Reflections on Present and Future Learning Opportunities

The Internet can be used for Professional development in education in the following ways:


1.Introduction to the latest variety of tools which educators can utilize in their classes to help teachers/students learn how to present information, show understanding of new knowledge, create and extend learning with others in the same class and in global learning forums, identify teachers/students' own interests by showcasing their strengths.

2. Create online communities of support for sharing/teaching/learning purposes.
We are no longer isolated in the north.

3. Access the best presenters with the latest ideas/ strategies.

4. P.D. opportunities comes to the school- no financial expense after the initial cost of hardware. Teachers do not have to travel. No more expensive fees for conference organization,keynotes etc.

5. Educators can access info on own time.

6. Contacts and Connections are made on a global basis.

7. Immediate and endless solutions/possibilities.

8. Introduce, and then continually increase and improve own skills with technology.

9. Communication lines are open and problem solving now is available 24/7.

10. No matter where you are: physically-mentally-spiritually-emotionally, your class and school can be involved in some project of your own creation or in the midst of another created by others.

11. Custom made P.D. for your unique group's needs.

12. Continuous upgrade of personal and professional knowledge/skills in many areas.

Personally, I feel that my online learning opportunities for the present and future are 'limitless and endless'. It is a choice we make which determines the route(s) we will follow. I know that by creating a connection with my global community of learners that I will always have access to some one's opinion, ideas, suggestions, warnings, or working partnership(s). I have the freedom to decide, choose, initiate, and participate.

If I choose to not participate in online learning, I am cutting off a huge source and highway of information flow as hard copies of information are becoming less and more limited in its existence. By the very fact that the 'shelf life' is becoming shorter and more expendable, I will be reduced to using outdated or perhaps false information. As an educator, I will not be providing my students with the ways and means to keep up with global changes or allowing them to be active participants in global,national, provincial communities' efforts to improve our living and learning situations. In short we will live and work in isolation,going only with what we know as opposed to putting our creative and connected minds together to increase what we know and absorb new ideas to cocreate new possibilities in all the areas of life.