Putting personal learning networks to work: Professional learning and the pre-service teacher
Abstract: 21st century educators require many competencies and are encouraged to become digitally literate, integrate technology into teaching and learning, use technologies to deepen knowledge, and employ them for professional learning. This paper reports on pre-service teachers’ (n=465) opinions about new and emerging technologies used to create and sustain professional learning networks (PLNs). Teachers are partly responsible for their own professional development and building a PLN can sustain them in their future careers. This cohort completed an online survey with items related to work ethic, problem solving abilities, ability to learn new things, and opinions about technology use. They report that technologies make teaching and learning more effective and that they are proficient in using them. They see the relevance of technology in modern day life, commit to continue growing their PLN, and believe that it should be a required part of professional teacher training.