Chapter 6

In chapter 6, we learn that creating your learning community is incredibly valuable. It’s understandable to feel a bit overwhelmed at the idea of starting to build your network, especially if you’re unsure of where to begin. However, our book provides a clear and practical guide to help you navigate this process. Getting started can be easier than you think. Sometimes, something as simple as aligning your social media presence and profiles can make a difference. While it’s impossible for anyone to know everything, expanding your learning network can significantly enhance your knowledge. By fostering your own learning community, you have the opportunity to explore subjects that truly interest you, rather than simply absorbing information that may not be relevant. Ultimately, you are the best judge of what you and your students need to learn, and by taking charge of your learning journey, you can focus on the areas where you seek more understanding. Building a personal learning network (or PLN) can foster collaboration in a community of educators and allow for diverse ideas to constantly be poured into the pool of thought. In our book, they go on to explain how these PLN's can allow you to create long lasting connections and grow your possibilities for learning and teaching exponentially.
"Through ongoing and reciprocal sharing, you develop relationships, and the possibilities for learning expand.(Hall, 95) As somebody who teaches freelance saxophone and bass lessons to 3 middle school students, I look to my network of friends in the field to compare lesson plans with and growth projections/benchmarks. The music students I went to NJCU with meet every Wednesday night on zoom to talk about music education for non-education majors, and reading this chapter helped me realize how crucial this is for our growth along with our students' and future students. This relates directly to my career path and is already a part of my development as a junior educator and I really enjoyed reading this chapter. 😁😁
How will YOU use a PLN in your future career?

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