This document summarizes the professional learning network (PLN) that Nicole Durling has created. It provides snapshots of her initial PLN when first created, as well as her current PLN. Her PLN now includes following more accounts, gaining her own followers, and sharing her own tweets on education and teaching methods. Building her PLN has connected her to resources, tools, and professionals that will aid her continued professional development as a teacher.

1. Collaborate
Connect
Communicate
Professional
Learning
Network
Nicole Durling
EDU 210

2. This is my PLN then
Here is a snap shot of my PLN when it was first created. I have
since followed many more people, and I have gained my own
followers as well. I hope to follow more, and hopefully increase
my knowledge enough to gain more followers, so I can help
them the way that the people I follow now have helped me!

3. Inspired Learning
@InspiredLrn
Inspired Learning Is an online
community which assists teachers
in Alberta in solving problems,
being innovative in the classroom,
and explores different ways of
learning collaboratively.
They tweet consistently, every
couple of days, and provide
resources to help followers develop
professionally
I have had the opportunity to see
several interesting articles about all
aspects of education
One of my favourites because they
keep followers up to date on what
is going on with education in
Alberta. Its nice to know what is
going on close to home with my
future profession.

4. Nicholas Provenzano
@thenerdyteacher
The nerdy teacher has become my
favourite account because he posts a lot
of thoughts and articles that are actually
interesting.
A lot of his posts keep me interested and
excited about my future profession
I have come to notice that a lot of his
students follow him, and he tweets a lot
of things that are not only interesting for
teachers, but young students as well!
He tweets several times a day, and has
his own articles and a website about
teaching as well. And he knows a lot
about educational technology, very fit for
this course
It is evident that the nerdy teacher is very
involved in various educational
communities, and very passionate about
his profession.

5. EdTech Service UofA
@EdTechUofA
EdTech Provides support for
learning design, multimedia
services, development on
mobile devices and on the web,
and technology assistance.
EdTech services is equipped to
answer any questions about
education and educational
technology that you might have.
Post helpful and interesting
articles for teachers and future
teachers.
EdTech tweets several times a
day and shares a lot of apps
and tools that teachers can use
in the classroom, and for
professional development.

6. 2Learn.ca Society
@2Learn_ca
2learn us a non profit organization
striving to aid teachers in their
professional development, as well as
provide leadership and resources for
educators.
They notify teachers and students of
discussions that they can participate in
on various topics like cyber bullying
and children's rights.
2learn also provides several tools and
resources for several subjects or for
teachers in general.
Not only do teachers benefit from
following 2learn, and parents and
students con follow as well for tools and
tips on how to succeed in school.
2learn are great supporters of
technology in the classroom, and post
several tips to teach students how to
learn effectively online, and how to
become ethical online citizens.

7. This is my PLN now
Here is a snap shot of my
PLN as of today. I have
increased the number of
people I follow, and will
continue to do so, and I
actually have followers
myself! I have some of
my own tweets, however
I am mostly retweeting
and favouriting tweets
from other accounts. I
have hopes that one day
I will gain more
knowledge and
experience that I can
share with all of my
followers.

8. I have learned throughout taking this course that professional development in the
teaching profession is so important, and will aid me in being the best teacher for me
and my students. In a time where technology is so advanced, it only makes sense to
take advantage of resources that teachers haven’t always had. I have been exposed
to an endless supply of resources, tools, websites, and many more networking
opportunities.
The focus of my account right now is to learn about education and expand my
knowledge, and also to take advantage of networking opportunities. In the future, the
focus of my PLN will probably change over time. I will likely use it for resources specific to
my major and minor (high school English and history) and perhaps as I learn I will also be
able to share knowledge with others, like many of the people I follow today have done.
Building my own PLN has been rewarding, as I have done and learned a lot that will
really help me as I continue my journey of professional development as a teacher. I
have created many connections by retweeting professionals that I follow, and have
gained some followers of my own. I have tweeted some of my own thoughts about
education and teaching methods, as well as useful technologies for the classroom.
My favourite hashtags, which have helped me find the right people to follow, and have
helped people find me, have been #EdTech, #EdChat, #Teaching, #Edu210,
#Education, #UofA, and #Ualberta