When I access the internet and visit educational sites or even teacher sites, I do see “forums” but have never really ventured into them.

Has anyone actually visited one or asked for help for any reason regarding teaching styles, classroom activities, lesson plans? What was that experience like?
Online Conversation

I frequent some of these forums and have been richly rewarded in my learning. One of the key ideas in a time when the Internet is always-on, we have less time to meet face to face due to family and work commitments is this: Learning is no longer just an event, something that happens at a workshop or conference. Instead, learning happens ALL the time. We are always learning.

But because there is SO MUCH content available, how do you pick and choose what professional learning you will engage in? Since we are often individuals learning at different stages on various path–hmm, differentiated learning for adults–it is important that we construct a Personal Learning Network (PLN).

A PLN is a way of building relationships with others who we do not work with but rather, who we learn with. To achieve that, we can use education forums, education blogs, podcasts, and more. One gateway to this world is the http://k12onlineconference.org which features rich, short presentations on these ways of communicating and collaborating at a distance.

As you begin to be “always on” when it comes to learning and improving your practice, of building relationships with learners at a distance who you can trust are interested in what you want to learn and/or like, you dip into an ocean of content with confidence. No longer are you frightened by the unknown, you can rely on the specific advice of your personal learning network.

A story that I like to tell is this one. Mark Ahlness (www.ahlness.com) is a 3rd grade teacher in Seattle, Washington. When he came online a few years ago as a blogger writing about education, he was the ONLY person at his campus. Mark was unable to get the support he needed from his “work network” because they didn’t understand or know what he was doing. However, by coming online and connecting with other edu-bloggers and joining online education forums, Mark was able to continue learning in spite of the dearth of workshops and professional learning opportunities in his district.

My dream for public school districts is that we establish an online community of learners that share how they are making things better in their corner of the District. And, that they never feel isolated or alone again because they know that someone at another campus is in a similar teaching and learning environment.

Subscribe to Around the Corner-MGuhlin.net