Week 6: Professional Learning Networks

We began creating PLN two years ago as a school. We call them PLC's (Profesional Learning Communities). Since doing so, I have seen a positive shift in the way academics is taught at the Middle School. Before, every teacher taught fractions or decimals different. Some taught out of the MathScape program, while some taught out of the traditional Glencoe. Now, we are all teaching out of the Glencoe. By creating PLC’s and Common Planning Times, our department work together collegiality, rather than 4 different teachers.

What does this mean for our students? They are getting the same instruction regardless of what class they are in. IF they are taking Math with myself or another teachers, the same principals and standards are being taught and assessed. With that comes a PLN for our students. This year we are creating a Math Central Moodle page in which ALL 450+ students will be enrolled and required to participate in online discussion forums, blogs, and other “new” tools that can be incorporated in the classroom and Moodle.

We will expect our students to work with one another on group projects, even if students have different teachers. We will expect that students will approach other students for help and assistance even if they have different teachers. By doing this we are fostering a PLC/PLN within our school, which will carry through (hopefully) their education and be a foundation for using web2.0 to influence and make them want to learn on their own.