2. What is my PLN?
For this course I chose to create a Professional
Learning Network, utilizing the social media tool
of Twitter.
My Twitter name is: @EduTwetion
Through this website I have slowly but surely
expanded my resources, my knowledge, and my
network of teachers, administrators, scholars, and
organizations that will assist me in my future
career.
6. Following...
Alberta Teachers Association: Following the ATA is a positive contribution to my PLN, because
they are the organization that will advocate for me as a teacher and provide me with the
necessary information to remain professional and successful in my career. Following this
organization via Twitter increases the immediacy of the information I receive and allows me to
view what they feel is important for educators to see and understand.
Edudemic: Edudemic is a community of educators dedicated to better learning, particularly
through the use of technology. As this is an American organization, begun in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, it is appealing because of this international quality. I feel that it is important
not only to understand and involve myself in the Canadian education system, but also allow
myself to view the successes, failures, and discoveries made in the American school system.
Further, I truly find Edudemic both interesting and entertaining based upon the variety of
ideas, articles, and videos they post.
Caitlyn Klinger: Caitlyn is a fellow Education student, also in her third year at the
University of Alberta. However, different from myself, Caitlyn is an Elementary degree
student. I use Caitlyn as an example merely to emphasize the importance of following fellow
educators. In my opinion, it are these educators who I will be growing and developing as a
teacher with, and those who I will be able to use as both a resource and a sounding board when
need be. Twitter is a useful tool as a PLN to further develop my network of fellow Educators,
whether that be new teachers, like myself, or more experienced teachers who can offer different
insight into conversations.
7. My Contribution As
@EduTwetion
Throughout my time using Twitter, I have attempted to experiment with the
usage of it and involve myself where I felt it was relevant or I was passionate
about a topic. I have spent the majority of time on Twitter enjoying and
engaging in the posts that organizations and individuals have made
regarding education and specifically, technology within education. I have
done a large amount of retweeting of the articles which I felt that other
individuals who follow me may find relevant to their own teaching. Further, I
have also taken the time to post links to those items which I have discovered on
my own throughout my Education degree thus far. Finally, I have interacted
with a variety of my classmates discussing the role of technology in the
classroom, both for educational purposes and leisure purposes (utilizing
SmartBoards vs. texting in class), and how we, as future educators, are
going to have to differentiate our lessons to incorporate or exclude such
technology, something that past generations have not had to deal with to this
great of an extent.
