Collaboration, dialogue,sharing are just a few words that can be used to apply to the benefits of developing one's PLN--Personal Learning Network or Professional Learning Network.
In today's fast paced world taking the time to join or even start a PLN can be a great way to extend one's social network as well as to develop one's passion for lifelong learning. There are many online communities that one can become a part of to share similar interests and to explore and implement new ideas.
The only downside is the time-consuming nature of keeping up-to-date on what is going on within these online learning communities as you can spend hours reading and following comments, posts, blogs, feeds, webinars,etc, contributed by members.
PLN's can be a great way to communicate with persons in different countries and so gain insights into new and innovative ways of doing things. They provide the kind of support and encouragement needed to motivate you to try new things. As reading specialists we need to be individuals who are open and have varied interests.
This blog is an example of a PLN especially if I GET FOLLOWERS (hint, hint). I belong to several online learning communities such as TappedIn, Classroom 2.0, Teachersfirst, Tech4learning, just to name a few. I have been able to access resources that I may never have heard of anywhere else and I have exchanged ideas with persons in far flung places.
I am also following several rss feeds related to teaching, reading, powerpoint presentations, comics, food, and all areas of interest to me not just work related but things that I LOVE so your PLN can be as diverse as you are
Check out the bottom of my blog for examples from my PLN--Start yours today!
Hi Stacey
ReplyDeleteYour blog page is very eye-catching. The idea of a PLN is relatively new to me and sounds very interesting and will provide an opportunity to interact will other professional and others with similar interests.I like the idea of getting new resources that will be beneficial to students. However, it seems very demanding to keep up with all the activities you have listed. How do you manage this?
Hi Marcia
ReplyDeleteI try to be very selective and I schedule downtime that i can use to check up on the various sites.
Many of these online communities allow you to lurk which means you don't have to actively participate and the materials are often archived so you can access them at your convenience.
Sometimes i go for days without checking in and then i skim through quickly to see if a topic jumps out at me.
However the key is joining PLN's that interest you so it's not about ugh work and more work, if you have a passion, a hobby a cause you can find a PLN to suit you--blogs are the easiest to join either by becomng a follower or via rss feeds-- hope this helps you to get started.