InformED
Teachers, Here’s Why You Need To Network
With the popularity of social media these days, few would argue the importance of being “well-connected”. Online networking affords people from all across the globe to come together for collaborative projects, to discuss and debate timely issues, and to exchange ideas for the purpose of greater growth.
Teaching is no different. Educators today can take advantage of the many benefits that both online and offline networking provides. Some of these “perks” would include getting advice from peers on lesson plans and disciplinary problems, to receiving recommendations on popular reads for English Lit classes, to combining forces to raise needed funds for class projects and trips, and even getting inside info on open positions that are sometimes not shared with the general public.
In a recent article at Edutopia, networking for teachers received high marks. One teacher shares how connecting with other teachers (online) enhanced the classroom experience for her students and allowed them to interact with kids from different cultures, environments and view points.
By doing so, not only did they expand their knowledge base, they expanded their horizons.
Additionally, networking can offer moral support for teachers who are stressed, struggling, or simply need a friendly “ear” and words of encouragement. This need is perhaps evidenced by the many blog sites and discussion groups geared toward teachers of all levels and disciplines.
Networking can be done formally or informally—which would entail anything from chats at a local coffee shop, to membership in a teachers’ organization. Exploring various options would be well worth the effort.
Image by: Robert Scoble
About Andrianes Pinantoan
Andrianes Pinantoan is InformED's editor and part of the marketing team behind Open Colleges. When not working, he can be found reading about two of his favourite subjects: education and psychology. You can find him on Google+ or @andreispsyched.
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Social networking sounds like a good tool for students as well. My kids go back to the same sites over the course of a year, and as they collect valid sources, it would be great for them to have a place to keep them.
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