This document discusses professional learning networks (PLNs), which allow individuals to connect with others to facilitate learning. A PLN can be formed using social media and tools like Twitter, blogs, and RSS feeds to collaborate with others, ask questions, and stay updated with new information from one's network. PLNs benefit learning by enabling access to resources beyond one's local area and providing support from a community of practitioners. Maintaining a PLN involves using online tools and platforms to actively engage with your network and share your own knowledge.

1. Professional Learning Networks
Learning has become easier and ejoyable
http://conference2009.tie2.wikispaces.net/Professional+(Personal)+Learning+Networks

2. What is a PLN?
• I asked my PLN and these are some of their
responses:

3. What is a PLN?

4. What is a PLN?

5. What does MY PLN do for ME?
• I go to my PLN for many things:
– Learn new things
– Ask questions
– Collaborate
– Validation
– Camaraderie
– Stay in touch with friends

6. • Many of you may have heard about this:
Screen shot taken at 10:13 AM on 4/19/09 at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/16/ashton-kutcher-vs-cnn-twi_n_187835.html

7. •Twitter is a micro-blogging website that allows you
to form your own PLN (Professional/Personal
Learning Network)
•When you become "friends" with people with
similar interests, you can share ideas and
collaborate with other teachers from other cities,
states, or even countries!

9. •Plurk is another micro-blogging website that allows
you to form your own PLN (Professional/Personal
Learning Network) like Twitter
•It is more conversational than Twitter because it
allows conversations to stay threaded

12. Video (YouTube.com)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOFU9oUF2HA

16. Reasons to use a social bookmarking
network:
•Saved bookmarks will not be deleted when
computers are re-imaged
•You can access your bookmarks from any
computer with the Internet from anywhere
•You can form a network and share
bookmarks with friends and colleagues

18. Blogs
Blogs are not about writing. They are
about conversation. Because of the
power to leave comments about
another’s thoughts, real conversation
and possible collaboration happens. I
have had numerous conversations
and even disagreements in blogs!

19. Blogs
• Finding blogs to read is easy
–You can use a site like bloglines
–You can find one to follow and see if
you can follow who they follow
–Check out your friend’s Delicious
links
–Ask!

20. Blogs
• You can start your own blog
–Blogger
–Wordpress
–Edublogs
–Many, many more

21. RSS Feeders
• Rich Site Summary or Really Simple
Syndication
• A way to bring new blog posts to you
• Many available
– Google Reader
– Bloglines
– Pageflakes
– Suprglu

22. Google Reader in iGoogle

23. Discovery Educators Network

24. LearnCentral

25. And more…
• Google for Educators
• Innovative Teachers
• PBS Teachers
• Linked In
• Ning
• Jaiku
• Kwippy
• Ping
• Second Life
• Diigo
• Podcasts
• YouTube
• TeacherTube
• Ustream
• Wikis
• Google Docs
• Slideshare
• Skype

26. Personal Learning Networks (PLS)
Source: Sue Waters, 2008 Blog
(Note: Current survey under way includes virtual worlds)

27. Typical Teacher Network
Alec Couros

28. TheNetworkedTeacher
Alec Couros

30. Personal Learning
PEOPL
E!
Tools
Informatio
n

31. Sir Ken Robinson (2010) RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms

32. The added social value >
• Enables and provides support for learning
• Can increase the effectiveness of learning
• Can increase access to learning
• Allows people to connect with each other in spite
of geographical distances
• Provides a forum and permission to participate
• Complements face to face communication
Adapted from George Siemens
http://www.elearnspace.org

33. Use a PLN for asking and answering questions

34. Use a PLN to collaborate on projects

35. Use a PLN to get feedback on your own work or seek
inspiration from others

36. A PLN may include specific tools to help you get
organised

37. Learner 2.0
• Operate within decentralised
and deliberately formed
networks of tools, resources
and people
• Established through
contributions to blogs,
tweets/tweeting via Twitter;
sharing slides (Slideshare) etc
• Crowdsource ideas,
active/passive social search
e.g. for research or
assessment
• Importantly it is both personal
and collaborativeSource: David Hopkins, 2009, University of Bournemouth
http://www.dontwasteyourtime.co.uk @hopkinsdavid

38. Reffences
D, f. (2008, October 18). Retrieved march 15, 2013, from connectivism (personal
learning networks) for 21st century teachers: www.mextesol.org.mx
Crofut, S. (2009, march 7). personal networks. Retrieved march 16, 2013, from
slideshare: http://www.daddydesign.com
Smith, S. (2007, April 17). personal networks development. Retrieved march 16,
2013, from slideshare: http://www.daddydesign.com/wordpress/72-free
eckol, S. (2007, April 17). professinal (persona)l networks development. Retrieved
march 16, 2013, from slideshare:
http://conference2009.tie2.wikispaces.net/Professional+(Personal)+Learning+Networ
ks