Problem solving is a key skill in teaching. But in the past year, especially, the problems in need of a solution seem to have grown exponentially.

How do we teach kids online and in person at the same time? How do we build a strong community of learners when, in some cases, kids haven’t seen each other for more than a year? How can we continue to have students collaborate meaningfully?

More than ever, we need to connect with others who can help us find the innovative solutions and opportunities hidden within this disruption of education-as-usual. To that end, we chatted with HP Teaching Fellows Rola Tibshirani, Vicky Masson, Joseph Filipic, Jim Pedrech and Chad Sorrells about how critical professional learning networks (PLNs) have been to both their craft and their well-being. Here, they share four essential recommendations for creating a strong PLN.

  1. Diversify your network. Your PLN will often start with the teachers in your building. It’s important to have thought partners who know your specific context and your students.
  2. Focus on an essential question. Connect with others who share your educational philosophies or your area of inquiry. By finding the people who are centering powerful learning practices, you get the most out of the time you put into creating new connections.
  3. Find a network that goes beyond one and done. For Rola Tibshirani, the key to getting the most out of your PLN is simple: follow up. “It's not just the one-time conversation,” she stresses. Reaching out and making connections over time allows you to create trust with each other.
  4. Find spaces that support your social-emotional well-being.  Sometimes, building your PLN can feel like just another thing to add to your already full plate. But for Tibshirani, PLNs can actually be a catalyst for prioritizing well-being.

Read the full article about professional learning networks by Megan Pattenhouse at EdSurge.