This document discusses personal learning networks (PLNs) which allow teachers to continue learning through online connections and resources. It notes that teachers have always been lifelong learners and today there are more opportunities than ever through tools like blogs, social media, RSS feeds and online communities. The document provides an overview of how to get started with a PLN by connecting with others, contributing your own work, conversing to build relationships and requesting information once connections have been made. It also highlights specific tools and platforms that can be used to build a PLN like Twitter, blogs, RSS feeds, Nings and social bookmarking sites.

1. Personal Learning Networks
Feel free to use your iPad or a laptop from the
wall to check out resources as we go

2. Teaching Means Learning
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Teachers have always been lifelong
learners
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The reason some people get into
teaching
Today there are more resources than ever
for professional learning
There's also a greater need than ever
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Changing student needs
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Changing technology & resources

3. What Are We Doing Today?
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PLN as an approach/framework
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A few specific tools
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Nings
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Diigo or Pearltrees
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Too much for one session
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Follow-up through ITFs

4. What Is a PLN?
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Informal learning network--the people
and resources you learn from
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Connections in the network are
specifically made for learning
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Doesn’t have to consist of people you
know personally
"For the first time in history, we know now how to store
virtually all humanity's most important information and
make it available, almost instantly, in almost any form, to
almost anyone on earth. We also know how to do that in
great new ways so that people can interact with it , and
learn from it." --Gordon Dryden, Jeannette Vos, The
Learning Revolution

5. PLN: Variety of Tools
EducatorsTechnology.com

6. Characteristics of PLNs
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Learner doesn't just receive—learner also
contributes
Usually a social/personal aspect to it—it's
not just websites, personal connections
are formed

7. Getting Started With PLNS
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Connect: Comment, +1, Like, Reply
Contribute: Make your own work
accessible—post things
Converse: Share information and build
relationships
Request: Once you've contributed and
built relationships, you're more likely to
get quality responses to questions or
needs
Dr. Mark Wagner, GettingSmart.com

8. Getting Started With PLNS
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Also:
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Be patient. These networks aren't built
quickly.
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Be authentic. People respond to others
they see as sincere.
Dr. Mark Wagner, GettingSmart.com

9. Twitter
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Twitter is like a personal news ticker
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You can
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Follow people
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Follow hashtags—great way to find other
people

10. Twitter

11. Blogs
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Great teaching blogs:
http://teach.com/teach100
A couple of blogs I follow:
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Edudemic: http://www.edudemic.com/
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Edutech4Teachers:
http://edutech4teachers.edublogs.org/
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Educational Technology and Mobile
Learning:
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/

12. RSS
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Really Simple Syndication—a way of
following updates from different sources
There's a variety of programs and sites to
help you follow RSS:
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Firefox
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My Yahoo
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Feedly

13. Ning
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Social networks centered around specific
interests
Helpful Nings:
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http://www.classroom20.com/
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http://edupln.ning.com/

14. Social Bookmarking
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Bookmarking
across devices
Sharing bookmarks
with others
Annotating shared
bookmarks (Diigo)
Organizing visually
(Pearltrees)
MF Ruffini, Educause.edu

15. What Is Your Role?
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Activist: Learn through doing and prefer
activities
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Reflector: Enjoy reviewing and considering
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Post comments
Theorist: Like to know theories, research, data
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Write a blog
Create your own model or research
Pragmatist: Like to apply learning to the real
world
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Get students to make PLNs in the
classroom

16. PLN Tips
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Keep collaboration
at the center
Join an online
community
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Join a Meetup
Share your own
contributions
Ask questions
Participate actively
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Be polite and
acknowledge
original authors
Separate
professional and
personal accounts
Create a landing
page
Engage newbies
Miriam Clifford, opencolleges.edu.au

17. Other PLN Resources
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Webinars
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Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
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iTunes U
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JSEA/JVLA

18. Build and Balance
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Start small
Locate one or two resources for your
strongest interest
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Check them regularly
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Jump in—participate!!

19. Build and Balance