Professional Learning Network


Part 1: Reflect

1) Initially, the way I learn about new developments, ideas, and opportunities in fields that I care about are through social media platforms (i.e., Twitter, Instagram, Reddit). Social media platforms usually present information in a brief and appealing manner which gets the attention of their audience. When I become intrigued about a particular topic through these platforms, I then do my own research to find more information. In terms of knowledge mobilization, watching videos, listening to podcasts and reading short summaries is the most efficient way for me to learn. In complete honesty, I think I learn best through watching short reels which typically last no longer than a minute. Throughout my educational journey, I have and still struggle with lengthy research articles/books. That being said, I can read and acquire knowledge through this style of learning – it just takes a lot of time and motivation as my attention span is extremely short.

2) My main modality of sharing ideas and discoveries with people who have the same interests as me are via social media platforms and word of mouth. I am frequently on social media and commonly post content that intrigues me. Majority of the time, I have at least one friend/peer that comments on my post which can lead to a discussion on the topic. In addition, this can lead to sharing of other online resources (i.e., articles, videos, reels). Although I am on social A LOT, most of my sharing occurs in a face-to-face setting which involves live conversation and discussion (usually over food/drinks). Through acknowledging other ideas, sharing perspectives, and reflection, the conversations become authentic and new ideas and thought processes are ignited. In my opinion, these open discussions and conversations I have had with my friends and peers has greatly affected my creativity and critical thinking skills. 

Part 2: Connect 

10 Resources/Connections 

Reddit (Canadian Teachers), Reddit (Teaching), The PE Specialist, Teachers Off Duty (Podcast), PHE Canada, @EdWeekTeacher (Twitter Account), @MindShiftKQEdD (Twitter Account), PE Scholar (website), The PE Geek (podcast), @Teachersthings (Instagram page), @weareteachers (Instagram page), @TedEducation (Instagram page) 

Reddit – “Canadian Teachers” 

As someone that hates reading, I love to read on Reddit. For starters, Reddit is a community where users can share and discuss different topics. Users can post an idea/topic on Reddit and other users can chime in to discuss. “Canadian Teachers” is a subreddit that discusses anything related to Canadian Teachers (i.e., salary, teaching pedagogies, teaching strategies, recommendations, sharing experiences and more). The main reason I am adding this subreddit to my PLN is because of the large number of educated users (about 16,500) and the “anonymous” factor. In regard to the large number of users, reply time is typically quick – especially if it’s an intriguing topic. Regarding the anonymous factor, majority of users on Reddit use “throw away names” which protects their identity. Hence, users can share honest feedback without the repercussion of them being tracked down and potentially ridiculed. In my opinion, I have noticed that users are more genuine, honest and critical when their identity is hidden. Of course, there will always be trolls and haters that hop into the discussion – I have learned to take these replies/posts with a grain of salt. All in all, this resource will allow me to discuss anything teacher related with likeminded individuals. By participating in discussion and listening to other opinions and experiences, I can use this knowledge to better my practice. 

Teachers Off Duty – Podcast (YouTube) 

The Teachers Off Duty podcast is on YouTube and discusses a multitude of topics in the teaching world. The people who speak in the podcast have extensive knowledge in the education field (i.e., teachers, administrators, support staff, superintendents). From looking at other teaching channels, this is one of the most popular as they have 866k subscribers and over 1.6k videos. The main reason I am adding this podcast into my PLN is because of the abundance of podcast topics and the delivery of knowledge (podcasting instead of writing). As I have stated previously, knowledge mobilization is more efficient for me when I am able to watch/listen instead of reading/writing. In my opinion, emotion plays a great deal in knowledge mobilization. I firmly believe that emotion is easier to decipher in videos and podcasts compared to reading an article. The Teachers Off Duty Podcast provides insightful information and a rollercoaster worth of emotion. Ultimately combined, this podcast allows me to genuinely reflect on their ideas, perceptions and experiences to improve my practice. 

PHE Canada (Website and Organization) 

Physical Health and Education (PHE) Canada is an organization that strives to improve PHE in all capacities (i.e., teaching PHE class, providing professional development workshops, building quality PHE programs and much more). In terms of knowledge mobilization, PHE Canada offers a variety of learning modalities including podcasts, educational videos, blogs, research, books and more. In addition, PHE Canada is a source of scholarly information. They conduct research of their own and are leaders in advancement of PHE. In regard to my PLN, PHE Canada is probably the most important resource/connection because of its versatility. They offer an abundance of resources, are a resource in itself, and provide an inclusive learning community for PHE Educators all over Canada. A big portion of my professional practice comes from PHE Canada, and as I continue to grow, I will continue to use this organization as their knowledge is current, reliable and valid. 

@TedEducation (Instagram Page) 

The Instagram page “TedEducation” is a platform that aims to spark and celebrate the ideas of teacher and students around the world. To note, TedEducation is a subdivision of the “Ted Talks” that are well known on the web. This specific page has 680k followers and over a thousand of posts. TedEducation is one of my favorite resources/connections because their knowledge base is extensive, and they deliver their material in a variety of ways. For example, types of knowledge mobilization on their page include reels, videos, podcasts, infographics, visuals, statistics, brief articles and more. As someone with diverse learning needs, I can cater my learning skills to a particular type of knowledge delivery. One other great thing about this platform is that users can comment on their content and spark discussion. Depending on the post, creators of the content or TedEducation often reply and clarify thoughts and ideas. This resource/connection is imperative in my journey of becoming the best educator I can be because they continuously challenge, acknowledge and recognize new and emerging ideas in the educational world. 

