PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES
Developing Better Eyes
Ronald Burt, American sociologist and University of Chicago Professor, once said, "Instead of better glasses, your network gives you better eyes.”
As a teacher, networking is crucial for the success of our students since we are their "eyes" and connection to the world with the best practices and resources that we deliver. (Sliwka, pg 54).
When you first start out in education, the amount of information, paperwork, resources, and procedures thrown at you is overwhelming and scary. You might feel that there's always something new around the corner. I know that's how I felt. After a few years, once you've become comfortable with content and procedures, it's easy to think that you've "learned it all".
If the walls of the school building marks the end of a teacher's networking and collaborating, then walls are being built around a teachers potential and their students learning potential as well. It is crucial that the networking a teacher is involved in extends well beyond the school building. Networking is a way to build relationships and a support system that will empower the members and facilitate collaboration. It breaks down barriers in equity for students as teachers reach out and exchange information and advice. It allows feedback to happen naturally and provides tools of how to reach goals and embrace change. Expanding horizons and challenging yourself comes as more professional learning networks are formed, this fosters a growth-mindset and improves learning for all.
As a teacher, networking is important because teachers are innovators, and "innovators are often isolated within their organisations. Networking provides them with opportunities for collaboration and exchange and thus can empower innovative individuals." (Sliwka, pg 53).
Sliwka, Anne. Networking for Educational Innovation: A Comparative Analysis - OECD. (2020, January 21). Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/site/schoolingfortomorrowknowledgebase/themes/innovation/networkingforeducationalinnovationacomparativeanalysis.htm
Twitter is a fantastic resource for following teachers in your content and making connections to other classrooms with best practices, creating discussion, and sharing feedback. I follow @JacobAClifford and Steve Jones to see the most up to date information and teaching strategies for AP Macroeconomics and AP Psychology.