Modern PLNs (Professional/Personalized Learning Networks) are part evolution and part revolution. They're fully democratic and overwhelmingly exciting. Nowhere is this more true than inside the world of a Twitter hashtag. Sure, that's sounds a bit ridiculous, but it's a slice of gospel that's holding true across the stories of so many educators as they're connecting - sharing stories, successes, questions, and resources - with the world.
A very short time ago, teachers most often found themselves isolated from other professionals, even those in their building. The prevailing metaphor was that of teachers being islands unto themselves. Even the luckiest among our profession had limited times, spaces, methods, and people with whom they could collaborate, learn and grow. A graduate class here, a worthwhile workshop day there, perhaps even a tight-knit hallway full of colleagues...sure, but that was it. All of that has changed.
Now, instead, we have #EdChatMA and other hashtags, and educators are staging a revolution by putting themselves in charge of their successful growth by becoming part of each other's "Personalized Learning Networks" and supporting each other. The talking, sharing, creating, asking, answering, and crafting of ideas, plans and resources that take place online is simply amazing. This is the evolution; we're growing - as "connected educators" and as a profession - at an exponential pace because of the ease with which we are sharing our work.
Massachusetts has always offered its students an innovative, world-class education. The plan is to now use this hashtag to tap into all people who are in schools and/or passionate about educating students from around the Commonwealth, America, and the world and leverage their knowledge and experience in support of our students.
Now, instead, we have #EdChatMA and other hashtags, and educators are staging a revolution by putting themselves in charge of their successful growth by becoming part of each other's "Personalized Learning Networks" and supporting each other. The talking, sharing, creating, asking, answering, and crafting of ideas, plans and resources that take place online is simply amazing. This is the evolution; we're growing - as "connected educators" and as a profession - at an exponential pace because of the ease with which we are sharing our work.
Massachusetts has always offered its students an innovative, world-class education. The plan is to now use this hashtag to tap into all people who are in schools and/or passionate about educating students from around the Commonwealth, America, and the world and leverage their knowledge and experience in support of our students.