of Execution.
Step 3: Find your PLN peers and mentors.
Mentors
- Janie Stach: Director of Digital Learning in GCISD
- Shylene Sanchez: Director of Technology Services in GCISD
- Karen Seimears: Apple Coach with Grand Prairie ISD.
- Tara Cahill: Executive Director of Technology in GPISD
Peers
- Karsyn Jackson: Digital Learning Team Lead
- Sarra Smith: My co-Digital Learning Specialist
Other Sources of Learning
- Cult of Pedagogy: On learning
- FriEd Technology: On EdTech
Podcasts
- Dare to Lead with Brené Brown | Podcast on Spotify: On leadership
- Unlocking Us with Brené Brown | Podcast on Spotify: On SEL
References
Crowley, B., & Chaffey, S. (2014, December 31). Three Steps for Building a Professional Learning Network (Opinion). Education Week. Retrieved March 3, 2022, from https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-3-steps-for-building-a-professional-learning-network/2014/12
ESC Region 11. (2021). General Information / About Us. ESC Region 11. Retrieved March 3, 2022, from https://www.esc11.net/domain/3
Fullan, M., Langworthy, M., Barber, S. M., & Pearson. (2014, January). How New Pedagogies Find Deep Learning. Michael Fullan. Retrieved March 3, 2022, from http://www.michaelfullan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/3897.Rich_Seam_web.pdf
Gates, M., Duke University, & New York Times. (2013, June 14). Gates’ Commencement Speech. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000002282497/gates-commencement-speech.html
ISTE. (2022). Be Bold with Us. ISTE. Retrieved March 3, 2022, from https://www.iste.org/about/about-iste
TCEA. (2020). Advancing Teaching and Learning Through Technology | About TCEA. TCEA. Retrieved March 3, 2022, from https://tcea.org/about