NETWORKING FOR TEACHERS
Random people online would send me private message me and start with a greeting. Before you know it they drop a rather offensive question “Are you open minded?” only to find out that they have this intention of luring you to their pyramiding and networking business proposals. This has created a stigma to me in responding to people online. An experience like this t should not stop us from further growing our network as teachers. Like in any profession teachers also need to create and expand their “Personal Learning Network” (PLN). A PLN as a system of interpersonal connections and resources that support informal learning (Trust, 2012). A professional learning network usually connects online or but is not exclusive to the digital connection. The same can also be true that people in a PLN may know each other personally or may never have a chance to meet each other in person. The main idea is that this is a network where learning takes place. Growing your professional teaching network with the help of the internet and technology is easy and simple. Thanks to social media and networking websites such as Facebook, twitter, google plus and blogs connecting people has never been easy. Here are reasons why every teacher need expand their connection and have their Professional Learning Network. Socialize
Admit it or not we love to socialize it is our human nature. The saying “no man is an island” is a cliché but still very true. Teachers are influential people in the lives of students. They play an important role in teaching students how to socialize. Just as how important socializing is for students, teachers also need to socialize with their peers and colleagues. An establish PLN provides an opportunity for teachers to mingle with other teachers and exchange views.
Share resources
Teachers are burdened with tons of work from the daily lesson plan, lesson logs and other teaching preparations that need to be done in and out the school. Rather than an eight to five shift teaching is a round-the-clock profession. Having your own network can help a teacher accomplish and complete these task easier. There are websites that share materials and templates like DepedTambayan and TeacherPH. These websites come handy especially when there are urgent reports that need to be submitted. They provide guides and how to for reports and other process related concerns. Sometimes they can be even more reliable than your co-teacher at school. Be updated
The fastest and easiest way to be updated these days is to be connected through social media. There are many Philippine-based teacher organizations that expand their network through the use of social media websites. These groups can provide updates on teacher’s rights, economic and political well-being of teachers and other teaching-related matter depending on their inclination.
Gain Insights and Reflect
A PLN provides the opportunity to reflect. Connecting with people online or personally allows you to gain indirect experiences and insights of other teachers through the stories they share. If you are in a Facebook group of teachers chances are you get to be exposed to like-minded people at the same time you also get to see not so like-minded people those who have a different point of view from yours. In a sense, you get to see the two sides of a coin and hear the pros and cons of topics in the field of education. Bill Nye, a mechanical engineer and science communicator in his speech said “Everyone you will ever meet knows something that you don’t. … Respect their knowledge and learn from them. It will bring out the best in all of you.” In the end, it will still be you who gets to decide on how you grow your network. All you need is your enthusiasm and willingness to learn and share the information with another peer or colleague.
visits, less pills to take, less medicine.
6. Sense of Accomplishment-Many work wellness programs feature competitions between employees. Who can walk the most steps in a month, get 7 hours of sleep, or cut out alcohol for a week? Set some goals and try to engage in your work’s healthy atmosphere
7. Improved Physical Fitness-Taking part in the different physical activities that your work has to offer can greatly improve your physical fitness and overall wellbeing. Hitting the gym during your lunch break or participating in yoga classes twice a week can have many evident benefits. Whatever it may be, open yourself up to the variety of physical activities your work has to offer and say hello to strength and muscle toning!
8. Weight Loss-You would be surprised at how much impact changing your daily work routine can be on your health. When you start to focus on eating the right foods, exercising, and taking care of your mental health, the extra weight you’ve been carrying can shed off faster than before. Sometimes a workplace program will offer financial benefits for their weight loss initiatives so take advantage of the many opportunities to improve your weight loss goals.
9. Less Stress-One of the key factors in health and wellness is learning stress management. Especially if you work in a high demand job, things can get difficult and it’s best to tackle them at the source. When we are stressed, we are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors and destroy our mental health. Activities that encourage walking meetings, mindfulness, social engagement, and more can all help an employee feel relieved of daily built up stress. Just 30 minutes of low intensity exercise will get you feeling more relaxed in no time.
10. Healthier Habits-When at work for hours a day, it will be beneficial to indulge yourself in your work’s wellness program and learn new healthy habits. By doing this, you’ll learn to shift into a health conscious mindset that benefits you. Food choices and workout schedules will be positively influenced because of your atmosphere. If you surround yourself with fellow likeminded employees then it will be even easier to strain away from the old unhealthy habits that hurt your health.
Boosting participation in sport can generate a variety of socio-economic benefits. Sport can, and does, make a profound and positive impact on individuals, communities and wider society.
It is important to enlist the support of management for any health and wellness initiative to be successful. All employees including management have the duty to establish a healthy work environment and promote healthy lifestyles.