The document discusses various aspects of online professional learning communities for teachers, including how they help with networking, provide opportunities for experiential learning using different tools and platforms, and help build teaching skills and confidence. It also outlines different synchronous and asynchronous communication channels that can be used, such as blogs, wikis, forums and video conferencing. Specific online communities mentioned include Tapped In and the National Writing Project. Quotes from members discuss the benefits of being part of a collective with diverse views that can provide quick feedback and insights.

2. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Pre-service education Study groups Curriculum writing Continuing education Formal Informal Individual development Peer collaboration Peer coaching or mentoring

3. What Is An Online Learning Community? Much of the learning currently happening on the Internet comes from self-motivated individuals with a common interest and a desire to interact with others who share the same interest (Wenger, 1998). The focus is on interaction… Centralized, bureaucratic,risk averse, multi-leveled, limit access to data, inward focused culture Empowering, non bureaucratic, risk tolerant, fewer levels, distribute data widely, externally oriented. Walled Garden

4. NETWORKING IN COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE helps us reach for what we need, according to our contexts and knowledge levels. provides us with opportunities for experiential learning with different tools and platforms builds an online professional and social presence helps us gain confidence and practice and then apply experience to our teaching and learning.

5. MULTI-CHANNEL APPROACH SYNCHRONOUS ASYNCHRONOUS PEER TO PEER WEBCAST Instant messenger forums f2f blogs photoblogs vlogs wikis folksonomies Conference rooms email Mailing lists CMS Community platforms VoIP webcam podcasts PLE Worldbridges

6. Blogs and RSS My Blog http://21stcenturylearning.typepad.com RSS http://www.bloglines.com/public/snbeach

7. Wikis Tech Enhanced Learning http://techenhancedlearning.wikispaces.com/ 21 st Century Teaching and Learning http://abpc.wikispaces.com/ EduBloggerCon http://edubloggercon.wikispaces.com/ 21 st Century Collaborative Wiki http://21stcenturylearning.wikispaces.com Look at What We Can Build When We Work Together!

8. 21 st Century Wiki

9. Del.icio.us

10. http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/google_whitepaper.pdf

11. Virtual Communities Ning Tapped In

12. Tapped In Homepage

13. Vision Student achievement is directly linked to teacher quality. Teachers must engage in ongoing professional development throughout their careers. Provide a free virtual meeting place that supports rich collaborative discourse. For teachers to share strategies, resources, and support. For teachers to find high quality resources in minutes rather than hours. With support to implement effective, classroom-centered learning activities.

14. Funding & Support Tapped In was created by SRI International in 1997 to transform teacher professional development for PD providers and educators. Tapped In currently relies on support from SRI, grants and tenant organizations Tapped In relies upon its community to collaborate and support each other voluntarily in the spirit of collegiality Tapped In has an active volunteer force that supports guests and members Center for Technology and Learning Sun Microsystems

15. Tapped In Discussion

16. Campus Metaphor National Writing Project Milwaukee Public Schools Clicking the Tapped In tab in the top frame of TI will show you a clickable campus map. Click on a building and teleport to that building’s Reception room. Tenants have their own buildings

17. Why Take Part In An Online Community? I value this virtual environment where you educate me, stimulate my thinking, probe my educational values and viewpoints, get me to think and have helped me to grow. Often by the time I am ready to formulate my words, others have done it beautifully, and I marvel at the quickness of your thoughts. I love the diversity of views, the discussions of issues on which opinions go in all directions, but no matter how far apart the opinions, everyone has the best interest of the students at heart, and that is one of the underlying unifiers of all members of TLN. Thank you for being you- collectively. Cathy Kinzler

18. Attributes of Successful Learning Communities a shared vision of what constitutes the mission of the community a core group who is willing to chime in on a variety of topics, keep the conversation rolling, and self-monitor the conversations is critical. This can be a formal group "appointed" to the role or just a group who steps forward to assume that role. - a moderator who maintains the consistent integrity of the group - opportunities beyond just a listserv, such as book reviews, book chats, PD opportunities, lesson sharing, etc... - provocative issues, yes... topics which draw in a variety of participants from different angles to give new perspectives http://www.techlearning.com/blog/

19. First, with several hundred of us from all corners of the field, we have a collective pulse on everything that's going on in education and teacher leadership. Second, and just as important, our interactions are daily, even hourly. We are not prisoners of time and location. We can instantly connect with one another to get insight, practical advice, and language to use while working with teachers. I've lost count of the number times I've used something I learned on the TLN when working with teachers, administrators, or schools. Rick Wormeli, Herndon, VA

20. Questions? Let’s join a community!