@WeAreTeachers (Instagram Page)

@WeAreTeachers is an Instagram page that has over 601k followers. Their content is built by a community of educators around the world. You can definitely tell that their Instagram page is run by teachers as knowledge mobilization is plentiful (i.e., videos, statistics, reels, infographics and more). The main reason I am adding this Instagram page into my PLN is because of their innovative ideas. From what I have seen from their page, their content is current and transformative. They gear towards new, unique and emerging ideas instead of sticking to the norm. I greatly respect this. They have something for every subject! They even include a link where you can download some of their worksheets and project ideas for free! I am definitely hoping that this resource/connection can challenge some of my ideas. As a teacher, I would classify myself as a “safe” educator. I don’t take too many risks, and everything is somewhat calculated. Through reflection, I have come to terms that this may be counterproductive to my students. How do I expect my students to take risks and go the extra mile when I am not leading by example? Hopefully, this resource/connection, amongst others, pushes me over the hump. 

Part C: 

Image of PLN is attached 

Overall, I think I have a done a good job of mapping my PLN for this assignment. As Green (n.d.) indicated in their article, a PLN consists of a network of likeminded individuals who share similar goals and interests. Through using digital tools, these individuals share information, collaborate, problem solve and learn from one another. Upon completion of my PLN, I have noticed that I have an abundance of social media communities (i.e., Instagram channels, Reddit communities, Twitter channels). These social media communities allow me to ask questions to a community of educators, find a wealthy amount of resources/recommendations and discuss intriguing topics with educators around the world. In my opinion, these social media communities are both a strength and a weakness. I believe that these communities are a strength because I can post a question or a discovery and get immediate feedback from other users. This creates discussion, collaboration and reflection. That being said, social media communities can also be a weakness because literally anyone can post or share their thoughts on a post. In these communities, there are no background checks and hence, anyone can claim they are an educator and falsify claims and discoveries. From my experience, this doesn’t happen too often. However, we often have to deal with the frequent internet troll who stirs up the pot and belittles everyone. In regard to improving my PLN, I think I need to add more scholarly bodies of knowledge (i.e., organizations) like PHE Canada and the PE Specialist. Kelly (2020) said it best – having variety is imperative in building a PLN. By adding different organizations that specialize in different things, I will be able to draw from more reliable sources. For example, If I was to look for resources on how to teach healthy eating habits to my PHE classes, I could dive into the BC Dieticians website instead of dissecting PHE Canada. Having the option to dive into specific organizations that specialize in particular topics will help make my practice more reliable, informative and valid. 

Part D: End of Assignment Reflection 

Creating this PLN could not have come at a more perfect time. As a post-graduate student who will be completing their Master’s degree this semester, I now have a network I can go to for further learning. Having a PLN allows me to share my wealth of knowledge while learning from likeminded individuals. Throughout my post-secondary career, majority of my learning was done all by me. However, as I became more educated, I started to realize that learning was more efficient and meaningful with likeminded people. Having this PLN in my back pocket allows me to collaborate. In my opinion, collaboration is one of the most important factors in learning. By learning how to acknowledge other ideas, recognize faults and reflect on various experiences, knowledge becomes plentiful. One thing I really had to learn throughout my educational journey was accepting the fact that I could be wrong (I can be quite selfish!). As I continuously participated in study groups, group projects and team learning, I started to understand the importance of having a learning community. By sharing ideas, recognizing other opinions, listening to experiences and discussing an abundance of topics, I improved my knowledge base. Unfortunately, as my educational journey comes to a close, I will no longer have these communities to work with. However, I do have this PLN now! The PLN I have created has plenty of social media communities I can learn from/with. I have actually already started to post some of my thoughts, ideas and discoveries of teaching PHE in high school on the Reddit forums. I am excited to receive some feedback on my post so I can continue to improve the learning environment in my classes. In addition, I have started to look at what some of the organizations in my PLN recommend in regard to making PHE fun for all (mostly PHE Canada). PHE Canada has presented me with some intriguing stats (i.e., in one school, 80% of female students do not enjoy PHE class) and recommendations to take into account. I plan to use this data and information to make my classes more inclusive, safe and fun. In actuality, I will likely seek additional support and feedback from social media communities in my PLN. What a great resource to make upon completion of my PME!





References 

Kelly, D. (2020). Your Most Powerful Search Engine is Your Personal Learning Network (PLN).

        https://davidkelly.me/2011/09/your-most-powerful-serach-engine-is/ 

Green, C. L. (n.d.). Personal Learning Networks: Defining and Building a PLN. In T. I. Asino,  

        Learning in the Digital Age. 

        https://open.library.okstate.edu/learninginthedigitalage/chapter/personal-learning- 

        networks_defining-and-building-a-pln/      

  








 

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