Do You Really Need a Personal Learning Network?
When I started blogging a year ago, my first several posts were on the topic of “getting connected” and developing a personal learning network (PLN). As I was early in the process of establishing my own PLN, the issue seemed quite timely; what better way to engage teachers on the matter than to highlight the benefits of and my experiences with resources such as Google Reader, Twitter, Ning, Delicious, and the ISED Listserv? Surely the usefulness and ease of use of these tools would prompt my colleagues to dive in and start connecting with and learning from other professionals.
Twelve months, 100 posts, and several professional development sessions later, I’m not sure much has changed.
In May, Alec Couros visited campus and spoke about Networked Possibilities. During his presentation, he asked his Twitter network to say hello and the response was overwhelming. Not counting myself, there are only three teachers in the Middle School currently using Twitter.
In June, we officially adopted Delicious as our only supported tool for bookmarking and helped every teacher create an account. In working with faculty since the start of school, I’ve found that less than 25% are still tagging sites instead of saving them locally. Similarly, although we’ve provided several training sessions on Google Reader, less than 10% of teachers subscribe to any RSS feeds.
In July, Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis conducted a workshop here geared toward “flattening classrooms.” Teachers were shown many PLN resources and even joined a Ning network. Today, only one teacher in my building is actively using Ning.
Lest I sound critical of my colleagues, their hesitation to embrace these resources and establish a PLN is not unique. I recently and informally polled my PLN and asked for a percentage estimate of teachers/administrators in their schools who’ve created and maintained an electronic personal learning network; responses were overwhelmingly in the low single-digits.
David Warlick, Karl Fisch, Will Richardson, and others have repeatedly and extensively addressed the importance of the personal learning network, reaching tens (if not hundredes) of thousands of educators. So why hasn’t the PLN concept gained greater traction?
It’s not a question of willingness, it’s a question of need, or lack thereof.
If one’s classroom/building/district environment is such that the knowledge and skills of a PLN are not required to meet everyday challenges, then there is very little impetus to form a PLN. If a prescribed curriculum guide, textbook, resource binder, and teacher evaluation rubric are the basis for curriculum and instruction, there is very little need for a PLN. If synchronous, face-to-face, large group instruction is the preferred method of professional development, there is very little need for a PLN. If the perceived needs of learners can be meet by internal, self-referent means, there is very little need for a PLN.
Those who advocate for personal learning network should continue extolling their virtues, but large-scale buy-in will not occur until the PLN becomes an essential, vital, “must have” component for professional educators. And for that to occur, we need to collectively rethink curriculum and instruction, professional development, and the needs of our students in light of the demands of an unknown future.
That’s a mighty big job; good thing I have a PLN to help me.
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
“To build a new system you don’t compete with the old one, you build a new system that makes the old one obsolete.” -Buckminster Fuller
I am a school administrator starting to understand the value of developing a PLN. I am the only person in my school, at this point, active on twitter, blogging, and using delicious. I think you bring up a great point and I believe any sort of effort to flatten a school begins with the leader. As I become more proficient at utilizing my PLN my urge to share increases and my desire to get it started in my school grows. The issue at this point is making sure that it is not perceived as just “one more thing” we have to do. Instead, I hope to utilize certain aspects of a PLN to replace other less effective means of information sharing over time.
January 11th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Interesting post, Pat. Being fairy new to the PLN world myself, I am just now beginning to discover the wonderful benefits it has to offer. The early challenge I face is that I feel like I “need” so much more than I “give” to others on a site like Twitter. I will continue to forge ahead and count on people like you, Elizabeth Helfant, and Ed Shepherd to patiently assist me as my eyes get more and more used to this new world.
January 12th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Hi Patrick,
Excellent write-up here…like you said, there has to be a reason for a personal network. I suppose if you teach american history and you’ve been pretty good at it, you might not see a reason to be connecting with somebody from the moon.
It is a bit sobering to read about the effects of the extensive professional development that you’ve done and the yet-to-be-seen effect. I heard someone lamenting on a network somewhere that their school has brought in Alan Levine like 10 times over the years, yet the instructional/learning experience still is pretty much the same (teacher led, teacher-centric, etc).
I have a hunch that at some point every other industry will be working from outerspace, but K12 will still be photo-copying class handouts (or worse yet, posting them on a website for students to print out) and haggling over whether or not we should have 50 or 60 minute teaching blocks for our schedules.
