1. How to start yourPersonal Learning Network(PLN) 1
2. Definition: the entire collection of people with whom you engage and exchange information, usually online. A PLN is formed as soon as any sustained discussion occurs about a specific topic. The network consists of the people conducting the discussion and the artefacts produced or referred as a consequence of the discussion What is a Personal Learning Network? 2
3. PLN’s are currently relevant because of the rise of collaborative technologies accessible from both computers and mobile phones This has allowed discussions to move away from a physical location where the discussion crosses geographic and cultural divides and artefacts are stored ‘in the cloud’ 3
4. Learners who start to use a web-based PLN are: A ‘real’ audience for their work. It is not being produced just to satisfy course requirements but is based on the perceived needs and adapting understandings of the members of the network A deeper understanding and connection with a wider community Collaborative learning has a greater impact on an individual’s knowledge than the presence of a ‘greater intelligence’ (i.e. teacher or brighter student) Why should we use PLN’s 4
5. Professional development – learn from content-area specialists Locate resources for your classroom, such as free websites and software Get lesson plan ideas from master teachers Learn about new technology and how to integrate it into your teaching- Find collaborative solutions- Find interesting links to education news How Educators Use PLNs 5
6. Why? Get your brilliant ideas, questions and resources out there to share Record your learning journey, your understanding and your achievements Improves overall literacy and communication skills Improves sense of wider community and belonging in an overbusy, disconnected world Start a Blog 6
7. How? Various Blog engines on the web Moodle – oublog with your class Blogger.com (uses Google ID) EduBlogs.org (internationally renowned education based blogging platform) Wordpress, etc... BlogED (behind DET firewall, accessed from “my learning tools” tab in DET Portal Start a Blog? 7
8. Why would you do this? You are looking for other bloggers who have similar learning goals in mind Ideally you want to be able to: further your understanding of a topic (look for an expert) work collaboratively to deepen your understanding (look for peers) nurture new bloggers in your field (keep an eye on comments to your blog and encourage participation) Look for people to follow 8
9. How do you find them? Use a generic search engine (use blog as one of your search terms) Use a blog specific search engine (Google Blog Search, Technorati) Ask or search on Yammer for people within the DET who write their own blogs in your particular field Look for people to follow 9
10. Keep an eye on both your email and the comments on your blog Try to respond promptly and positively to any correspondence Strengthen your connections 10
11. Encourage your network to grow Investigate micro-blogging tools (Yammer, Twitter, Facebook) Join an online community classroom 2.0 http://www.classroom20.com/, a ning network http://www.ning.com/ or an online course that provides areas for discussion, posting of artefacts, etc. Produce other forms of artefacts (pictures, videos, mind maps, presentations, songs, podcasts, etc...) Manage your online identity by consistently using the same username so that people can find your other artefacts easily. What to do next 11
