As a profession, teaching is at its most viable when members respect and support each other in a fully collaborative manner. The joys and challenges of teaching should never belong to those who remain in isolation from each other.
A strength of teacher education is the encouragement offered trainees to link with each other in discussion groups either in person or by discussion boards on Learnline . Observation confirms the help those preparing to teach can help each other on matters varying from assignment tasks to practice teaching rounds. Carrying quality communications habits into teaching beyond graduation is wise.
There is a misnomer that to share matters of challenge is a sign of weakness. That is far from the case. Those raising issues often find that colleagues are having similar issues or have developed strategies that help with mastery of similar difficulties. A problem shared is a problem halved.
Many universities have developed or are establishing alumni groups. Keeping in touch with colleagues through the university post graduation offers professional sharing opportunities.
Sharing through professional associations is recommended. There are maths, science, literacy associations among a host of others. Belonging to associations enables members to keep abreast of trends. Opportunities for personal professional development along with contributing to others through group membership is enriching.
I would recommend a consideration of joining ‘LinkedIn’. This site enables members to build up a global contact base with like minded people. Members can join specific interest groups, sharing global ideas.
Maintaining contact with the graduating peer group is another way of keeping in touch. Whatever the preference, keep in touch with others because that helps support both individual and collective strength.
EDUCATION, A LIFE FORCE 
Linked in is a good resource.
I have been using Linked In for many years and would like to subscribe to a premium account IF ONLY they had some sort of concessional rate for retirees. Costs otherwise are too high for those not connected with business or income earning occupation.
That’s a good idea. A discount for retirees makes sense. Maybe they don’t care as much about the retired though. Or maybe the decision makers are all young whippersnappers who don’t know anything about living as a retiree.
I find it hard to try and contact someone in the organisation who is a person.
I’ll ask my husband about it. He is active on linked in.
Thank you Susan. That would be appreciated.
I agree about LinkedIn.
Part of my professional career included several years as a Knowledge Management’ specialist. One of our goals was always to encourage Knowledge Transfer; but it was a tough nut. Besides not wanting to make themselves vulnerable by sharing lessons learned – or seeking advice for unsolved challenges – teachers often wanted to keep their personal ‘secrets for successful teaching’ to themselves because they did not actually want their colleagues to perform better than them. Various incentives from the administration were dangled every season – and they were based on innovation and measurable ‘success’ in the classroom and ratings from the students. Hence, very little Knowledge Transfer actually happened.
I have been using Linked In for many years and would like to subscribe to a premium account IF ONLY they had some sort of concessional rate for retirees. Costs otherwise are too high for those not connected with business or income earning occupation.
POH, i asked Greg about this. He said he has contacted LinkedIn customer service via email and received an answer from a human. Here is the link I found:
https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a518597/getting-help-and-contacting-linkedin-customer-service?lang=en
Seems like they ought to offer a discount for retirees and educators both. But at first glance, what I found matches what you found.
Thank you Susan. And Greg. I will follow up on this. We are on Friday 12 at 11.15 am, with huge humidity and about 34 degrees Celsius.
We are still finishing up Thursday over here. I know hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida but in Ohio we are having blue skies and sunny days. Have you read in Aus that some of our republican politicians are actually claiming the democrats are controlling the hurricanes? The stupidity is overwhelming.
Have not read that but the Republicans seem a bit all over the place at the moment. There is a fair bit of ‘askance’ and worry about who will win. Mind you, our government is in one hell of a mess and I console myself at times by reflecting not on Anthony Albanese but rather his alter ego. I write of his ae under the heading of ‘Albo the Wonderful’. And don’t I get some interesting responses when publishing excerpts?
I remember you mentioning the alter ego idea. It inspired me to write a similar thing about a tr*mp alter ego. I’ve only seen one of your albo the Wonderful pieces. Will seek them out.
Greg and I and our son are voting on Monday. Election day is 11/5 (or 5/11 as it were) but I like to get my vote recorded asap.
We always vote as soon as the pre-polls open. I’ll flick my ‘Albo the Wonderful’ collation to you via email if you like.
Yes please
Just sent the first file. There are some errors for which I apologise because I only did the short edit.
Thank you!