Constructing an online professional learning network for school unity and student achievement

"This book is a testimony to true transformative practice. The whole school community pursued a single vision, with multiple checkpoints, while providing incremental support to the staff." --Cheryl Steele Oakes, TeacherWells High School, ME

Advance your professional learning community into the digital age

What if your professional learning community was available 24 hours a day, every day of the year? Would you like to have a place to share lesson plans, student work, a new curriculum, and to provide a discussion forum for all stakeholders? You can, even with only a basic understanding of technology. The authors explain how they created an online professional learning network to share a new core curriculum, providing a framework for constructing such a network to fit your school′s needs. The many benefits include:

Enhanced communication among teachers, administrators, and the community Easy access to professional development for many more participants Implementation of best practices and instructional strategies for improved teacher performance Increased understanding of and commitment to educational goals

Included are checklists, flowcharts, screenshots of an actual learning network, case studies, and a glossary of terms. This book provides all the tools you need to build a successful and motivating professional community online.

Author Notes

Robin Thompson is curriculum coordinator for Manatee High School. Prior to this position, she served as reading coach and an intensive reading teacher at the high school, and taught various elementary and middle school grades. Thompson enjoys the process of designing, building, and launching professional learning networks. Her degree is in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in literacy, and she is especially interested in struggling adolescent readers.

Laurie Kitchie is a graduate of the Univesity of Florida with a degree in educational technology. She leans towards a concept of connectivism when it comes to educating adolescent and adult learners alike. She has experience teaching both English and reading in grades 6 - 12, and is currnelty an assitant principal at Manatee High School in Bradenton, FL.

Robert Gagnon is currently the principal of Manatee High School. He brought a D-rated high school of the Florida Department of Education school-rating scale to an A-rating. Robert works diligently to demonstrate leadership and firmly believes that through teacher empowerment and the modeling of effective guidance, any school climate can be transformed and improved.

List of Figures	p. ix
Preface: Getting the Big Picture	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xvii
About the Authors	p. xix
Chapter 1 Focusing on a Professional Learning Network	p. 1
What Is a Professional Learning Network?	p. 1
Why a PLN Focus?	p. 2
Snapshot of Our PLN	p. 4
A Bird's-Eye View of How to Build Your PLN	p. 11
Review	p. 12
Resources	p. 14
A Technology Survey	p. 14
B Faculty Needs Assessment	p. 16
C Data Analysis for Areas of Focus (worksheet)	p. 20
D Data Analysis for Areas of Focus (sample worksheet)	p. 21
E Long-Term Goals With Short-Term Steps (chart)	p. 24
F Long-Term Goals With Short-Term Steps (sample chart)	p. 25
Chapter 2 Zooming in on Leadership27
Why a Leadership Focus for a PLN?	p. 27
Snapshot of Leadership in Our PLN	p. 28
A Bird's-Eye View of Leadership for Your PLN	p. 33
Review	p. 34
Resource	p. 35
G Tiered Leadership Structure (graphic organizer)	p. 35
Chapter 3 Going Digital: Infusing Technology Into a PLN	p. 37
Why a Technology Focus for a PLN?	p. 37
Snapshot of Technology on Our PLN	p. 39
A Bird's-Eye View of Technology for Your PLN	p. 42
Review	p. 46
Resource	p. 47
H Technology Integration Matrix	p. 47
Chapter 4 Landscape for Communication of Information	p. 49
Why a Communication Focus for a PLN?	p. 50
Snapshot of Communication on Our PLN	p. 50
A Bird's-Eye View of Communication on Your PLN	p. 57
Review	p. 58
Chapter 5 Framing Curriculum and Instruction	p. 61
Why a Curriculum Focus for a PLN?	p. 61
Snapshot of Curriculum on Our PLN	p. 62
A Bird's-Eye View of Curriculum on Your PLN	p. 72
Review	p. 73
Resources	p. 75
I Common Instructional Model: What Is Your Focus?	p. 75
J Common Instructional Model (blank template)	p. 76
K Common Instructional Model (sample)	p. 77
Chapter 6 Exposures to Learning	p. 79
Why a Professional Development Focus for a PLN?	p. 80
Snapshot of Professional Development on Our PLN	p. 80
A Bird's-Eye View of Professional Development on Your PLN	p. 87
Review	p. 88
Chapter 7 Begin Your Focus With Eight Steps	p. 91
What Are the Steps You Need to Begin?	p. 91
Snapshot of the Eight Steps to Build Your PLN	p. 92
Review	p. 98
Resource	p. 100
L Creating a Focus: Eight Steps to Building a Successful PLN	p. 100
Chapter 8 Adding Perspective: Viewing a PLN With a New Lens	p. 103
A Review of Why a PLN	p. 103
A Snapshot of Our Experience	p. 104
The Future of PLNs	p. 107
The Future of Your PLN	p. 109
References	p. 111
Index	p. 113

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Author Notes

Table of Contents