EdTechTrek

Below you will find a poll/question and the results to date of that question. I have been thinking about this for some time now. The title, PLN, or Personal/Professional Learning Network, has been in circulation for some time now and it represents one’s support network beyond the physical, face-2-face relationships that we typically have within our daily reach. It represents the potential power one can tap into when harnessing a much more global and virtual network of like-minded and often expert groups. Tools such as microblogs (Twitter/Plurk), blogs, social networks (Ning, LinkedIn, Facebook) , backchannel conversations, social bookmarking (Diigo, Delicious), and other social applications (YouTube, SlideShare,…) that allow a community to participate in ideas are all key to building your PLN. However, I think we have sometimes represented the responsiveness (hence, the utility) of one’s PLN a little too simplistically at times. For example, the message may come across as “embrace these tools, build your PLN, and you will have a wealth of collaborative power. Or, blogging will revolutionize your teaching/learning. Or, use a wiki and the world will come and help you add content/flesh out your ideas. Or, get a Twitter account and your every question will be responded to by a wealth of great folks who will also all want to follow you. Perhaps some of that comes from watching the response that the “super stars” receive when they ask questions, post blog posts, twitter questions, or invite others to contribute in some way. It is just not that easy as it may seem… or as easy as we (I put myself in that boat) have sometimes communicated. Building a PLN is hard work and it requires diligent, active, and participatory excellence. Many times questions may go unanswered. Many times blog posts may receive no commentary. It is one thing to “take” from your PLN. That’s the easy part. It is a totally different thing to have your PLN “give” to – or work for – you. The latter requires a much more significant depth of relationship.

I have noticed that often my own PLN gets an intellectual shot in the arm when I have met folks face to face in various settings. So, I posed the following question. The response was what I suspected. It is far from a representative sample upon which firm conclusions can be drawn, but it does make me think that face to face connections remain critical for learning, networking, building, and sustaining a vibrant PLN. I noticed that many of this year’s NECC attendees mentioned how valuable it was that they were there physically versus simply being a virtual fly on the wall… that the face to face relationships were an essential part for them. I also recall reading some comments by folks who couldn’t attend physically and how much they missed the physical connective experience, myself included.

It is so much more than simply using the tools, isn’t it – just as being an effective teacher is so much more than the new tools one surrounds himself with.

What do you think? What has been your experience? Please contribute to the embedded poll below.

Well, the latest discussion happening over on Will Richardson’s blog in conjunction with my prior blog post got me to thinking. What does our local school district offer in terms of professional development for my kids’ teachers? Are they learning about new spheres of practice, learning, communication, participation… Here is the list of what is being offered between February and June.

- IEP Open Lab

- SMART Boards for Beginners (X3)

- Social Emotional Learning Building Team Training

- Best Children’s Literature in the Classroom

- Adult CPR

- First Aid for Coaches

- Music: the Orff Express

- Web Portal Pages

- ESOL Inservice

- Para Support Group

- Implementing the District Lesson Plan Format (That sounds invigorating!)

- IEP Open Lab

- Excel Basics

- Mandarin Training Report Tool

- Building a Caring School Climate through Service Learning

- the Art of VideoStreaming

- Motivating hart to Reach, Uninterested, and Disruptive Students

- Building Circles of Support for Autistic students

- What Talented Readers Need

- Introduction to Computer Animation Basics (Art teachers only)

All of these topics have merit, of course. They are all important. But most are discipline specific and don’t have a wider audience appeal or relevancy. There are few general sessions that could benefit any and all teachers. But what I want to stress is that there are NO sessions dealing with Web 2.0 or any of its related technologies and certainly nothing on empowering teachers to connect, learn, contribute, participate… in larger communities of practice. So, do teachers know they can participate in such new forms of learning networks? Well, they are not learning about the possibilities in our district. So, I think Will Richardson’s estimate…

“But I would still venture to guess that 75% (maybe more) of educators in this country still don’t know that they can have this network.”

…is probably on target.

For those many teachers who can’t seem to make these after-school PD sessions for some very valid reasons (children, other jobs, other commitments or responsibilities, nothing relevant offered, no follow-up support,…), new on-line learning/networking opportunities would seem to make a great deal of sense. Do we just need to sit back and be patient in this regard? Will it come in good time… or too late?

So, I wanted to attend a few sessions held this weekend at Learning 2.0: A Colorado Conversation. Problem: I am at home with my two kids, activities, lunches, dishes… you know – the stuff that real life is made up of. Solution: UStream in the kitchen! I set up my laptop on the kitchen counter where I could view and participate in the sessions, and presto! The only problem was dirty or wet hands. They are not the keyboard’s best friend. And, even if I could not attend live, sessions and backchannel chats are archived.

But, I think that this type of professional development is so valuable in our busy lives. Many teachers can’t seem to find the time for professional development. Both asynchronous and in this case, synchronous (UStream, TalkShoe, Elluminate…), opportunities have really grown over the last few years. They have helped me out tremendously. However, so far, they have not really taken off in the more “scholarly” educational conference venus like SITE, AERA, NCTE, NCTM, CUE and the like. Granted, some do have a few webcast sessions, but little to no opportunity to “participate”. Of course, things like membership and dues play more of a role here, but how long are we these “fences” to professional development going to stay up in this web 2.0, connected, collaborative world? How much do such fences contribute to NOT attending?

Finally, those not involved in these current conversations are probably not even aware of these types of opportunities. After all, I only found out about them from reading a few select blog posts and from a few tweets that came in on folks that I follow. What about those folks who don’t have developing borderless 2.0 networks? All the more reason to hop on board, I’d say. Teachers NEED to know about these opportunities with such limitations on time, finances, and schedule.

And, just as I am writing this, Will Richardson tweeted a new post that fits like a glove here! My point exactly. No RSS? No Twitter? No Network? Then, you are most likely not to be in the “know”. Will writes:

“But I would still venture to guess that 75% (maybe more) of educators in this country still don’t know that they can have a network….The passionate learning network of which I am a part is an amazing and important part of my life. The fact that most teachers still have no idea that is possible is distressing on one hand, motivating on the other.”

I couldn’t agree more. Teachers need time to talk, share, network,… and that time is often not going to be during the school day when their students are there. But, sadly, I think, as Will writes, that most are not really aware other options. My graduate students are not aware of such options and are so excited to be learning about them in class… one class in their entire degree program. Hopefully I can get some of them to explore these “kitchen conferences” and realize that their professional world and lifeline is not contained in the walls of their school or classroom.