Personal Learning Network

 

Part 1: Initial Reflection

When I think about how I learn best, face to face interactions or human connection is the first idea to come to mind. I know many educators who rely on digital platforms to stay current with new ideas however, my professional growth has developed differently. I have intentionally stepped away from social media as I have found it to be a big distraction to what’s important in my life. Instead, I have learned to depend on the people around me such as my colleagues, mentors or other professionals in the district. I have taught at 4 schools in 5 years and have had the privilege to build relationships with educators across the district who offer unique strengths, experiences, and perspectives. Whether it’s observing what others are trying in their classrooms, asking questions or co‑teaching lessons, my growth as a professional has stemmed from my relationships which has shaped the teacher I am today.

In addition, I tend to share my own ideas through face -face interactions. If I develop a new strategy, create a resource, or discover something meaningful in my own classroom, I usually share it informally such as a hallway conversation or by stopping into a colleague’s room after school or during break. For me, learning and sharing feel most authentic when they happen through real relationships. That is where I feel most supported and able to contribute to the growth of the community around me. Learning and sharing feel most genuine when they happen through relationships.

Part 2: Connection Documentation

Here are 10 resources/connections that I have discovered or used in my PLN:

-          Google Classroom

-          Google Drive

-          Facebook 

-          Pinterest 

-          Twitter/X 

-          Instagram 

-          LinkedIn

-          TeachersPayTeachers 

-          Edutopia

-          Youtube

Here are the top 5 that I am excited about.

Google Classrooms

I recently joined a Google Classroom created by a colleague from my previous school. This Google Classroom was specifically designed  for Social Studies teachers across School District 22 Vernon B.C to share resources, ideas, and contribute to discussions. I added this connection to my PLN because the Social Studies curriculum can feel overwhelming for new teachers, and this space offers a clear starting point supported by experienced educators. Veteran teachers have uploaded units, assessments, and activities they have taught over the years, and everyone is encouraged to contribute, collaborate, and build on each other’s work. Adding this specific Google Classroom to my PLN seemed like a good choice because “PLNs consist of formal and informal networks of individuals with similar goals and interests who interact using digital tools to share information, learn from each other, problem solve and collaborate” (Green, 2020). Not only is this a great space to discover valuable resource, but I can also sharing lessons and materials that have been successful in my own classroom.

Google Drive

I added Google Drive to my PLN because it has become a meaningful space where I learn from colleagues and can contribute my own ideas. At Seaton Secondary, the English department will often get together to collaborate. A useful tool that everyone in the department shares is a Google Drive. English Teachers share lessons, stories, writing activities, and unit plans in organized folders on this digital platform. This resource has been an invaluable tool that has innovated my practice as new teacher at Seaton. This is a practical tool to share strategies, co‑create resources, and contribute to a larger professional community.

Facebook

I included Facebook in my PLN because I can stay connected to colleagues from my past. Specifically, I have stayed connected to peers form my Bachelor of Education cohort from 2020–2021. This platform has allowed us to maintain relationships that began during our teacher training, and over the years it has become a collaborative space where we ask questions, arrange meetings, share resources, and discuss ideas that support our practice. Since I am familiar with Facebook, this becomes an easy tool to engage with. Facebook is sometimes overlooked as a professional learning tool, however the nature of Facebook fits into my PLN because it is community-based and the users in the groups have shared experiences. Moving forward, Facebook is a resource that has a lot of potential in my career, as it is a place where I can learn from trusted colleagues while expanding my network beyond the school district. Facebook is also a great place to contribute ideas and resources that I have found useful in my practice.

Twitter

Although I have very little experience with Twitter, I chose to include it in my PLN because creating an account opened my eyes to how quickly and easily, I could connect with educators I would never have encountered. I have intentionally avoided Twitter in the past, as social media in general has never appealed to me. Interestingly I have never viewed the platform through a professional lens which has shifted my perspective. I realized how valuable it can be to ask questions, read discussions and receive answers from teachers around the world who bring diverse experiences. This aligns with the PLN literature which emphasizes that digital networks expand access to new voices and ideas beyond the boundaries of one’s immediate environment (Green 2020). Moving forward, I see Twitter as a useful tool that I can ask questions, receive answers and contribute my own ideas that have supported me in the classroom.

