477

The Pursuit of a PLN

Reading Review Blog Post #3

Using the collection of files and links from Part B, consider your research experience and share your thoughts with the learning group via your blog.  How many articles did you find?  What is their relevance to your issue, interest, or opportunity?  How was your topic discussed in the literature?  Did you find an absence of literature pertaining to your topic?  What are the key learnings and takeaways that you have generated through this deeper exploration into your topics of interest?

For me, this reading review was a form of professional development that I found intrinsically motivating.  Prior to beginning this inquiry, I had no idea about the vast amount of opportunities that lay before me through various mediums in social media that would enhance my educational experience.  When I think of social media, images of cats conjure up in my mind, not methods of professional development.  However, after some early exploration into what a personal learning network (PLN) was, I knew that I was in the process of unlocking a whole new realm of opportunities.  In order to gain a deeper understanding of PLNs, I selected the following keywords: connectivism, web 2.0, personal learning network, and 21st century learning.  These keywords would prove as guides as I began to search for reliable resources that could be utilized in creating my own perspective of PLNs.

Image Courtesy of Corwin Connect

As recommended, I started my search with the selected reading list provided to me by my LIBE 477B instructor Aaron Mueller.  Using the list, I was able to locate an article on connectivism, although it would not open.  I left the suggested reading list a little discouraged and entered EBSCO to conduct a database search.  Since having graduated with my Bachelor of Education in 2011, I had not used EBCSO, leaving my research skills somewhat rusty.  Despite this, I was able to locate several articles and journals regarding PLNs.  However, as I sifted through these articles they were incredibly research based, long, and/or boring.  This was where I decided that I needed to focus on resources that would provide me with the best opportunity for learning.  Considering my visual learning style, I began to search the web.  Personally, I needed resources that were visually appealing and concise.  Once I determined what worked for me and what didn't, my quest for knowledge took off.  The most valuable source of information I found was Will Richardson's YouTube video explaining the significance of PLNs.  Even though Richardson's YouTube video was exactly what I was looking for, I had great difficulty adding it to Blogger and spent many hours trying to locate the correct video (it was not registering) and subsequently lost all of the work I had already completed for the assignment.  Very frustrating! This is my first time using Blogger so I considered it a learning experience and moved on.

Image Courtesy of Edudemic

For the most part, I found that website articles provided the best relevance to my topic.  For example, articles like Teacher's Guide on Creating Personal Learning Networks and 21st Century PLNs for School Leaders provide basic knowledge, importance, and step-by-step instructions on how to create a thriving PLN.

The pursuit of my PLN was well underway as I took the advice of many articles and headed for Twitter.  Before joining LIBE 477B I had a Twitter account but it was in the very early stages of it's development.  Using my new found knowledge of PLNs I began to explore, or perhaps more appropriately 'creep' users and hashtags.  I started by following those members in my LIBE 477 Orca group and educators that I have an already established relationship with.  Browsing through these individuals following lists, I started to add to my own and before I knew it, my following list had multiplied and I even gained some followers myself, #thatwaseasy! One of the most important aspects I discovered while exploring Twitter was the conversation #bcedchat and #edcamp.

Through this reading review assignment I have been exposed to a variety of opportunities to participate in discussions that are of interest to me, at any time, and any place!  Although my PLN is just developing and I remain in the 'passive' stage of participation, the more comfortable I get using web 2.0 technologies for 21st century learning, the more I intend to interact, connect, and share my passions in the field of education.  PLNs are a valuable form of professional development and I can only see their worth increasing as we continue through 21st century education and learning.

Network Literacy

Reading Review Blog Post #2

Collect, link and publish descriptions of about 3-5 different resources that you have found useful in better understanding your topic(s) from Part 1.  This blog post will review and highlight the resources as potential citations for your more detailed explorations later in the course.

As I began to explore the value of personal learning networks (PLNs) further, I came across a variety of resources and as such, started to experience information overload.  Many of the databases I used produced results that were out of date and/or incredibly boring.  This is where I decided to narrow my results down to those sources that would provide me with the best opportunity for learning.  To do so, I considered my visual learning style.  The following is a collected list of published sources that were most effective in my inquiry to understand personal learning networks, web 2.0 technologies, 21st century learning, and connectivism better.

1. Will Richardson's YouTube Video- Personal Learning Networks

 

While this isn't the exact video of Will Richardson explaining PLNs that I wanted to upload, it's to the point.  I had difficulty using Blogger's upload system to locate the correct YouTube video and in my attempts, I lost all of the work that I had already completed for this blog post. To put it politely, I was quite upset.  Even though I was unable to locate the correct YouTube video via Blogger, I have linked the proper one here.

Moving on, this video was exactly what I was looking for (the linked version).  It thoroughly explains the context of PLNs and their implementation.  Richardson raises key issues that the power of connectivism offers educators including where to begin.  Two topics in particular from this video resonated with me.  They consider the implications of network literacy and what Richardson calls the 'echo chamber'.  I had never heard of network literacy prior to this video but now that I have, I truly believe it’s another character of 21^st century learning.  Thinking critically about whom you connect with, why, and how is an important aspect to cultivating an ethical PLN.  In addition, an echo chamber deals with the issue of agreeing.  While web 2.0 technologies have provided people with a digital voice, danger lurks in the form of agreeing with what everyone has to say.  Richardson encourages PLN users to diversify their networks to include people who will challenge your learning.  This was by far the most valuable source I found during my inquiry.

