Professional Growth

    Professional growth opportunities abound on the Internet, and while the modules and activities within LETSNet provide guidance for learning about technology, accessing the Internet, and publishing on the Web, there are many other ways teachers can use LETSNet and the Internet to further their personal and professional development. The resources at this Website can be helpful, but really represent a first-step toward learning to use technology and the Internet in the classroom.

    Use the following tips and techniques as guidelines for getting the most out of the LETSNet Website and other resources on the Internet. By taking advantage of the possibilities for learning that are available here and at many other Websites, you grow professionally while incorporating technology and the Internet into your regular classroom activities.

• Use the LETSNet Website as a resource and take advantage of the information, links, references, and people who makeup the LETSNet community. Each teacher you read about in the LETSNet project has experienced the fear and joy of learning new things, as well as the problems that inevitably surface when we are introduced to new ways of thinking. Use the experiences of the LETSNet teachers to shape your own learning and interests. Visit the LETSNet Website often and contact the people involved in its ongoing development if you have questions or comments.

• Expand your network of friends and peers to include those who have experience and knowledge with technology and the Internet. Cultivate relationships via electronic communications with people in your school, your district, the local community, and others who can provide advice when you need it. Learn from others and don't be afraid to ask questions you think might be stupid or simple. Peers represent a network of personal and professional experiences that can be invaluable opportunities for learning. Teachers talking with other teachers is a common forum for learning inside and outside the classroom. As you develop your network of peers, think about how their experiences and insights can be helpful to you. If you don't have opportunities to talk with teachers who share your interests within your school or district, take advantage of the discussion groups on the Internet. Students represent another resource you can tap into who often have experience with and knowledge about technology.

• Develop a personal learning plan for yourself and follow it as you begin to gain experience and expertise with technology. Use the strategies described below to help guide your development and implementation of this type of learning plan. If you haven't already done so, take an inventory of the many sources of information in your professional life. Many of these come in the form of resources you can tap into to learn more about subjects of interest. Books, magazines, newspapers, TV programs, computer software, CD/ROMs, the Internet, and peers are all available sources for information and learning. Take stock of what you read, what you watch on TV, and what information you review on-line to ensure you are using your time wisely. Be selective about what information sources you use and customize them to meet your ongoing learning needs. The Internet is fairly new, and there is much to learn, but you can shape the future of the Internet by getting involved in its use in education. Use the Internet, as well as other available resources, as sources of information and to answer questions you have about technology in the classroom.
  • Take advantage of Internet-based learning opportunities. LETSNet, as well as many other Internet-based resources, provides a variety of learning opportunities that can be helpful in your ongoing professional development. Within LETSNet, the teacher cases we have highlighted, the links to external resources and tutorials, and the powerful ideas for use of the Internet in the classroom all represent areas for learning. We hope these, and other available resources described in the Related Resources section, will help teachers in their lifelong learning.

  • Reflect on your own observations of your teaching practice. Many teachers can further capitalize on their own learning opportunities in the classroom. Consideration of, and reflection on, one's teaching practices can be a useful source of insight and information into improvement. Draw from your own personal experiences in the classroom as a vehicle for learning through observation, reflection, and change. One way to get started in this is to keep a reflective journal that you can use to read, consider your teaching practices, and think about change over time.

• Problem will occur - technical, curricular, or otherwise - so you should consciously develop ways of coping. Brainstorm with teachers, staff, and others about the problem and try alternatives until you can solve it. Collaborate with others - peers and educational researchers. Look for opportunities to share your experiences and knowledge with other teachers, in your local community and nationwide. Also look into working together with educational researchers, at universities or colleges of education, and use these resources to supplement your own learning. Collaboration is especially helpful when you experience problems with technology. In most cases, someone has already run into the problem and it's just a matter of getting in touch with someone who has so you can learn from his or her experience.

• Be flexible and prepared for anything, especially if this is your first effort at learning outside a formal environment. While learning in a college or university is structured by faculty members and institutional policies, your own learning must be structured by you and customized to meet your individual needs. Take advantage of any help and assistance offered by peers or friends and learn to rely on others as you take your first steps into the continuously changing world of technology.