Instagram

Once again I have no experience with Instagram as I have intentionally avoided it in the past. Similar to Twitter, viewing Instagram through a professional lens has shifted my perspective of this platform. I chose Instagram as part of my PLN because I have heard that there are quality videos and professional content that could innovate my teaching. After creating an account, I quickly discovered a wide range of teachers sharing thought‑provoking insights on classroom management, innovative lesson ideas, and practical “how‑to” videos that directly support my classroom practice. This aligns with the PLN literature that highlights the importance of diverse networks and multimodal learning spaces where professionals can both consume and contribute (Green 2020). Beyond learning from others, Instagram also offers a space where I can get out of my comfort zone and share my insights through the form of a video.

Part 3: Mapping my PLN and reflection.

https://www.mindomo.com/mindmap/982dab4fc5cb48e4af7cd62763cd13bb

In my PLN map, I organized my connections into three colour‑coded categories: Classroom Tools, Social Media and Resource Hubs. I placed each resource closer or farther from the center based on how often I rely on it in my day‑to‑day practice. This keeps the map simple and shows that my strongest learning still comes from practical tools shared by real relationships I have made over my career. The resources I use most are Google Classroom, Google Drive and Facebook. These spaces allow collaboration to happen naturally through co‑planning, shared resources, and quick communication. The outer circles represent platforms I am still exploring; Twitter/X, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Edutopia and YouTube. These platforms broaden my access to ideas, strategies, and teachers beyond my school community. The literature notes that expanding your network beyond local boundaries exposes you to new thinking, different perspectives, and tools you might not encounter otherwise (Green 2020). I’ve already seen glimpses of this, especially on Twitter and Instagram, where simple posts can lead to meaningful conversations. An area I still need to develop is consistency. I tend to pull from these outer‑ring resources when I need something, but I don’t check them regularly or contribute as much as I could. To improve this, I can start by contributing something small and develop simple routines to build a healthier, more active PLN over time. Moving forward, I want to engage more intentionally, commenting, sharing ideas, or posting resources that have helped me. Overall, this PLN supports my professional practice by giving me a variety of collaboration tools and perspectives that come from in real relationships and professionals that I normally would not encounter.

Part 4: End of assignment reflection. 

Creating a Personal Learning Network has been a more meaningful experience than I expected. Before this assignment, I hadn’t thought of my professional relationships and digital tools as a “network.” I simply connected with colleagues, shared ideas, and learned from others in ways that was comfortable to me. Mapping everything out made me realize that I already had the foundations of a PLN, even without calling it one, and that these connections have been supporting my growth from the moment I entered the profession. One of the biggest benefits of this experience was seeing how the different parts of my learning fit together. Everyday tools like Google Drive and Google Classroom, and my in‑person communities form the foundation of how I learn and contribute. These have always felt comfortable and familiar. What surprised me was how the outer‑ring platforms, especially Twitter/X and Instagram, which opened up new possibilities. Exploring them through a professional lens showed me that social media can be more than a distraction. Social media can be a place to learn from educators I would never meet in person.  Another benefit was recognizing the importance of contribution. The literature emphasizes that a PLN is not just about consuming information but also about giving back, sharing ideas, experiences, and resources when I can (Green, 2020). Overall, building my PLN has helped me see my professional learning as something relational. Interestingly enough, these relationships expand past my face to face interactions, as I can connect to professionals around the world that can deeply influence how I teach.

References:

Green, C. L. (n.d.). Personal Learning Networks: Defining and Building a PLN. In T. I. Asino, Learning in the Digital Age. https://open.library.okstate.edu/learninginthedigitalage/chapter/personal-learning-networks_defining-and-building-a-pln/

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