Journal: 2: Join The Flock

Journal 2: Join the Flock   Nets: V

Ferguson, Hadley (2010). Join the flock. Learning and leading with technology, 30(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-june-july-2011.aspxhttp:

Another acronym to learn.  Professional learning network or PLN.  Hadley Ferguson's PLN article reminds me very much of what many districts are advocating and that is PLC or professional learning communities.  PLCs collaborate, share ideas, have followers specific to their teaching specialty, develop lesson plans and discuss their success with students.  According to the journal article, professional learning networks do about the same thing but via the Internet.  I appreciate the idea of tweeting with "followers" that relate to you professionally.  The idea of being of "Lurk" is helpful for those of us who are just beginning to build a PLN.  Just reading and following others on the PLN as they relate to my specific educational needs, allows me to chose when and what to retweet.  For those beginners,  Hadley Ferguson also suggests that we retweet a simple but positive comment such as  "Gr8 idea" or just respond with "I like your comment".

Questions #1:  Since I already participate in professional learning communities (PLC) at my school site and at the district level, why should I add another element such as professional learning network?

Yes, just as Hadley Ferguson mentions in her article, we do talk, discuss, share, collaborate in the staff lounge during lunch.  In our site PLC meetings I collaborate with general education teachers and in our district PLC meetings I collaborate with other special education educators.  The idea of PLN is very appealing and I'm sure a great learning and sharing tool for all educators but, at this time, I think I would like to be a "Lurk".              

Questions #2:  Who would I follow professionally?

If I was to tweet and develop a professional stream they would include educators in the field of special education such as those who work with children with disabilities, speech and language pathologist, educational psychologist, occupational children with disabilities, speech and language pathologist, educational psychologist, occupational therapist, adaptive physical education specialist and  those working with autistic children.