Module 2 Edu 790: PLN Community Post

 

    As I spend some time reflecting on Professional Learning Networks (PLNs) I think about both in person and online networks that help me grow and stretch as an educator. We have a teacher course team (TCT) for both world studies and psychology at my school and we meet regularly during our common planning period. We discuss content but also skills we are trying to develop especially in our 9th graders. In addition to that, I meet once a week with members of other departments to discuss our school wide common book Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond and we discuss equity issues in our school. But, how do I use online PLNs? I think the most significant PLN I am in is the AP Psychology Teachers Facebook Page. I gain a significant amount of Cognitive Benefits from this group. I gain resources, tools, and teaching strategies that help me not only in my advanced placement course but also in my senior level psychology classes. I share many of these resources with my psychology TCT as well. I have been able to incorporate more demonstrations and project based learning because of what I have learned from that page.

Sylvia Tolisano's infographic discusses different degrees of connectedness was helpful in understanding my role in the AP Psychology Teachers Facebook page. I'm in between Stage 3 Insider and Stage 4 Colleague. I attend the Chicago Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (CHITOPSS) conference each year and I get a chance to meet many of the individuals on the page and we've become friends on Facebook and share more resources in that content area. The entire day is spent sharing actual lessons and activities and hearing from psychologists in the field, it's incredible and it's an extension of what we are sharing on the Facebook page. Recently, someone shared about a book that they highly recommended entitled Behave: The Biology of Humans at our Best and Worst by Robert M. Sapolsky and I have already downloaded a sample on my Kindle! What I am trying to say is that this is a group I trust and I take their recommendations seriously. I have yet to be steered wrong. I am looking for a similar group for world history teachers, but have yet to find one of that caliber. I am also interested in finding some good groups on Twitter too.

For the PLN choice board, I decided to explore my personality traits. Psychology is indeed everywhere and many of these personality inventories are featured in my AP and senior level psych courses. The 5 Factor Model is highly regarded by psychologists and my results are below. The Big Five traits are also between 40-60% heritable as is seen in identical twin studies.  My highest scores were in conscientiousness and extroversion with my lowest score in negative emotionality. (see image below) This was reaffirmed by my other scores as they all reported extroversion as a personality trait. My fiancé and I have really attempted to explore the power of introverts and extroverts. I am a hardcore extrovert and he is an introvert. As a couple we recently read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain and I highly recommend her Ted Talk. I need more stimulation from people and seek group environments, where as my fiancé needs more quiet time to recharge his batteries. Interestingly though, I think we would both do well with online PLNs because the choice of how much to engage is in your hands behind the screen. If I needed more contact I would engage more, and if he needed less, he'd log off. 

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I was surprised that I scored this high for "Openness" on this second inventory (see image above). I received a 54% on openness on the first inventory and it jumped to 88% in the second inventory. I would say that this is not one of my strengths. I tend to be a creature of habit and routine, but perhaps most openness to explore new places, read new books, or carefully try new foods could account for this percentage. 

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I would be VERY cautious with the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory (see image above). Many psychologists do not find it to be a valid personality inventory, but businesses often assign it to workers. Check out more information regarding the controversy of the Myers Briggs Inventory by VOX. 

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I have taken on leadership roles at my school as the CTU lead delegate and LSC teacher representative, so my score on the Leadership Inventory makes sense. Although, I am not yet ready to be a "leader" in my PLN on Facebook, only because I don't have time for one more thing! As an extrovert, I am involved in many activities in order to get the stimulation I need, but as I get older, it's important to learn to say no and take breaks when I need them.

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According to the last inventory, I am a protagonist who is a natural leader, reliable, and charismatic, but can be too self-less and overly idealistic. This is a good summation of some of my struggles as a teacher and a building leader as I often expect others to care about issues as much as I do. 

Lastly, something that I have on my refrigerator and that I think about a lot is how to take care of each other when there are personality differences. These images and rules have helped ground me in both my personal and professional relationships. I hope that they help you too!

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