- they don't know what they are
- they don't have time to explore the huge range of options, evaluate their merits, and make the best choices
- some are stuck in a rut and are unmovable
- some don't appreciate them or use the underlying technologies in other situations let alone in PLN ones
- the Educator's PLN group for EFL seems to be dead (it's my teaching area), so it doesn't do much for those of us in this industry, apart from general English discussions and tech-related ones
- selling the idea to schools might help, but it's teachers who will opt in or not
How to improve the situation:
- set up generic PLNs for different subject areas, besides tech ones, to get people started (of course they can add more later)
- get the word out there, particularly marketing the benefits in terms teachers will understand
- include PLN's in PD programs
- in EFL world, it needs peak bodies to promote e.g. IATEFL, as many teachers work in isolation from colleagues
- will offer to run a PLN session in my city - there are 55 "foreign" teachers here - but tendency is to wheel in local professors who live in academia. Also I may need support in putting together an appropriate presentation (up to 2 hours)
Sorry for being tardy. Sometimes hard keeping up.
Posted on Twitter @gregqbear today.