This document discusses personal learning networks (PLNs) and how educators can develop their own PLNs. It defines a PLN as a network of people and resources that contribute to a learner's professional development. PLNs allow learners to connect, collaborate and contribute without having to know people personally. The document then provides examples of websites and social media platforms educators can use to expand their PLNs, including Twitter, NINGs, Classroom 2.0, Discovery Education, and PBS Teacher. It encourages readers to sign up for accounts and find groups with similar interests to develop their PLN.
2. PLN Defined
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)
13. Benefits of a PLN
Teachers become:
Aware
Connected
Empowered
Confident . . . .LEARNERS!
14. Twitter.com
Who are you following?
Who are they?
What are they tweeting about?
Student summaries
15. Expand Your Twitter
Experience
Twitter.com using hashtags
# = symbol used to identify a specific chat or topic
#ntchat – New Teacher Chat
Twitter 4 Teachers Wiki – Website
Hashtags.org - website
What the Trend – website
Tagulus - website
ASSIGNMENT---
FOLLOW two more people on twitter.
Reflection on the twittering go in your blog
16. NINGs
Online platform for people to create their own
social networks, launched in 2005.
Offers customers the ability to create a
community website with a customized
appearance and feel, feature sets such as
photos, videos, forums and blogs.
NINGS have service layers in support for “Like”,
integration with Facebook, Twitter, Google and
Yahoo!.[
17. Ning Facts
Launched in 2005.
90,000+ social websites worldwide (July 2011)
65 million unique monthly visitors globally
233 countries and territories worldwide are using
Ning
A new Ning community is created every 10
minutes
Members of the Ning nation are generally affluent,
between 30 – 45 years of age
Nearly 50% of Ning sites integrate with external
social applications
Top 5 features on Ning Networks: Inbox/Forum,
Photos, Member Profiles, Blog, Video
Top 5 categories of Ning Networks: Education,
Business/Brand, Entertainment, Music, Non-Profit
18. Classroom 2.0
WEBSITE
Designed for those interested in sharing ideas
and resources about using Web 2.0 and new
media in education.
Started in 2007
Includes
Forums, Webinars, Blog posting, Chat, Workshops,
Events
Members total 61,039
20. DISCOVERY EDUCATORS
NETWORK
Subscriber / with free resources
Discovery Education provides engaging digital
resources to schools and homes with the goal of
making educators more effective, increasing student
achievement, and connecting classrooms and
families to a world of learning.
VIDEO http://youtu.be/6EzUplUXTAE
WEBSITE
21. PBS TEACHER
CONNECT
WEBSITE
An old favorite going tech with educational
resources and collaboration with other teachers.
22. FACEBOOK
HOW IS FACEBOOK BEING USED FOR
EDUCATION
Edutopia
Science News Alert
ISTE
Educational Technologies
23. Social Bookmarking Sites
Make comments, highlight and
share web information from any
online source.
Delicious – create bookmarks in
the cloud /organize links / share
links/
Pinterest – Collect, organize, all
digital media (more personal)
24. How to get started with a PLN
Sign up for an account with one of the resources.
Start looking around and find people and groups with
the same interests as you.
Ning-Classroom 2.0
Discovery Educator Network
PBS Teacher Connect
With Twitter - follow someone you know, Search for
blogs and web sites that cover topics you are
interested in and subscribe to them via email or RSS
feed. See who they follow and blogs they subscribe to
also.
Social bookmarking sites
25. Class Assignment
Split into groups
You have 10 minutes to review your
section
Give a brief overview of your
section in Google presentation
Prepare to give oral review to class