This document discusses the importance of developing Professional Learning Networks (PLNs) through digital technologies to keep up with the evolving online social world and expectations of students. It notes that students are highly connected and accustomed to online learning, so educators must harness digital tools like social media to collaboratively share knowledge, disseminate best practices, and engage in continuous learning on a global scale. Developing responsive PLNs through various online platforms can help balance technology-enhanced learning and keep both educators and their practices constantly evolving.

1. Professional Learning Networks:
Building a disposition for the future

2. Digital perspectives
‘Technology continually
disrupts almost every area
of our lives, resulting in
constant shifts across all
segments of our society’
(Paton, 2018)

4. Where our students ARE
✓ Highly connected
✓ Grown up online
✓ Digitally aware
✓ Expectant

5. Dynamic and
evolutionary
online social
worlds – higher
education has to
keep up

6. Harnessing digital
technology we can
develop and sustain
responsive
Professional Learning
Networks

7. Dori Digenti – EduBlog (1990s)

9. How does it make you feel?

12. Ideas for harnessing DT
@UclanMidwifery

13. Anne Lomax MSc Neesha Ridley BSc Long Kerry Pollard BSc Short Elizabeth Gomez RTP
Mercedes Perez-Botella SL
Anna Byrom SL Leah Kirk L
Megan Blease L Sherrylynne Babolcsay L
Rebekah McCrimmon L
Carol Mashhadi - LME

15. Digital learning environments =
online social communities

16. “Social media is an emerging, fast growing and
important source of insight. There are some 500,000
comments about the NHS in England every week.
These data sources can be harnessed to provide a
deeper and richer understanding of people’s
concerns and interests relating to health services.
Using social media can also help to engage a wide
range of people who are often already discussing the
issues you are trying to address.”
(NHS England, 2018, pg46)

20. How can we overcome these
social media challenges?

22. But which social
media platform
to use?

23. Get tweeting……

24. (Chin, 2015)

25. Tweet chats with @WeMidwives

26. ‘Since I have begun to tweet
and also write about my
research and practice in
popular online blogs, the
ranking of my papers has
shot up…’
Prof Hannah Dahlen

32. ‘Social media provides us with a
pathway to connect directly, rapidly
and cheaply with communities’
(Archibold & Clark 2014)

33. Student Staff

35. Video conferenceWebinars
Tutorials
Webinars

36. Benefits of Professional Learning Networks:
✓Develop digital literacy
✓Share practice
✓Disseminate knowledge
✓Collaborate
✓24/7 learning
✓Flexibility
✓Stay current
✓Global connectivity

37. Balance
Technology
Enhanced
Learning

38. ‘If you want to go fast,
go alone
If you want to go FAR,
go together’
(African proverb)

39. ‘Never doubt that a mass
audience of committed
citizens can change the
world, with the press of a
mobile phone ‘send’ button!’