Reaching out- growing community

by | Nov 1, 2010 | Archdiocese of Philadelphia Community | 0 comments

A new walled-garden Archdiocese virtual learning community–

Barely a month into emerging–

Unique in its diversity with year 1, 2, and 3 members–

Novice PLPers alongside those with more experience–

Some more reticent than others to share and contribute—

Until veteran members reach out, and offer a hand remembering their first venture into often messy, connected learning–

“In this community, we have people who are more veteran PLP members and many who are very new. But we were all new once! So if someone posts something that is unfamiliar to you, ask them to explain it. You will be helping others here as well.

We are one community here. There are no experts. We are here to learn and share together. So ask questions, express your feelings, learn, share, and have fun!”   —Ed Allen

And

“Ok ladies, who is going to help Kathy get her profile pic posted? As Lorraine pointed out Kathy is still a blue head and I know someone out there can help her. Prove me right.”

“So now that everyone has had a few days to digest your first Elluminate session, what are your thoughts? I am sure your have shared your comments with each other at lunch or in the lounge but as you can see by the members list at the top of the page, your PLN is growing.”   —Gene Carboni

And

I can definitely share that we, as a team, are in a totally different place than this time last year… it’s worth the journey.   —Mary Senior

A few examples of many of encouragement and assistance offered to year 1 members sometimes overwhelmed, sometimes bewildered by self-directed learning opportunities afforded in a PLP community.

And the response–  there is a sense in the community that all are welcome, that all questions are answered, and that

Everyone is so nice, patient, and helpful. This is a happy place to be.  —Carol Ann Polinsky

In the background, I’m hard at work nurturing, carefully tending this growth in trust and sense of community.  For from these important beginnings will come the collegial relationships that are fostered by sharing craft knowledge, and rooting for one another. And it will be from the collegial relationships, with a shared vision, that real change is birthed and we become better educators for our children. For now, at this point in our journey, we are enjoying the precursors necessary to the serious learning to come.

Photo Credit

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Lani Ritter Hall

Lani is Community Leader for Powerful Learning Practice. She also serves as the “Newbie Maven”, helping along and nurturing newbies to the PLP experience, as well as facilitator for the Connected Coaches. Lani brings more than 35 years of teaching experiences in urban, sub urban, and independent schools at the middle/secondary level in the U.S and Canada to this work. A national board certified teacher, she and her students began collaborating globally in the late 1980’s. Lani has created and facilitated professional development around technology infusion into learning for over twenty years and served in a leadership role for the K12Online Conference for 2 years. She is co-author of The Connected Educator: Learning and Leading in a Digital Age.
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