Week 4 Reflection

This week I learned another new term that I have never heard before PLN's.  A PLN is a Personal Learning Network.  Through these networks you can confer with other teachers around the world and share your teaching experiences and ideas.  My favorite PLN is blogger.  I use a blog for my class website, though I do not keep up with it as much as I would like.  I also use it to follow other fantastic teachers around the country.  The best lesson I have learned as a teacher is "Why re-invent the wheel?".  With a PLN we can share ideas and resources instead of constantly trying to make something new.  Other teachers are our best resource!

This week I have also decided that Wikis are not for me.  I love the idea that all of the students in your class, or a small group can collaborate on a project.  However, I teach young students who frequently delete files, and don't follow directions as well as we would like them to.  My worst fear is that the students would delete each other's work, and even my own.  I also think that it would take a lot of practice to teach them how to use it, and I don't have the technology in my classroom to be able to show all of the students at once several times.