Professional development via social networks

Professional learning development (PLD) via social networks has been one of the most inspiring things I have engaged in as a teacher.  Connected to the Virtual Learning Network (VLN), Twitter, Google Plus communities and a NZ Primary teachers Facebook page, I rely on the wealth of knowledge, varying opinions and sharing of resources from other passionate educators.

When I began teaching, 20 years ago, we viewed a professional development booklet each year, to identify courses we would like to attend - several courses, every year.   Advisors were also available to come into school to support us with identified areas for development.  At some point, both the professional development booklet and the advisors disappeared. In some schools I worked in, there were forward-thinking teachers to inspire and challenge my practice; but not so much in others.

A few years ago, with three children under the age of four, I spent a year at home with my kids.  Unsure of whether I would go back to teaching, I joined a primary school teachers facebook page that a teaching colleague recommended.  Here I was amazed to find other forward-thinking teachers who were prepared to share their ideas and resources and who struggled with the same issues prevalent in our education system as I did.  Since then, I have returned to the classroom full time, and have added twitter, google plus communities and the VLN to my social media connections.

One of the reasons PLD via social media connections works for me is that my mindset towards it is that it isn’t another thing I ‘have to do’, such as attend an after school PLD session.  Instead I choose to read and contribute to the ideas and discussions online, from the comfort of my own home, when it suits my timetable, without having to pay for babysitting for my children.  If it is relevant and inspiring, I follow the thread; if it isn’t I can get up and leave without causing offence to the speaker at the front of the room.

While I am fortunate to have a principal who supports quality PLD, social media connections continue to play a role in my professional development.  In the youtube clip, Connected Educators,  Steve Hargadon likens social networking for teachers as being like a hallway conversation, but amplified.  The seminar of expert teaching has taken place (there is still a place for it), and then the online conversations between teachers provide a place for clarifying learning and discussing the application of ideas.

One of the criticisms outlined in Karen Melhuish’s 2013 thesis ‘Online Social Networking and its Impact on New Zealand Educator’s Professional Learning’, is the variable quality of professional learning via social platforms.  Greenhow (2011) criticised social network sites for their lack of quality control and overflow of information.   Everyone has a voice, not just the highly qualified and well researched.

My response to this criticism an awareness of the limitations of the PLD via social networking is vital, as this awareness removes many of the criticisms.  I find that where uninformed opinions are aired, others are quick to disagree (and provide evidence for their disagreement).  An analogy for PLD via social networking is the use of Wikipedia in the classroom - initially thought to be unreliable, the number of people critiquing it has made it now a reasonably credible source.  We teach our students to question and cross reference sources such as this, the same applies to us.  As long as we approach PLD via social networking with a critical eye, we should be able to maximise the opportunity it provides.


References:

Greenhow, C. (2011) Online social networks and learning, On the Horizon, Vol. 19 Issue: 1, pp.4-12, https://doi.org/10.1108/10748121111107663

Melhuish, K.(2013). Online social networking and its impact on New Zealand educators’ professional learning. Master Thesis. The University of Waikato. Retrieved from http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10289/8482/thesis.pdf

Office of Ed Tech. (18 September 2013) Connected Educators.  Video File.  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4Vd4JP_DB8