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PLN vs. PLC in Education: Where to Find Your Community

See how professional learning networks and professional learning communities overlap and differ for educators.

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Rebecca Torchia is a web editor for EdTech: Focus on K–12. Previously, she has produced podcasts and written for several publications in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and her hometown of Pittsburgh.

Employees of a business are likely to spend their workday surrounded by their colleagues or by customers. K–12 educators, conversely, spend a majority of their working hours with children. While rewarding, this can make it difficult to problem-solve or generate ideas in their jobs.

Organized professional learning groups aim to change this. They give educators — and, in some cases, other K–12 staff members — opportunities to connect with their peers to ask questions, share best practices and brainstorm new approaches.

Frequently, these groups come in the form of a professional learning community (PLC) or professional learning network (PLN). While similar, there are certain differences to where and how these groups operate.

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What Is a PLC in Education?

A PLC, or professional learning community, in education is a group of educators or school staff who meet regularly to strategically enhance their teaching skills and improve student outcomes. In practice, these communities often follow a cycle of collective inquiry and research to achieve better outcomes for students.

A PLC is usually formed within a school or district, and it usually entails consistent, in-person meetings.

What Is a PLN in Education?

A PLN, or professional learning network, in education is a group of educators or school staff who gather more informally to problem-solve and generate ideas to enhance classroom practices. A PLN can be based on a technology or job title and often takes the form of an open forum, where participants can ask and answer questions based on their experiences.

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A PLN can include individuals from around the world and typically entails online-only communications between members.

The Benefits of Organized Professional Learning Groups

Both PLCs and PLNs can serve as community-oriented spaces for K–12 educators. These spaces give education professionals an opportunity to explore new best practices and expand their learning.

“You are able to see problems before they actually happen, understand how other systems work, compare those with what you’re running, and then, by that process of comparison, improve yourself as a professional,” says Natalia LeMoyne Hernández, manager of the CDW Education Collaborative. She adds that these groups helped her feel less alone in her role as an IT administrator.

“You can feel really siloed, especially as an early adopter or an innovator,” says Becky Keene, director of operations at insight2execution, an organization that helps schools develop content for professional learning. “To then interact with other people who are doing the same types of things and understand that education is shockingly similar all over the world can be really encouraging.”

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How to Get Started with a PLC or PLN in Education

Starting or joining a PLC requires the right school environment. Educators can be hesitant to add another meeting or obligation to their calendars. Individuals looking to start a PLC should survey prospective members to align on scheduling, goals and topics in advance.

There are numerous ways to get involved with a PLN. Keene notes that she has had companies and individuals in her network reach out to her with recommendations to join different groups and communities. “My career path is dead aligned with saying yes and becoming involved and being a part of things,” she says.

You are able to see problems before they actually happen, understand how other systems work, compare those with what you’re running, and then, by that process of comparison, improve yourself as a professional.”

Natalia LeMoyne Hernández Manager, CDW Education Collaborative

She has also sought out groups based on tools she’s interested in using or learning more about, which is the approach Stevie Frank highlights. “I got into the Microsoft community so heavily because it’s what we use. I wanted to know how I could use it in best-case scenarios with students,” says Frank, a technology integration specialist at Zionsville Community Schools in Indiana.

She notes that vendors will often create asynchronous courses that teachers can take to learn more about ed tech tools. After completing the courses, “you’re in their professional learning network, which a lot of times will be a Facebook group, and that puts you in with other educators who are talking about ways that they utilize the tools.”

These organizations give educators and IT professionals a chance to learn and experience more than they might otherwise be able to in their own classrooms. “When you’re involved in professional learning communities outside of your own school system or region, there are more opportunities because you’re exposed to more things and you’ve met more people,” Keene says.

A Community Dedicated to K–12 IT Professionals

It can be difficult for K–12 IT professionals to find a community of their peers. Frank notes that many professional learning groups are “around 98% teachers.” And while certain conferences — she names HECC as an example — are tailored toward IT stakeholders, it can feel like there are fewer community spaces for these individuals.

This is where the CDW Education Collaborative comes in.

The space exists specifically and exclusively for K–12 IT admins. “We have 3,000 or more members representing about 1,200 school districts from across the United States and Canada,” says LeMoyne Hernández. “They all come to the community to ask questions and build a network of contacts for future collaboration and support.”

The CDW Education Collaborative has livestreams for important operating system updates; in-person meetups in six states and parts of Canada; and hubs, which are microcommunities tailored to certain popular topics, such as artificial intelligence.

CDW offers trials of the community for prospective members to experience the networking and collaboration opportunities offered.

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