This document discusses creating personal learning networks (PLNs) and getting started with developing one's own PLN. It defines personal learning environments (PLEs) and PLNs, noting that people learn through connections to other people, places and ideas. It provides examples of ways to participate in and contribute to the expansion of knowledge through blogs, wikis, Twitter and other tools. It offers advice on starting small, following relevant experts on Twitter, reading blogs, and using tools like Diigo and Ning to connect with others and share resources. The document encourages asking yourself what you want to learn more about and what knowledge you have to share.

1. Creating Personal Learning Networks Deirdre Bonnycastle Clinical Teaching Development College of Medicine University of Saskatchewan

2. Humans are Tool Users © Edupic colouring books

3. We Teach Our Children By Using Tools © Edupic colouring books

4. Connectivism Underpinnings People learn through their connections to other people, places and ideas. © Edupic colouring books

5. Definitions PLE Personal Learning Environment PLN Personal Learning Networks

6. At a higher education level, the focus shifts from learning foundational skills to participating in and contributing to the expansion of knowledge. - George Siemens “Connectivism”

7. My participation in the expansion of knowledge Blogs Ning Wikis Twitter

8. My contribution to the expansion of knowledge Active Learning Blog Carnival 2,256 readers since November Medical Education Wiki 100 Members Twitter 400 Followers

9. Your Stories

10. Issues Too Many Choices

11. Too Much Information

12. What do I want to learn more about? Ask Yourself

13. Getting Started Start Small Twitter between you and two colleagues Check out http://twitter4teachers.pbwiki.com/

14. K-12 follow @coolcatteacher @edtechcowgirl @angelamaiers http://www.twibes.com/group/k12Ed Higher Ed follow @gsiemens @courosa @scopecommunity @downes @mwesch

15. Getting Started Read The Active Learning Blog Carnival http://activelearningcarnival.blogspot.com/ Pick one or two of the blogs you like and follow them Learn to use RSS feeds and get Google Reader Get a Google Alert feed http:// www.google.com/alerts?hl = en&gl =

16. Getting Started Open a personal diigo account http://www.diigo.com/index Find others to share resources with Join a diigo group like K-12Librarians o r Images4Education

17. Getting Started Join a NING Group Images4Education http://images4education.ning.com/ Classroom 2.0 http://www.classroom20.com/ Future of Education http://www.futureofeducation.com/ Join a Moodle Group Integrating Technology http://www.integrating-technology.com/pd/ SCoPE http://scope.bccampus.ca/

18. What do I know that I might want to share? Ask Yourself

19. Sharing what you know Write a blog Contribute to a wiki Teach an online course for teachers Create an online course for teachers Create a NING for your discipline Tweet ????

20. Quotes @redstarvip: Give away everything you know, and more will come back to you @peasandqs PLNs end the isolation felt in small school divisions. I am part of a greater "whole".