The document discusses building a personal learning network (PLN) and provides tips for teachers. It defines a PLN as an individual's goal-oriented network of sources for professional or personal interests. The presentation covers why teachers should use a PLN, examples of tools for connecting including Twitter, Delicious, Flickr, blogs, Skype, YouTube, podcasts and Google, and tips for cultivating a balanced PLN with real-life examples of each tool's use.

1. Eric Langhorst
Liberty Public Schools
BUILDING YOUR PLN
PERSONAL LEARNING NETWORK

2. Eric Langhorst
speakingofhistory@gmail.com
Adjunct Graduate
Faculty Member
Doctoral Student
Teacher Leadership
8th
Grade American
History Teacher

3. Copy of presentation and
links available online
www.speakingofhistory.com
November 12, 2010

4. •What is a PLN?

5. •What is a PLN?
•Why should I use it?

6. •What is a PLN?
•Why should I use it?
•Tools to connect?

7. •What is a PLN?
•Why should I use it?
•Tools to connect?
•Real life applications

8. •What is a PLN?
•Why should I use it?
•Tools to connect?
•Real life applications
•Tips

9. •What is a PLN?
•Why should I use it?
•Tools to connect?
•Real life applications
•Tips

10. MSTA already has all
of these resources
available for you to
connect with them

11. A personal or professional learning
network (PLN) involves an
individual’s topic-oriented goal, a set
of practices & techniques aimed at
attracting and organizing a variety of
relevant content sources, selected
for their value, to help the owner
accomplish a professional goal or
personal interest.
- David Warlick

21. SPECIALIZATIO
N
Not as much about having
SOME information but about
knowing how to get the BEST

22. We are all now
PRODUCER
S
of content as
well as

24. Twitter
tool which allows you to communicate
with those you select in less than 140
characters

26. Twitter REAL
LIFE
EXAMPLE
I start using a new activity known as
“The Article of the Week”
I share with fellow history teachers and
soon a group of us are sharing ideas,
resources, etc.

31. Delicious
Social bookmaking tool, allows you to
save bookmarks on any computer and
share them with others

33. Delicious REAL
LIFE
EXAMPLEWorking on an
assignment comparing
the Finnish and U.S.
education systems
Want to find online
articles and resources

37. Flickr
Online application for posting, sharing
and commenting on pictures
As of September
2010 Flickr had 5
Billion photos
loaded

39. Flickr REAL
LIFE
EXAMPLE
I need an image of the cannons at Fort
Ticonderoga to show my 8th
grade
American History class

46. Blogs
a journal written online and
accessible to users of the internet

47. Speaking of history blog

48. Blogs REAL
LIFE
EXAMPLEI want to keep up
with new ideas
and concepts
from people I
respect

51. Skype
Audio and video conferencing tool

53. Skype REAL
LIFE
EXAMPLE
I want my students
to ask questions of
experts and
experience things
outside of my
classroom

55. YouTube
Online application for sharing, viewing
and commenting on videos

57. YouTube REAL
LIFE
EXAMPLEI would like to find
some quality content
to enhance my class
for my high achieving
students
Extra content to add to
my class

61. Podcasts
Audio and/or video content which you
can subscribe to through the web

62. Podcasts REAL
LIFE
EXAMPLEI want to find engaging
content for my students
about Colonial America
I would like to find
audio or video content
for free

66. Google
Google has a variety of tools helpful to
educators – Docs, Mail, Video, Phone

68. Google REAL
LIFE
EXAMPLEI want to call parents
from my classroom
but can’t make a long
distance call from my
room
Google Phone from
G-mail will allow me
to make that call

70. PLN Tips
A PLN is a two way street – the
more you contribute the more
you will get back

71. PLN Tips
Cultivate your PLN – you don’t
want too few or too many

72. PLN Tips
Check to see who your friend
considers friends

73. PLN Tips
Use your PLN effectively but find
a healthy balance

74. PLN Tips
Dip your foot in the PLN pool with
friends you have in real life and
know

75. Eric Langhorst
Liberty Public Schools
BUILDING YOUR PLN
PERSONAL LEARNING NETWORK