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This resource discuss what is means to be a connected teacher. It describes a cycle built around Twitters, blogs, webinars and other online resources. It encourages students to build their own PLN and become involved in the process.

Truly, a great video on connected teachers. It really is time to say goodbye to traditional education. Being connected is the key to 21st Century Learning, Social Media is the way for teachers and students to learn and be connected with the knowledge we need to move ahead in today's education.

This article describes what a PLN is and breaks down personal, learning, and network. There is a short video that uses graphics to describe a PLN and another video that explains the importance of being a connected educator.

This article really helped me understand what a PLN is because it first provides a basic definition of PLN. It also links to an article on 'connectivism' which, as I learned in Module 2, is the learning theory at the root of PLN's. The other part of this article that I appreciated, is how the author breaks down the P, L, and N and describes how each aspect contributes to learning and professional growth.

This blog begins with a word cloud comprised of reasons to begin a PLN. While the writer mentions its roots in connectivism theory, he does not explain further. The "personal," "learning," and "network" aspects of the term are explained, and a video with an explanation is embedded. The author then goes into reasons we need PLNs and how to create one, which is outside of what we are looking for with this assignment.

Introductory explanation of PLNs & reasons why it would benefit educators

This website has many articles on how to set up your own PLN and be a good member of one (or fifty). A lot of multimedia resources available to here to help educators get started with this.

In this article, the author explains in simple, easy to follow steps what a PLN is and how to effectively set one up. The first explain that PLNs "has its origins in connectivism theory (Siemens, G. & Downes, S., 2005)". The P is about make personal connections and relationships. The L (learning) is about sharing ideas and resources. The N (network), perhaps the most significant part, allows learners and educators to "tap into and share diverse, global perspectives". Included in the article is a short video about PLNs. There is also an excellent argument for why it is so important to be a connected educator in today's 21st century learning environment.

Australian teacher and blogger Michael Graffin does a nice job explaining simply what PLNs are. He write to break down individually the personal, learning and network piece. Michael also express how the network you create is all about the tools you choose and the people and communities you choose to be involved in. This is a nice starters guide for teachers and learners of PLN's.

This article written by Michael Graffin was a great resource for explaining what a PLN is and connecting it to the connectivism theory. At first glance, it seems to lean towards the "how to" of creating a PLN but he also opens the doors of theory and a few things to think about when creating one for yourself. This includes reflecting on the idea of the tools you will use, who you would possibly connect with, how you will want to learn and when you want to learn it.

In reading this article, I really connected with the part relating the author's experience after playing an active role in his PLN for six months as he "realized that developing a PLN is an empowering, transformational process that fundamentally transforms your professional learning and teaching approach. As I have participated in the English department PLN with English 101 and 301 faculties, I can testify how true this realization is. This article is a good basic approach to PLN's.

This blog draws the relationship between personal learning networks and connectivism.

I like that this website gives different reasons for having a PLN and follows those up with a link to an additional resource for each reason. It gives a good overview of different ideas and provides options to go deeper into the areas you want to explore further. The infographic is nice too. It is something you could save and print to motivate yourself to keep up with your PLNs.

Great graphic organizer in this article. My school has a monthly mandated "PLC" meeting that we all have to go to, that accomplishes few of these goals. I think these communities are more effective if they are organic and not top-down.

I was just looking at this article before I noticed you had already posted! I was really drawn to the graphic provided when you first open the page. It's a good reminder of why PLN's can be such a benefit for educators. I was drawn to the global resources an educator could gain. I often get wrapped up in my immediate circle of "supporters" that I forget there are other educators all over the world that could be a resource.

I love this graphic!! This would be an excellent thing to bring to administration to help allow space and encouragement for teachers to develop PLNs!

I enjoyed reviewing this blog post. I agree that we need to think about learning differently and be sure to embrace the potential of connect learning through professional and personal learning networks. I had a hard time with the author's claim of the shift away from internalized learning. From my take on the blog post, the view was internal learning is no longer as valid as learning distributed outside the learner. I find this a bit excessive. If we don't internalize information and make it meaningful to ourselves, how can we share anything of importance?

I think that this is a great discussion point of the ability to find the material is supplanting the actual knowledge. I feel that this important because with web tools and having all the information available at the click or push of a button it is important to focus learning in a manner that will show that having knowledge is still important.

I have taught high school for 15 years, and my role as a teacher has certainly evolved from expert to facilitator when it comes to a majority of my lesson plans. This is a good resource that demonstrates this concept. The administrators at my high school are asking all teachers to adopt the workshop model (which is the way I teach anyway), and I think this resource supports that philosophy because it is based in connectivism.

I like that this link shares the "nuts and bolts" of PLNs. Seeing the basics laid out clearly is a great way to begin building a framework for understanding! I keep seeing NING mentioned in a number of articles, but I am unfamiliar with it. I might have to check it out just to stifle my curiosity!

This article was a great introduction to PLNs. I valued the intention it took from the beginning with the recognition that educators are life long learners, usually by choice, but also by state requirements. Making that connection between the inherent need for educators to learn and gain knowledge and the power of a PLN seems simple, but there are so many educators/districts not taking advantage of this resource.

This article makes a great point, that a personal learning network is designed by the learner where they are learning in their own comfort zone. The learner is attracted to certain things because of their abilities and own comfort level. The learner is in control of what they wish to accomplish, how much they want to learn and how they want to do it.

Great introduction to PLN's. I am sooo glad I am learning more about these. I have a new job teaching tech integration at the elementary level with zero curriculum, etc. I will be using PLN's to get research and other ideas. The great thing about this article is that it recognizes the importance of PLN's for educators continued PD. Great article!

This is a very simplified version which I like. I agree with Matt, the mention of PD in a brief article is good. A clear text which is helping me to build a better understanding. Thanks to Siss1382.

This is a good resource for someone looking for a layman's description of personal learning networks. The resource explains the elements - tools, connections, delivery, and opportunities of a PLN. It also talks about the growth of PLNs and connects it to social constructivism.

In this article from the Encyclopedia of Educational Technology, the author indicates that educators are expected to be lifelong learners and how Personal Learning Networks, that were originated in the business community, are a great tool to offer professional development. Four elements are cited as being the center to a successful PLN. These are the tools to build the PLN, the connections between the members, the way of delivering the information and the opportunity to participate in the PLN.

I appreciate that when we are a part of a PLN, we are part of a team, not a leader and followers. We are continuously learning for ourselves and sharing that knowledge with others. I also thing it's important that when we bring a new idea to our team, we bring supporting evidence for our new ideas so we can share that knowledge and information with our team members.

Hi Molly, This article gave a helpful overview of learning communities. I specifically found value in the section focusing on collective responsibility. Participation is key in learning communities and includes feedback, clear communication, collaboration, trust, shared focus, and accountability. Educators need to invest in their learning community and teach students how to utilize technologies in order to do so. Thanks for sharing, Hanna

Hi Molly - Another part that plays into the development of learning communities is the creation of policies to set formal accountability for student learning. This was the first resource that I have come across that mentions about policies, visions, and goals - you almost forget that still needs to be in place!