~Matt
January 12th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I am totally convinced that it takes at least three years and 5-6 exposures before teachers start integrating this into their classroom. I did a workshop at my own school 3 years a go and when are they integrating technology — NOW! Not after the workshop, not the next year – not even the next — beginning of the third year and we’re starting to see substantial change.
Give it time. It happens with leadership, encouragement, and exposure. I’ve also found that our teachers change when they see the students asking for it.
It takes time — look how far you’ve come! If you get the magic recipe for quick change – let me know, but I’ve never seen it happen!
January 13th, 2009 at 9:39 am
I agree with Vicki Davis- three years is the minimum time for projects, programs, or ideas to take root with the larger group. This is not limited to personal networks or integration into technology. The first year the early adopters will jump on it. The second year the early adopters spread the word and get others on board. By the third year, those who tend to resist change realize that “it is here to stay” and will only then make the decision to invest their time and energy. Those late to the game often plan it just that way, and end up reaping the benefits of the pioneers. I’d still rather be a pioneer if I have the choice.
January 14th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Thanks to all for the insightful comments. I’m with you in that changes (large and small) take time, but I still believe that need is a driving force (if not THE driving force), and until teachers NEED a PLN, most won’t establish one. Time is such a precious commodity, and endeavors like building a PLN take time.
Think about all the things we do each day, personally and professionally; what rises to the top of our priority lists–wants or needs?
I’ll see where my faculty (and the profession in general) is with this in another year, but I’ll wager now that until and unless education as a system creates an environment where the PLN (or any other initiative) becomes essential to success in the classroom, the rate of change/adoption will be minimal.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:28 am
The problem as I see it is with teachers not being connected or seeing the need to be connected in a professional sense. I am not talking about answering email, I am talking about being online and in an online working mode in order to take advantage of PLN opportunities. I still think most educators are scornful of their colleagues who have embraced online learning and enhanced connectivity and treat it as a malfunction or a personal weakness of not being able to leave the computer. However, we are not in a 8-4 time frame working scenario anymore. The top authors all write about this shift to a 24/7 style of working. Like it or not it is here and everyone needs to adjust and use it to their benefit, including using online tools to foster connectivity.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
[...] So today I was surprised to read the title of Patrick Woessner’s recent post entitled Do I Really Need a Personal Learning Network? For me the answer was a resounding YES! Over the last two months I have connect with some of themst [...]
January 20th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I wonder why more teachers are not using a PLN improve their lessons and banks of resources, especially at this time. I am driving myself crazy doing whatever I can to be good at what I do so my name is not put on the list of possible cuts when the budget crunch gets worse. I don’t presume to be indispensable, but I can’t stop learning and become unemployable.
January 20th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
I could not imagine being without my PLN anymore. I have only been part of a PLN since early in the summer, but over the last six months I have come to rely on them for so much.
Two things stuck out as I read through the comments left here. First, John mentioned that he gets a lot more than he gives to his PLN. I felt the exact same way. There were a couple of very special people who mentored me to make sure I got off on the right foot. Now that I have some experience I am acting as a mentor. We all need help starting out, but then we end up teaching others.
I also want to say that I am NOT a very patient person. I cannot for the life of me understand why the teachers I work with have not started engaging in conversations with people online. Vicki’s comment about adoption taking 3 years has put my mind at ease. I am a early adopter, but my coworkers are not. I feel a little better now——-thanks Vicki.
My PLN is my lifeline. I have experienced the scorn that Julie talked about. I resent comments from my coworkers about how they just don’t have time to do the things I do online. (Nings, Twitter, blogging, learning about different apps). If I want to be the best I can be do I really have a choice?
So glad I happened upon this blog. I am a subscriber now.
January 21st, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Julie, Bea, and Beth: AMEN! Your comments really resonated with me and I hope with others as well. As you collectively pointed out, this is not an 8-4 profession anymore, we need to stay current and employable, and a solid PLN can be a lifeline. I plan to keep pressing on and spreading the word; sounds like you will be doing the same.
Cheers!
February 22nd, 2009 at 6:49 pm
[...] do you have one? Do you need one? Patrick Woessner does a good job of describing the current state of affairs in education. Few people know what it is, let alone have [...]