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This article by Stephen Downes provides a great insight into what an effective PLN looks like and how it functions. I enjoyed reading about his second stage of PLNs, which is the "personal learning environment." This idea is presented as the evolution of PLNs due to technology and connectivism in the classroom.

This article by Stephen Downes gives a definition of a community of practice and then discusses PLE's moving into networks and the characteristics of a learning network: diversity, autonomy connectedness and openness.

As I was relatively unfamiliar with learning networks before this course, I wanted to find resources that showed me what they looked like and examples of how they can be used. This article introduces the importance of using digital tools effectively and empower ourselves to gain the knowledge the web offers. The author states that "Learning therefore evolves from being a transfer of content and knowledge to the production of content and knowledge". Working in a network, PLE or communities of practice allow learners to be creative about information and knowledge, instead of just consuming information and knowledge. The article highlights the key benefits of a PLN: diversity, autonomy, connectedness, and openness.

Finally found an article that focuses specifically on middle school educators and social media. The more and more I envelop myself with the Knowledge Quest journal, the more I want a subscription. I recommend taking a look at this publication and article. This article puts an emphasis on Web 2.0 apps like Ning and Wikis, and the use of webinars to help mitigate fears surrounding the usage of social media in the middle grade levels.

Sounds like a useful article. I have never heard of Ning or Knowledge Quest. I went to check in out but the link is down.

Found in this article, author, William Bauer, shares an anecdote of a teacher that is seeing the value in becoming connected via Web 2.0 tools. In these tools, Bauer discusses their importance as they relate to developing a PLN in the teaching profession. Descriptions and focus are given to RSS, blogs, Podcast, Wikis, Twitter and News sites. Bauer suggest that educators should "get started with your technology-assisted PLN by setting up a newsreader and subscribing to resources of interest. Both you and your students will be the beneficiaries."

This article discusses the evolving use of technology in the classroom and the fact that digital inequality between educator and student is beginning to be a huge problem in today's education system. It explores issues in new literacy practices and new learning theories as they relate to Web 2.0 and the importance of changing our education systems to keep up with these continuously changing technologies.

Edutopia blogger Lisa Dabbs Educational writes about her top 5 Web.2 free tools.

Social Media news blog covering cool new websites and social networks: Facebook, Google, Twitter, MySpace and YouTube. The latest web technology news, via RSS daily.

Learning Networks in Practice paper by Stephen Downes regarding personal learning environments, learning in communities, content creation and context.

This article talks about the beginning of the PLN movement in education. It discusses how a good PLN makes use of the WEB 2.0 applications that are out in cyberspace.

web-based screen recorder

A great list of web tools to use in your classroom for drawing, mapping and charting.

This website has an enormous list of Web 2.0 tools that would work well in the classroom. All websites are divided into different lists, depending on their purpose. Then, in each list gives the tool, the website, and a description of what it does. 

Taken from a twitter chat using the hashtag #EdTechChat, this article lists the most commonly cited tech tools which teachers use. Many of them are new to me, so I am going to have to investigate further.

A collection of web 2.0 resources and tools aligned to ISTE NETS to engage and motivate student and teaching learning, specifically in the realm of literacy. Links are provided to sites such as those that promote/develop citizenship, critical thinking, creativity, communication, research fluency, etc.

This is actually a blog that shows what Kim Cofino has been able to do internationally with student collaborations and student- produced projects that involve social media or other web 2.0 tools.

This is one of my favorite websites to discover and explore new tech tools. There are a number of Web 2.0 tools, apps, game websites, etc. that are useful to teachers at any level. Many of the resources shared on the 3 Tech Ninjas site have been put into regular use in my classroom!