Compelling Case for School Learning Networks Part 2

Why would any school need to be networked and networking?

Learning is changing all over the world. All of what we know and can do is available on the Internet. More than two billion people are connected to the Internet and these two billion people are potential teachers to our students once they are connected to the Internet. The fact that many of our students are already connected to the Internet via their computers at home or the phones they carry around all day makes it impossible to ignore personal learning networks. As educators and as the people who are responsible for our students six or seven hours of their awake time, it is our duty to teach students how to use these networks well. We would also be remiss if we did not employ these networks as tools for our own learning and teaching. The Internet could possibly be the most powerful learning tool ever invented, should we decide to assist students in publishing their work online and enlisting the help of experts in the field who are also online. The possibilities are endless!

The Internet can help level the playing field, cutting out some of the barriers to learning that they might experience in a small community. In small rural schools such as ours, the students do not always have the same learning opportunities on site as in the large urban schools. Therefore it is critical that we access what we can online. Personal learning networks for teachers can expand access to education experts and provide sounding boards thus enhancing professional development. Using the world wide web expands learning and teaching for all. However, the professionals need to be aware of what is available for students and staff and be able to model ethical and responsible use of the Internet. We need to devote time to develop and use our own personal and professional networks in order to be good models to our students and to be able to teach our students how to develop and use personal learning networks online. Staff and students who develop a personal learning network, could seek out expert opinion and feedback on their own work, thus improving their own learning. Once established, these connections could expand teaching and learning on an ongoing basis, thus extending the learning beyond the school day and the school year.

Our students deserve the same learning opportunities as any other student. Devoting time and resources to developing personal learning networks for staff and students would go a long ways in solving the problem of inequity in education.

Can you see the possibilities?