2.  Teacher’s Guide on Creating Personal Learning Networks- by Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

This source is essentially all encompassing.  Not only does it provide a basic understanding of PLNs it goes much deeper to incorporate an infographic and embedded video for further explanation, linked guides to various aspects of developing your PLN, as well as web 2.0 tools and resources to make the most of your PLN.  A Teacher’s Guide on Creating Personal Learning Networks is literally a one-stop-shop to a considerable amount of information regarding web 2.0 technologies and 21st century learning.

3.  Benefits of Being a Connected Educator- by Saomya Saxena retrieved via EdTech Review

While the last source provided more insight into the development and implementation of a PLN using 21^st century learning and web 2.0 tools, the Benefits of Being a Connected Educator explains why the power of connectivism is so important to educators.  With the rapid emergence of the web, the ability to connect to billions of people with shared interests is quite literally in our hands (or sometimes pockets).  Collaboration through PLNs has the ability to effectively inform our practice and classrooms as teachers.  In a sense, educators are provided with the opportunity to develop professionally at any given time.  PLNs have extended our learning and essentially increased our opportunity for and of learning around the world.

4.  Morphing into a 21^st Century Teacher- by Mia MacMeekin retrieved via ELearning Infographics

Personally, I find infographics a valuable learning tool.  They are concise, visually appealing, and interesting.  This infographic in particular focuses on how educators can effectively manage 21^st century learning.  The inforgraphic gives several steps, in no particular order, that can help educators shift their classrooms and practices to include several web 2.0 technologies.  While it doesn’t specifically list tech tools, it contributes professional learning outcomes for an educator.  I found this resource to be a good quick reminder to keep the idea of 21^st century learning fresh in my mind.

The above list of resources is meant as a compilation of publications related to personal learning networks, 21st century learning, web 2.0, and connectivism in order to develop my own familiarity with the contemporary practices associated with digital technologies in an educational context, and is by no means complete.  These sources have purely enhanced my own inquiry considering my learning style.  After exploring PLNs further I'm still convinced of their worth yet apprehensive in their management.  Until I become more familiar with web 2.0 technologies in an educational context, I will continue to be an novice in terms of my PLN.

The Connected Self- Personal Learning Networks

Reading Review Blog Post #1
What topics, ideas or “keywords” are you interested in exploring through some literature searches? What is in your professional practice or environment that you would like to explore further about digital technologies, web 2.0, or 21st century learning?

Today's rapidly evolving digital age has seen the emergence of web 2.0 technologies such as Twitter, Blogger, and YouTube, and as such, students and educators are no longer just passive consumers of information and media but creators and re-mixers of it! Staying connected has become a priority and with the evolution of 'Personal Learning Networks' (PLN) a whole new method of professional development and education has surfaced.

Retrieved from www.educatorstechnology.com

I must admit that despite not knowing what a PLN was initially, I decided to explore the topic further and did as any sensible person (and 100% of our students) would do, I took to Wikipedia! Through my initial research I realized that although I never considered it before, I was already (all-be-it unknowingly) developing my very own PLN.  The deeper I dove into the World Wide Web of PLNs the more I began to value their capacity to enhance the educational experience for all those involved. As a young educator I truly value collaboration, and essentially a PLN is a form of collaboration. While my initial PLN has mostly been developed through traditional face-to-face interactions with co-workers, the opportunities to connect and collaborate with other educators around the globe are right at my finger tips!  This is important to me because through previous experience I would not be as successful in my own teaching practice as I have been without the willingness of other more experienced teachers.  Their support in areas such as classroom management, resources, and technology integration etc. has pushed me to raise my own expectations, encouraged me to take risks, and to revise my own educational philosophy.

After some early exploration of PLNs, I knew that this is something that I'm interested in.  Not only are PLNs useful for educators, but for students too!  Possible topics related to PLNs that I may need to explore in order to broaden my understanding include: personal learning network itself, web 2.0, connectivism, and 21st century learning.  Most of the early sources I found regarding PLNs were retrieved from a Pinterest search.  I found this quite effective as many of the links led me to reliable resources such as: Teacher's Guide on Creating Personal Learning Networks, 3 Steps for Building a Professional Learning Network , and 21st Century PLNs for School Leaders.  My searches also led me to another of Will Richardson's books "Personal Learning Networks: Using the Power of Connections to Transform Education" which I will attempt to look into.

Retrieved from www.gettingsmart.com

While I'm inspired to develop a familiarity with PLNs, I'm also left feeling a little overwhelmed!  Staying on top of and maintaining a PLN appears to be incredibly time consuming, however, the potential a PLN possesses is priceless.  Knowing this, I will have to take my digital PLN step by step until I am more adept with the technologies and their use in an educational context.