A personal learning network (PLN) consists of the people from whom a learner derives knowledge to contribute to their professional development, even if the learner does not know or meet those people personally. A PLN is developed through making connections on social media and online platforms to form a network of experts, scholars, and others who share information. To be successful with a PLN, learners should actively participate by connecting with others, contributing their own expertise, collaborating through conversations that develop relationships, and requesting information from their network.

1. INTC 2610
FALL 2013
PERSONAL LEARNING
NETWORKS

2.  The Personal Learning Network consists of the
people a learner interacts with and derives
knowledge from in a Personal Learning
Environment. Learners create connections and
develop a network that contributes to their
professional development and knowledge. The
learner does not have to know these people
personally or ever meet them in person.
(Wikipedia 10/17/11)
PLN Defined

3. How PLN’s Works
Graphics by Corrine Weisberger & Shannan Butler
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12. WHO DO LEARN FROM?
All educators (and learners) can
benefit from extending their own
personal learning network
online – beyond the walls of
their schools, the boundaries
of their districts, and the
limits of their experience.

13. Teachers become:
Aware
Connected
Empowered
Confident . . . .LEARNERS!
Benefits of a PLN

14. Core Elements of a PLN
1. Connect
2. Contribute
3. Collaborate
4. Request

15. CONNECT
 The growth engine of your learning
network is your willingness to reach out
and make connections with new people.
 Leave comment on a blog
 Reply to a question on twitter
 Post on Google +
 BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT

16. CONTRIBUTE
 Share with others
 Your expertise or even your
struggles
 You are helping others

17. COLLABORATE
 Simple replies turn into
conversations
 Conversations turn into professional
relationships
 Relationships turn into collaboration

18. REQUEST
 If you are an active participant
when you request people will
respond.
 Responses are immediate, will
address the request head-on, and
can save time by not relying on
google for your answers.

19. TOOLS
 BLOG – and use RSS aggregator
 Tweet
 Join a NING or a professional social
network.
 Use Google +

20. TO BE SUCCESSFUL
 Be Patient – it takes time to make
connections
 Be Authentic – don’t post to
sensationalize or gather followers.
Be sincere.

21. Quote….
“If your school system hasn’t
changed a year from now, I get
it… but if you haven’t changed
a year from now, you’re a
failure.”
Will Richardson, co-author of Personal
Learning Networks: Using the Power of
Connections to Transform Education

22. ALSO IMPORTANT

23. Teacher Organizations
 NEA – National Teacher Association (enrolled by
state org.)
 http://www.nea.org/
 ISTE – International Society for Technology in
Education
 NJEA - http://www.njea.org/
 NJAET – New Jersey Association of Educational
Technology http://www.njaet.org/njaet/
 NJEEC – NJ Educational Computing Cooperative
- http://www.njecc.org/
 SRI & ETTC – Stockton College-
http://www.ettc.net/
 TECHSTOCK – Unconference July 16, 2014 –
Stockton College – 8-3:30pm – Cost $35

24. School Environment
 Colleagues
 In-service Workshops
 Department Meetings
 Informal conversations in the teacher’s
room

25. Assignment
1. A Written PLN
2. A Graphic representation of your
PLN. (inspiration, Word Draw, Google draw)
3. Excel spreadsheet showing
alignment of projects with ISTE nets*
for teacher standards.

26. Works Cited
1. Wikipedia.com
2. Online Learning insights.com
3. Gettingsmart.com
4. The Innovativeeducator.blogspot.com
5. Onceateacher.wordpress.com
6. teachersusingtech.weebly.com