Thing 17 - Professional Learning Networks

This website is amazing. I attended a workshop about NetTrekker under the Michigan LearnPort website. I was astounded by the amount of educational resources available. This is a site where you can be assured the information and resources are reliable, valid, current and age-appropriate. The courses available are of a high caliber and are recognized by the State of Michigan as credible.  Courses available focus on content expectations and the Michigan Merit Curriculum. It is a partnership with the Michigan Department of Education so all the content available is relevant to any teacher at any level. Most of the classes are free and some have a small fee, but it is nominal. As long as the educator has internet access, they are able to take the classes so they can work on their professional development at school or at home at their own convenience.

FACEBOOK
There is a varying degree of acceptance when teachers talk about using Facebook in the classroom. It could be a useful educational tool and an easy way to share information with parents and students. I use Moodle in my classroom and I have a unit about social networking. When I ask my students who uses Facebook, almost every student in every class either currently uses it or has used it. When asked how frequently they use it, most results are conclusive that students use it more than 3-5 times per day! Facebook is a way to stay connected and students are able to share images, post videos, chat and share apps. The problem is that students abuse this privilege. They swear, upload inappropriate images and bad mouth teachers and/or other students. Students certainly do not use proper netiquette while using Facebook. It is unfortunate because it would be very easy to share data to "friends" on Facebook because we know students are intrigued and fascinated by it. Students would think it's great for a teacher to deliver content home via Facebook and they would be excited to stay connected, but I'm afraid it would be abused and students would cross the line. I think it is healthy and necessary for teachers to have boundaries with students and I fear that once Facebook is used, students no longer see a boundary and begin to think they are equals with their teachers.That is a scary thought on many levels. I think using an educational resource such as Moodle or Blackboard allows the teachers to communicate effectively and efficiently with students.

NBEA
The National Business Education Association. I have been a professional member of the NBEA since 1999. The NBEA membership includes journals about relevant and pertinent business education news, both locally and internationally, ideas for successfully integrating technology into courses and bridging the gap between high school students and those entering the workforce. Members receive discounted registration fees for regional and district conventions. NBEA supports national-, state-, and local-level efforts to ensure that business education is understood and valued by legislators,  policymakers and local and state stakeholders.

The professional level is $80 annually. This includes all the publications and NBEA services. The professional/Delta Pi Epsilon (DPE) is $140 annually. At this level, members receive all of the benefits offered in the professional category plus membership in Delta Pi Epsilon. The Professional/International Society for Business Education (ISBE) is $110 annually. At this level, members receive all of the benefits offered in the professional category plus membership in the United States Chapter of ISBE.

I have attended the MACUL conference in the past and also local professional development training.  I have incorporated Moodle into my classrooms and have students work electronically as if they were in a college setting. My colleagues have told me that I should share what I am doing in my classroom with other educators. I have thought about it, but that is as far as it goes. I really enjoy teaching in this digital age and enjoy having the students be so excited and eager to learn what I am teaching them.