1. PART I: PERSONAL LEARNING NETWORKS
EDUC W200 Week 11

2. PLN: WHAT IS A PLN?
• PLN is either a
personal/professional learning
network
• Function of a PLN Connect Collaborate
o Allows learners to take control of and
manage their own learning
o Set your own learning goals Contribute
o Manage learning
o Manage both content and the process
o Communicate with others in the process of
learning
EDUC W200 Week 11

3. EDUCATOR’S USE OF PLNS
• Learn from content-area specialists
• Locate free resources for your classroom
• Websites | software | grants
• 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
EDUC W200 Week 11

4. INSTANCES OF PLNS
• Professional/Personal Learning Network
• Casts (Podcasts, Screencasts, Vidcasts)
• Social Networks
• Blogs, Microblogging, and Aggregator
EDUC W200 Week 11

5. REGIONAL PLN FOR EDUCATOR
EXAMPLE NY
• In March of 2010, TEDxNYED was held in NY to examine the
role of new media and technology in shaping the future of
education.
• In addition to viewing the archived TEDxNYED talks,
educators are now connecting through media such as:
• TEDx's YouTube Channel.
• TEDxNYED Reflections wiki
• Facebook fan page
• Follow TEDxNYED on Twitter
EDUC W200 Week 11

6. INSTANCES OF PLN: VIDCASTS
• K12 online conference
• SchoolTube
• Various Webinars
o Elluminate
o PBS Teachers Online
o Classroom 2.0
o ISTE Webinars
EDUC W200 Week 11

7. INSTANCES OF PLN: NING RESOURCES
• Art Education • Science Ed
o http://arted20.ning.com/ o http://inspire-teachers.ning.com/
• World Language • Social Studies
o http://edupln.ning.com/group/lan o http://iteachsocialstudies.ning.co
guagelearners m/
• Math Education • Elementary
o http://edupln.ning.com/group/mat o http://edupln.ning.com/group/ele
hteachers mentaryeducators
• Special Ed o http://elementaryteachersnetwork
.ning.com/
o http://tech-in-sped.ning.com/
EDUC W200 Week 11

8. INSTANCES OF PLN: MORE RESOURCES
o http://community.discoveryeducation.com/
o http://www.google.com/educators/index.html
o http://us.partnersinlearningnetwork.com/Pages/default.aspx
o http://www.pbs.org/teachers/
Professional Organizations for Educators
o http://www.google.com/notebook/public/04712752710140234617/BDR
CNSgoQ0vmYgdIj
EDUC W200 Week 11

9. HOW TO GROW YOUR LEARNING NETWORKS
• View education feeds • Blogs
o http://education.alltop.com/ – Find a teacher who blogs in your
subject area and follow him/her
• Education related groups – School Related Blogs
o Global Education • Claudia Ceraso’s Network
o Classroom 2.0 – With over 400 fellow educators
o Library 2.0 Ceraso’s Delicious is a one-stop for an
educator in any grade level in any
• Attend K-12 conference subject area
o K-12 Online Conference • Diigo
• Set-up an aggregator • Cool tools from educators
o iGoogle • Podcasts
o Google Reader • iTunes K-12
o Netvibes • Webinars
o Feedly U-Stream Weblogg-ed TV
EDUC W200 Week 11

10. HOW TO GROW YOUR LEARNING NETWORKS –
EDUCATION COMMUNITY
• TeacherShare
o Connect with other teachers as you share lesson plans online
• Teachers Connecting
o This allows you to collaborate with other educators around the globe
for project-based activities
• PBS Teachers
o Includes discussion boards, resource sharing, professional development
and communication with other teachers
EDUC W200 Week 11

11. A PLN IS NOT JUST LIMITED TO THIS
• You can also use:
o iGoogle (and RSS – more on that next)
o Facebook, Grouply, etc (social networking)
o Twitter (microblogging)
• Any place people meet and ideas or resources are
shared has the potential to become a PLN
• It is not about the tool – it is about the purpose
EDUC W200 Week 11