It is important for specific content areas to create groups that support one another. By coming together, educators can learn and discuss the latest trends and platforms that our students are participating in. Beyond just being aware of the things our students are talking about, knowing how they are accessing those avenues is also important. So much learning happens outside of the classroom that sharing ideas with peers can keep educators cognizant of what the student community is up to. As an aspiring secondary English Language Arts teacher, creating and participating in an online community presents the opportunity for curriculum input and lesson planning collaborations. Many teachers either do not have time for in-person conversations, or they have interest in meeting with teachers that are at a greater distance. The PLN allows educators to connect and commiserate when it is convenient for them and share their ideas. As curriculums evolve and change and adapt to the changing times, teachers can discover different ways to incorporate newer texts. These texts can represent their student population more effectively than familiar texts previously used in the 20th Centuries. This modern philosophy supports our students and their various backgrounds and social interests. Gone are the days of lecturing to students the virtues of Romeo and Juliet written in iambic pentameter, instead we are participating with our students in the rhyme and meter of the poetry so they can experience it with us. As we collaborate with other teachers these ideas can be integral to rewriting the way we understand how to teach literature and meeting those state standards.
4.2.b Participate in PLNs
Actively participate in professional learning networks to enhance coaching practice and keep current with emerging technology, innovations in pedagogy and the learning sciences.
Tech Coaching 