Personal Learning Network

The above diagram is a visual representation of my personal learning network, or PLN. A PLN is a network that enables lifelong learning, and is unique to each person. This is necessary - there is no one-size-fits-all approach in the education field (Bauer, 2010). Each of these connections is a different part of the network, and allows me to learn in different ways. As a teacher, lifelong learning is essential for improving practice. Utilising a PLN can be very effective, as self-initiated learning is the most pervasive type of learning in adults (Collins, 2004). In this visual representation, I have identified four major areas of learning in my teaching practice - my interpersonal relationships, analogue resources, digital resources, and professional learning.

Relationships: This section shows the importance of interpersonal relationships in learning. The communities section outlines the teaching communities I play a role in. One is the UWA Teaching Society, a university club for pre-service teachers of all disciplines. The other is UWA Art Teachers Association - a community for pre-service visual arts teachers. These communities provide me with educational support, learning opportunities, and a sense of belonging. My professional relationships encompass the contacts I have made that I have learned a lot from, and hope to continue to do so. Lastly, the personal relationships are the relationships I have which are unrelated to my career. These relationships help me as it is always useful to talk through ideas with people who are unbiased and inexperienced with teaching - it can help to gauge what can be appropriate for students.

Analogue Resources: This section shows the resources that enable my learning which are analogue, or offline. The first category is 'public'. These are the resources I have constant access to - such as libraries and state galleries. These have high quality physical learning resources. I also have my own collection of high quality learning resources - this private collection is detailed in the 'Personal' section. These include all the resources I have collected on practicums - such as curriculum documents, classroom resources, observations, and reflections, as well as the textbooks, notes, and resources I acquired during my studies. While I have been allowed to keep some of the resources from my practicum schools, some resources were the property of the school. Frequently, school resources are kept on an internal sharedrive. These resources are 'contextual' - I have access to a range of different assets, but only when I am working at that school. Finally, some analogue resources are continuously changing. Galleries constantly have new shows and exhibiting artists, which makes this sort of learning resource 'shifting'.

Digital Resources: I have divided this section into four main categories. The first is 'creation'. These refer to resources which help me learn through creating resources for students, or resources for students to create projects. Cataloguing is the second category - these are websites or applications that help me organise my materials to help me to learn more efficiently. 'Sharing' refers to the dissemination of knowledge - either between myself and other teachers in learning networks, or myself and my students. The final category is 'useful sites': sites I find invaluable in my practice - for both personal learning, and the engagement and education of students.

Professional Learning: This section embodies the idea that learning is lifelong. It is split into three subcategories. The first - governmental - shows resources which support my continuous growth in teaching. These elements of my PLN are official, structured, and standardised for all teachers in Western Australia. The second section is titled 'PD', meaning 'professional development', and mentions how I can engage with action research, workshops, and seminars within the school context. The last subcategory is 'life'. These are the experiences I have outside of my professional life, but still inform my practice. As a Visual Arts teacher, this is necessary to stay up to date with emerging art trends.