Advocacy Group and Technology Provider Partner to Launch Online Teaching Community

• By Scott Aronowitz
• 03/09/09

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In an effort to promote continued learning, collaboration and a professional community of educators, the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future (NCTAF) has partnered with education technology provider Pearson to create an interactive online teachers' community.

Building on NCTAF's TLINC (Teachers Learning in Networked Communities) program piloted in three major public universities, the Web site seeks to give teachers in the nascent stages of their careers an opportunity to seek assistance and guidance in all facets of teaching from experienced educators who, in short, have faced a lot of similar challenges and know what it's like to be at various stages on one's career path in education.

"In every profession today, teamwork, collaboration and communication are the keys to success," said NCTAF President Tom Carroll. "It's important that new teachers have opportunities to have access to their professors, mentors and peers for the support they need when they need it. Online communities like TLINC make this happen, and build this 'habit of community' in a way we have found to be extremely powerful for continuous teacher learning," Carroll said.

TLINC's current online communities provide coaching and mentoring support for novice teachers, opportunities for collaboration, as well as instant access to faculty, peers and colleagues. With a focus on improved retention and accelerated proficiency, the expanded project will enhance the resources available to teachers and help new educators avoid feelings of isolation that can lead to attrition.