Reflection on PLN

Through our required PLN activities, I have definitely created a 'base' learning network. What I am even more excited about now is the opportunity to continue to talk and to connect with people I have met through this process.

Participating in the NBEAConnect Webinar and the NBEA Convention session conversations were probably the most beneficial in creating continuing contacts. http://nbeaconnect.ning.com/forum/topics/are-you-working-in-the-cloud? Through several comment posts and email dialog during the NBEA Convention, I was able to create a more permanent networking opportunity with another business educator who has an interest in collaborating and sharing ideas. This opportunity would not have presented itself if I had not been a part of this Ning Network.

In addition, I have had some casual comment conversations with another business educator who was part of our NBEAConnect Webinar. While these conversations have been general in nature, I would feel comfortable asking for insight and sharing ideas with this seasoned business educator.

Our blogging activity has also been beneficial. I especially enjoyed our Active Learning Center posts. Through these posts, I was able to gain additional insight into my peer's classrooms, see some of their teaching strategies and adapt and implement them as needed in my own classroom. That particular exercise was, to me, a perfect collaboration tool.

My two additional activities included listening to a pod cast www.apple.com/education/itunes-u
and watching a TED video.

I listened to Professor Maureen Burke lecture on "How to Write a Business Plan" from the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute as part of the summer institute leadership lecture series. This was a very informative lecture and I was actually able to use some of the material presented with my cooperating teacher's Entrepreneurial students who were competing in a Business Plan Competition! What I like most about podcasts is the major opportunities to find a vast array of topics of interest giving educators the chance to increase our knowledge base and find additional resources to use in the classroom. They also provide us with an opportunity to learn from the experts or the best in the field without having to be in the classroom or pay the tuition. I did feel, however, that it was difficult for me to maintain my attention on the topic over the 40 minutes of the lecture with just audio. I am a visual learner and I missed having something to see or view while the professor was speaking. Perhaps these type of podcasts from universities could also offer a website or other place to find presentation materials or lecture notes to view while listening to the podcast.

I also watched Sir Ken Robinson's lecture on Schools Kill Creativity at http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html This lecture was very interesting and I was definitely engaged in the subject matter. Mr. Robinson is a very good public speaker and he was able to keep my attention throughout the video. Through TED, people are able to post comments and create conversations surrounding the video material and content which can increase an educators contacts and PLN opportunities. In addition, there are numerous links to other TED videos and communities of practice where we can gather material that can augment our lessons and expand our knowledge base. This is a great resource for both professional development and classroom resources.

Overall, through this assignment, I was exposed to a variety of new and interesting PLN activities which have given me a good starting foundation to a professional PLN as a business educator. In addition, I was almost immediately able to implement specific knowledge and tools into my business education classroom.