New York University

Beach, R. (2012). Can online learning communities foster professional development? Language Arts, 89(4), 256-262. Retrieved from http://proxy.library.nyu.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fcan-online-learning-communities-foster%2Fdocview%2F928760706%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D12768

Can Online Learning Communities Foster Professional Development?

Effective PD works flexibly around teachers' busy schedules, provides sustained followup, includes ongoing coaching, engages teachers in active learning experiences with teaching methods, focuses on integration with specific subject matter content, involves reflection on instruction and beliefs, fosters collaboration with colleagues, and examines the impact of instruction on student outcomes

Effective PD

the use of professional learning communities (PLCs)

One approach designed to foster effective PD 

teachers can employ course management systems and social networking tools to create a central online forum for sharing their ideas

Creating Online PLCs Using Course Management or Social Networking Tools

Teachers build these online PLNs by subscribing to professional learning sites, blogs/Twitter, wikis, podcasts, social bookmarking sites, and online videos to acquire and share ideas and resources. They also engage in reflection to thoughtfully use these resources to grow as professionals

Individual Teachers' Personal Learning Networks (PLNs)


formative analysis of student work to determine the effectiveness of instruction in fostering learning

Online Student work

sharing their curriculum in a schoolwide online curriculum repository so that all teachers are familiar with what students are studying in their school

School Work Repository

creating an effective online PLC certainly requires more than simply sharing work online. It also requires extensive face-to-face social interaction complemented by the use of digital tools to do meaningful and important social work

Planning and Creating a Digital PLC

 through online collaboration using digital tools for problem solving, planning, curriculum development, assessment, and reflection

Online PLCs

Effective professional development (PD) helps teachers improve their teaching practices and positively impacts their students' academic performance.

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