This is an old pet peeve of mine, so pardon me if I’ve said this before in some venue.
I am a big believer in the PLN (Personal Learning Network) or PLE (Personal Learning Environment) for teachers. I know that my knowledge and excitement are daily supported by the many educators with whom I interact. Whether it is reading articles, watching videos, listening to podcasts (my personal favorite), following on Twitter, or conversing directly, barely a day goes by that I don’t find a new idea, a new technique or a new tool.
I am convinced that education is rapidly changing into something I don’t yet know or completely understand. However, through my network I can glimpse this future and help to make it. Just as education for students is changing, ongoing education for teachers is also changing, and never more crucial. Too often teachers view themselves as “completed” and have little motivation to continue formal education. The good news for these is that attending formal classes is probably the least effective way for them to keep current, the challenging news is that there is no longer “completion” (if there ever was!) and learning and growth must be a constant of the field.
This is why I have trouble with the term Personal Learning Network. Calling it personal sounds both too informal, and too optional. I get that the term reflects that these networks should reflect the individual learning needs of each educator (I hope we focus equally on the individual learning needs of students); however, I also hear in this term a distance from the classroom (this is my personal identity as opposed to my teacher self).
Now, I am a fan of economy, so my suggested change will allow us to keep 90% of our printed materials (and PowerPoint slides). Let’s change the P from Personal to Professional Learning Networks. Immediately this shift implies two things. First, it clothes the term in a work outfit; this is not a personal thing to do, but part of your job. Second, it suggests that in order to be a professional educator, a PLN is as fundamental as chalk dust (for those too young for chalk dust, you’ll have to take my word for it).
So as we begin another school year, let’s help each other build our second professional credential, a broad and effective Professional Learning Network!