Getting Started With Your PLG

Hi Guys,

Thanks for putting yourself out there into this group.  I think that this is a massively important area of professional development for Waihi College staff.  I can see that at this stage not many of you have linked up technologically with this blog - so that might be some PD in itself.

I thought that I would jump online and give you some heads up on where I see this PLG could go.  Remember that the main purpose of PLG's is that they're able to grow/move in directions as the members decide.

Where are you at?   This is probably the key question for you as a group.  I know that you have some very strong speakers, and experts of tikanga (this is great you can tap into this knowledge).  The good news is that there is a wealth of resources available to you to tap into.

I thought that these my be the next steps for your PLG...

1. Tapping into internal expertise.  Ascertain the degree of confidence you have individually about the Reo and the Tikanga of Maori.  This will drive the group.  I'm anticipating that you as individuals will roughly look to help someone below your level and look to get helped by someone above your level.  
2. Tapping into external expertise (online).  Looking for resources see Ministry of Maori Affairs, Te Puni Kokiri, Te Wananga, local Hauraki sources.  

My personal experience in a Maori PLG was that a few years ago me and some other teachers enrolled in a free course 'national certificate in Maori Ora' through the Wananga o Aotearoa.  This was longer course than 4 months (I think that it took me seven months).  It was free, interesting, do-able and provided all the resources.

Cheers J.