Professional Learning Network
Tobin was the first to use the term ‘PLN’, noting that that it involved a group of people to guide your personal and professional learning, share knowledge and experience, and provide opportunities for future learning (1998). Professional Learning Networks (PLN) are integral to teachers as they promote continual growth and professional learning throughout your career. A PLN combines people, organisations and resources that offer comprehensive support, advice, feedback, and collaborative opportunities for educators (Trust, 2012). This highlights the existence of teachers as ‘lifelong learners’ and ensures schools are equipped with personnel to practice up to date and effective pedagogy to cater to diverse learners.
The focus area chosen for the below PLN is APST 7.4: 'Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities' (AISTL, 2010). The PLN details ways in which I have engaged with teaching networks, including professional organisations, digital resources such as Kahn Academy, and personal connections such as practicum staff and family/friends involved in the education system. It also notes the presence and importance of external communities and resources, such as museums, Parliament House and law courts, all of which provide useful information and resources to inform my own content knowledge and practice. Interacting and engaging within this network, incorporating people, organisations and digital and analogue resources, gives me the opportunity to share and gain resources and experience, implement effective teaching strategies, make useful connections within the teaching and humanities community, and stay up to date on relevant current affairs. I created the PLN using the software ‘Genially’. This allowed me to create the brainstorm and also incorporate buttons to reveal explanations of the elements of the PLN. Additionally, it allowed the inclusion of several links to relevant websites and documentaries. This allowed for an interactive and informative network.
Through creating the PLN, I have realised the extent of my teaching connections. It made me realise the wealth and depth of experience I have to lean on, in the people and organisations around me. It has also reiterated the importance of teachers as lifelong learners through emphasising the importance of professional learning and continual growth throughout your career. Furthermore, it is clear that being isolated and individual is not conducive to a successful career or efficient teaching practice, thus implying the importance of engaging with the world around you. As a result, of the connections evident in the PLN, I have been able to better differentiate lessons for diverse learners, implement authentic learning opportunities and share useful and proven resources with students. This has made my job more efficient and enhanced the learning opportunities of students.
I have been able to share resources, lesson plans and experiences with my pre-service teacher peers, during formal tutorials and informal meetings. I believe that this has helped the cohort develop strategies to cater to a range of needs and requirements within the classroom. It is integral that I continue to develop and engage within this network as I move into the early stages of my teaching career and beyond. I plan to do this by continuing to develop productive professional relationships with teaching peers, mentors on practicum and those around me in both the personal and professional spheres of life.
The focus area chosen for the below PLN is APST 7.4: 'Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities' (AISTL, 2010). The PLN details ways in which I have engaged with teaching networks, including professional organisations, digital resources such as Kahn Academy, and personal connections such as practicum staff and family/friends involved in the education system. It also notes the presence and importance of external communities and resources, such as museums, Parliament House and law courts, all of which provide useful information and resources to inform my own content knowledge and practice. Interacting and engaging within this network, incorporating people, organisations and digital and analogue resources, gives me the opportunity to share and gain resources and experience, implement effective teaching strategies, make useful connections within the teaching and humanities community, and stay up to date on relevant current affairs. I created the PLN using the software ‘Genially’. This allowed me to create the brainstorm and also incorporate buttons to reveal explanations of the elements of the PLN. Additionally, it allowed the inclusion of several links to relevant websites and documentaries. This allowed for an interactive and informative network.
Through creating the PLN, I have realised the extent of my teaching connections. It made me realise the wealth and depth of experience I have to lean on, in the people and organisations around me. It has also reiterated the importance of teachers as lifelong learners through emphasising the importance of professional learning and continual growth throughout your career. Furthermore, it is clear that being isolated and individual is not conducive to a successful career or efficient teaching practice, thus implying the importance of engaging with the world around you. As a result, of the connections evident in the PLN, I have been able to better differentiate lessons for diverse learners, implement authentic learning opportunities and share useful and proven resources with students. This has made my job more efficient and enhanced the learning opportunities of students.
I have been able to share resources, lesson plans and experiences with my pre-service teacher peers, during formal tutorials and informal meetings. I believe that this has helped the cohort develop strategies to cater to a range of needs and requirements within the classroom. It is integral that I continue to develop and engage within this network as I move into the early stages of my teaching career and beyond. I plan to do this by continuing to develop productive professional relationships with teaching peers, mentors on practicum and those around me in both the personal and professional spheres of life.