As an old dog, always looking for a new trick, technology has taken on a
large role in my professional development. Beyond the faculty room and
my colleagues, workshops, blogs, classroom, and webinars, this year I
have discovered the discussion group to be one of the most valuable
tools in my professional development tool box. While I shied away from
being involved in the original discussion groups on listservs, email
groups that focused on one subject area, I have discovered that there
are many online discussion groups full of great educators with all kinds
of expertise, just waiting to give you advice and support at the click
of the mouse. Most recently, educators in the Teaching Writing Forum
on the
English Companion Ning
had a great discussion centered on Problem Based Research. All it took
was a simple question – Have you done this? How does it work? - to let
the learning begin. The input on this conversation ranged from great
idea starters, mechanics, critical thinking strategies, to assessment.
Beyond the discussion forum, groups form around common interests and you
can sort them by most active, etc. What a great way to share ideas and
resources! In this community alone, there are 46 groups ranging from
“Free to Educators” to “Collaborative Projects.” Some of the other
communities where I have found supportive, creative, active, and
practical groups are the
ISTE Community Ning,
edweb.net, and
LinkedIn.
Check them out! Find a group and get in on the action. You will find
the feedback and creativity of these collaborative groups to be
invaluable in professional growth as you do not have to reinvent the
wheel. Why not take advantage of the free advice of your colleagues and
share some of your own? Hmmmm...maybe I should start a discussion
group on discussion groups! What's your favorite?
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