As part of the Leadership Learning Community's Webinar Series, Debra Askanase goes deep into how to develop PLNs. December 9, 2013

1. Developing Personal
Professional Online Learning
Networks
Presented by Debra Askanase,
Community Organizer 2.0

2. About the presenter
Former executive
director, community
organizer, business
consultant
“Engage, create trust,
move people to action”
Digital Engagement Strategist
debra@communityorganizer20.com
2
2

3. Today’s conversation
I: Making Sense of PLNs
– Definition
– Stages of growth
(Thought pause: Creating PLN learning objectives)
– Role of network weavers
– Integrating small world network theory
(Thought pause: role of weavers in Learning Networks)
II: Creating Your PLN
– Developing your own PLN: An action plan
– Practical tips

4. Part One:
Making Sense of PLNs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42202689@N00/3104678445/

5. A Personal Professional
Learning Network is..?
“ a network set up by an individual specifically in
the context of her professional activities through
online platforms to support her professional nonformal learning needs.”
It is YOU, using social media,
to connect and learn

6. PLNs and
Leaders
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13522901@N00/382265924/

7. Your footer here
7

8. Your footer here
8

9. Leaders and PLNs
Leaders
Lifetime learners
Bridgers
Creative problem-solvers
Understands people
Leverages others’
knowledge and skills
Personal/Professional
Learning Networks
Supports individual learning
needs
Connects people and
networks
Facilitate problem-solving
Enable collaboration
Expands resources

10. Stages of PLN growth
Maintaining
Building
Activating
connections
for purpose
of learning

11. Factors influencing choice in
building a PLN
Communality
Organization of the contact
Network of a contact
Reputation
*Benevolence
*Like-mindedness
*Real potential for collaboration
*Real potential for learning
*play important roles in the building phase
http://journals.uic.edu/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3559/3131#p4

12. What are your PLN
objectives?
Consider:
– What do you want to learn?
– What is the value to you of learning this?
Take a moment and submit your PLN objectives in
the chat box.

13. “A Network Weaver is aware of
the networks around them and
explicitly works to make them
healthier, more inclusive,
bridging divides.” – June Holley
The Network Weaver
http://www.networkweaver.com/?page_id=18
13

14. Major components of network
weaving
Builds
relationships
Learns to
facilitate
collaborations for
mutual benefit

15. *
A
NETWORK WEAVER…
*
• Reaches out to any and all who are interested, primarily
online
• Considers themselves part of a larger network of
individuals, organizations, and communities
• Is a collaborator at heart
• Has fluency with social media tools and culture
• Embraces transparency (even when failing)
• Gives control over to the group easily
• Gives more credit than they take
• Is more interested in others’ ideas than their own

16. Weaving people and networks

17. 17

18. Organizational network
weavers

19. Is generous

20. Interested in others’ ideas

21. Is a collaborator at heart

22. Considers him/herself part of a
network

23. How important is a network
weaver to your PLN?
Considerations when assessing network weavers:
•
•
•
•
Who does this person speak with regularly?
Which networks does this weaver bridge?
What is the intention of this network weaver?
Is this person really generous?

24. Online influence and PLNs
http://www.altimetergroup.com/research/reports/the-rise-of-digital-influence
24

25. One more note:
The Small World Network
“A small world network cheats by providing a
better-than-random trade-off between the number
of links required to connect a network, and that
network’s effectiveness in relaying messages.”
- Clay Shirky, Here Comes Everybody, p. 216

26. Network Weavers and Small
Worlds
“In a healthy community, the network weaver forms
relationships with many small clusters, and
eventually connects individuals and clusters who
may help each other.”
- Holly and Krebs, Understanding Personal Learning Networks

27. Be aware! Homophily
When left unmanaged, birds of a feather flock
together and those close by, form a tie.
- Network Theory
[Many small and dense nodes with little to no
diversity]

28. What is the role of weavers in
any Learning Network?

29. Making Sense of PLNs:
How networks are built
Role of network weavers
Role of influence
Small World Networks
Homiphily
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35549575@N03/5614594295/

30. Part Two:
Creating Your PLN
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49462908@N00/8603050786/

31. Develop a plan
Your PLN objective(s)
What types of networks and people do you need to
meet your objectives?
Where will you find them?
How should you connect?

32. Redux: What are your PLN
objectives?
Consider:
– What do you want to learn?
– What is the value to you of learning this?
Take a moment and submit your PLN objectives in
the chat box.

33. My PLN Objectives
1. To learn as much as I can about community
management, social media tech, and social
media marketing.
1. To become part of an active learning network of
trusted nonprofit technology social media
colleagues.

34. Objective 2: Finding my
learning network
Who is
publishing on
this that I value?
Who is speaking
about this at
conferences?
Where are they
online?
Who is teaching
this online?
What
conferences do
they attend?

35. Searching for your PLN online
(1/2)
General:
– Search for keywords & keyword phrases:
– Google Alerts, socialmention.com
Twitter:
– Search bios: followerwonk.com
– Twitter search by keyword, # or name:
search.twitter.com
– Hashtags: Find people and look at the hashtags they
are using
– Twitter directories (Twellow, among others)

36. Searching for your PLN online
(2/2)
Facebook:
– Search for groups online by keyword, phrase
LinkedIn:
– Search for groups by keyword, phrase
– Use “Advanced Search” within LinkedIn
– Follow Interests on LinkedIn
Instagram:
– Use webstagram.com to search
By topic: Scoop.it
– Search by keyword, topic, follow scoops

37. Exercise: Finding your PLN
online
Who do you want to find?
How will you find them?
How do you know if they are ideal PLN members
for you?

38. Using tech to learn
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Scoop.it
Groups
Find twitter
lists
Search
connections
Find topics
People to
friend
Create my
own lists
Find groups
Find hashtags
People to
follow
Manage with
TweetDeck
Follow
interest
Find
contributors

39. How should you connect
Transparent
Trustworthy
Value-added
Conversational
Willingness to be YOU

40. Exactly how personal??
You entirely
Your
interests +
your
professional
voice
Your
professional
voice + your
interests
The
distanced
professional
Would your mom read it and cringe?
Are you able to truly converse?
© 2013 Community Organizer 2.0
40

41. 10 practical tips for
developing a PLN
1.
2.
Clearly defined objectives
Start with one to three social media channels, not more (e.g.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
3. Use the social media channels you enjoy the most
4. Post content you think your network will value
5. Share from others more than you post
6. Give a lot of credit to others
7. Comment on blogs generously
8. Don’t be afraid to jump into a conversation if it is public
9. Don’t be afraid to take conversations “offline” or into a private
realm
10. Practice, practice, practice!

42. Don’t forget to have fun!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/83346641@N00/3578775702/

43. I’m always available to answer
Don’t forget to have fun!
follow-up questions!
Email: debra@communityorganizer20.com
Website: communityorganizer20.com
Blog: http://communityorganizer20.com
Linkedin: linked.com/in/debraaskanase
Twitter: @askdebra
Other slides: slideshare.net/debask
Telephone: (617) 682-2977