My Professional Learning Network

This Popplet begins to showcase my Professional Learning Network or PLN.

I say “begins” because the blue section representing the sub-PLN of Twitter is cut off and the Popplet is not very easy to read.

Let’s take a closer look at the sub-PLNs in the slideshow below:

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These are the resources I reference when looking for information related to my job as an English educator. The resources include various publications, professional organizations and institutions, colleagues near and far, and social media.

I have been growing my PLN since my undergraduate studies at Michigan State University. I launched my Twitter account in April of 2013 and started attending conferences shortly thereafter. The power of these two resources was tremendous, as I began to be recognized by peers and experts in the field of education. This was very important in my development as a pre-service teacher (PST) because it gave me groups of like minded people both in person and online.

According to the National Education Technology Plan, developed by the U.S. Department of Education, “Teaching today is practiced mostly in isolation. Many educators work alone, with little interaction with professional colleagues or experts in the outside world … Not surprisingly, half of freshly minted teachers leave the profession within the first five years” (2010).

Every teacher experiences this isolation in different ways depending on their district, their involvement with colleagues, and level of motivation. I experience the isolation daily, yet am motivated to turn to my established PLN for inspiration and revitalization to continue on and not be another statistic in the teaching profession.

What is your go to resource in your PLN? Let me know so I can add it to mine!