The associate professor of education and director of the Teaching Fellows program co-authored the article in the journal Computers & Education.
Jeffrey Carpenter, associate professor of education and director of the Teaching Fellows, published an article in the peer-reviewed journal along with co-authors Torrey Trust of University of Massachusetts Amherst and Daniel Krutka of Texas Woman’s University.
The article, titled “‘Together we are better’: Professional learning networks for teachers,” is available online here. Computers & Education is considered one of the top 10 journals in the field of education.
The abstract reads as follows:
In recent years, many educators have turned to professional learning networks (PLNs) to grow in their craft with peers who are more accessible online because of reduced temporal and spatial constraints. While educators have cultivated PLNs, there is a dearth of research about the effects of PLNs. This manuscript reports the findings of a qualitative study that investigated PLN experiences through the analysis of survey data from 732 P-12 teachers. Data analysis suggests that the anytime, anywhere availability of expansive PLNs, and their capacity to respond to educators’ diverse interests and needs, appear to offer possibilities for supporting the professional growth of whole teachers. These findings have implications for defining the present and future of teacher learning in a digital age.
The article reference is as follows:
Trust, T., Krutka, D.G., & Carpenter, J.P. (2016). “Together we are better”: Professional learning networks for teachers. Computers & Education, 102, 15-34. DOI:10.1016/j.compedu.2016.06.007