The document discusses the author's use of Twitter as a professional learning network (PLN) to support their teaching career. It describes how the author initially did not understand the benefits of a PLN but began following 42 educational groups and individuals on Twitter. These include accounts relevant to the author's subject areas of social studies and phys-ed, as well as Alberta Education, local news networks, and groups focused on technology integration. The author finds tweets from these accounts useful for teaching resources, professional development opportunities, and staying informed of education initiatives. The goal is to continue engaging with their PLN on Twitter to strengthen connections and support growth as an educator.

1. MY PLN UP CLOSE
Using Twitter as a Professional Learning Network
Nicole Harkins

2. NETWORK GROWTH

3. NETWORK GROWTH
 At the beginning of the term, I hadn’t even considered having a
PLN and did not completely understand how it could benefit my
teaching career. After choosing Twitter as my PLN platform, my
network began to grow, as I began following different educational
bodies and influential people within the educational context. As seen
in the previous slide, I have now began following 42 different
groups/people and I find them all very helpful for my professional
development.

4. NETWORK GROWTH
 The kinds of groups and individuals that I follow are relevant to
my teaching career by subject specialization (i.e. Social Studies and
Phys-Ed), Alberta Education related accounts, local news networks
which are helpful for Social Studies classes, groups that focus on
technology integration in the classroom, and many more. The
following slide contains a screenshot of some of the tweets that I
have found to be useful when using my PLN.

6. ALBERTA EDUCATION
@ALBERTAED
 This organization is a good choice for me to follow on my PLN
because it is the governing body for education within the province of
Alberta. This means that I will be able to gain insight about Alberta
Education initiatives and other topics that are relevant in this scope.
Their Twitter account is also a social media effort to transform
education by engaging the public in conversation about topics
involved in education.

7. AB SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY
@ABSCHOOLTECH
 This account is very valuable within my PLN. First of all, it
highlights technological initiatives within schools in Alberta. Secondly,
it outlines different opportunities for professional development within
an educational context. Technology within the classroom is becoming
commonplace, therefore, keeping up with this kind of knowledge is
vital to being a successful educator.

8. 2L E A R N. C A S O C I E T Y
@2LEARN_CA
 This Twitter account is an important piece within my PLN. It
provides resources that can be utilized within the classroom,
professional development opportunities for educators looking to
develop their skill sets in different areas of the educational realm, as
well as leadership for teachers. As an educator, it is vital to increase
your wealth of resources that can be used within the classroom, and
2Learn.ca Society is a good start for this.

9. CONNECTING
 So far, the ways that I have connected using my PLN are by retweeting other people’s tweets that I find interesting or useful for the
ways in which I approach education. I hope to engage in discussions
with organizations and individuals in the future to build my PLN
further and grow as an educator.