As a teacher, networking is crucial for the success of our students since we are their "eyes" and connection to the world with the best practices and resources that we deliver. (Sliwka, pg 54).
When you first start out in education, the amount of information, paperwork, resources, and procedures thrown at you is overwhelming and scary. You might feel that there's always something new around the corner. I know that's how I felt. After a few years, once you've become comfortable with content and procedures, it's easy to think that you've "learned it all".
If the walls of the school building marks the end of a teacher's networking and collaborating, then walls are being built around a teachers potential and their students learning potential as well. It is crucial that the networking a teacher is involved in extends well beyond the school building. Networking is a way to build relationships and a support system that will empower the members and facilitate collaboration. It breaks down barriers in equity for students as teachers reach out and exchange information and advice. It allows feedback to happen naturally and provides tools of how to reach goals and embrace change. Expanding horizons and challenging yourself comes as more professional learning networks are formed, this fosters a growth-mindset and improves learning for all.
As a teacher, networking is important because teachers are innovators, and "innovators are often isolated within their organisations. Networking provides them with opportunities for collaboration and exchange and thus can empower innovative individuals." (Sliwka, pg 53).
Sliwka, Anne. Networking for Educational Innovation: A Comparative Analysis - OECD. (2020, January 21). Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/site/schoolingfortomorrowknowledgebase/themes/innovation/networkingforeducationalinnovationacomparativeanalysis.htm
Twitter is a fantastic resource for following teachers in your content and making connections to other classrooms with best practices, creating discussion, and sharing feedback. I follow @JacobAClifford and Steve Jones to see the most up to date information and teaching strategies for AP Macroeconomics and AP Psychology.
I also employ TweetDeck, which allows you to view several trending hashtags at the same time. I'm search #APMacro and #appsych to see examples of student work and ask for feedback on best practices and strategies for teaching content.
Online resources from Facebook Groups to Youtube can be excellent resources for how to employ Digital learning strategies. I have recently discovered Shake Up Learning that has countless resources for embracing technology in the classroom with easy to understand explanations and how to's to help teachers of every skill level.
Professional organizations are also a great tool with real world connections that are difficult to simulate without these networks. I am a member of TOPSS (Teachers of Psychology in Secondary School) which is a forum for teachers to share lesson plans. The library of primary sources and research articles are unmatched!
Networking through Professional development is organic and can really pay dividends through discussion and collaboration. Recently I have been apart of a book study through GT training that connected me with several administrators that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to network with without the book study discussion boards. Last year I attended a 6 day PD about Instructional Technology Training with Alan November where I networked with teachers, principals, and superintendents from around the country as we discussed pitfalls and successes of digital learning.