Developing and Growing Personal Learning Networks for Schools Leaders

When I began my teaching career fifteen years ago my classroom mirrored my own growing up as a student.  Desks were in rows and in the front of the classroom was a very big chalkboard.  I remembered being so excited to have an overhead projector that I could write on using a vis-a-vis.  Advanced technology, right? We had copiers and my school still had a ditto machine.  You know the one that used those purple carbon paper masters.  I inherited five million of them in a filing cabinet that had been collected over the previous thirty years.  The teacher who I inherited them from told me they were gold and I should consider myself lucky to have such a great resource.  I attended meetings for professional development, which typically is what most educators consider the sit and get approach.  Education as a whole was slow to change for a long time.

Technology has changed the way we do everything.  After school let out early in March due to the pandemic, I chose to take this opportunity and enroll in two classes and a book study.  A positive thing I have seen come out of this uncertain time is people embracing technology and learning how to use it.  I wanted to learn as much as possible and share with others what I learned. One of the classes I chose was Developing and Growing Personal Learning Networks for school leaders.  Before this class my personal learning network mainly consisted up of the educators within my school system.  I read blogs and listened to podcasts, but never thought I could contribute anything by writing or recording myself.  I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone and this course challenged me, but in the process, I learned how to create a blog and record a podcast. The class provided a built-in support system.  It was ongoing and engaging.  We had some great discussions and we shared what we knew, and we learned from each other.   I plan on continuing to update my blog and record my podcast routinely.  I will be working with educators within my system and will provide ongoing professional development.  I encourage others to continue learning.  Resources are out there, and we have the power to guide our own professional development.