Following up my article 5 reasons to join Computing communities, here are 3 communities you must join:
ICTRN
This stands for the ICT Research Network. It’s a discussion list, and has some very good discussions about things like latest research reports.
To subscribe, send mail to LISTSERV@JISCMAIL.AC.UK with the command (paste it!) in the e-mail message body:
SUBSCRIBE ICTRN
ICT and Computing Teachers Group
This is a group on Facebook, started by Darren Smith, who approves (or not!) applications to join. What I like about it is its down-to-earthness. Unlike the ICTRN group, there are few discussions about academic matters, but lots of discussion and help around issues like “Good resources for teaching e-safety to Year 7?” or “How do you teach programming when your network has gone down?”
Obviously, you have to belong to Facebook to start with.
Mirandanet
Again, a good discussion list, and a new-look newsletter edited by Theo Kuechel, to accompany the refurbished website. A great advocate for classroom research by teachers, led by founder and head person Dr Christina Preston, who is a passionate defender of teachers.
Here’s the website: Mirandanet.
A note on my choices
I realise I’ve left quite a few communities and other organisations out of my list, so here’s a list of my criteria:
- They have to be a community in the true sense of the word.
- They have to be useful for teachers and other ed tech professionals.
- I have to be (relatively) active in one to be able to recommend it.
Disclosure, for what it’s worth (‘cos it ain’t influenced my choices): I’m a Fellow of Mirandanet – and dead proud of it too! (But I will not be posting “So humble to have been awarded a Fellowship by Mirandanet for my brilliance and for being the best thing since sliced bread” on Facebook any time soon.
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