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I think this is an excellent resource for Personal Learning Network. I agree that we need to know exactly what we are exploring. Often times there is so much information out there, that it is hard to process it all. By knowing the definition and knowing what we are looking for it is easy to focus in and find the best information. I think this is a clear definition and I have added it to my library as a resource for future use.

Thanks for sharing...Yes, understanding the similarities of PLN's, CoP's, and Connectivism and differences are key. This article points out that PLN's tend to be more like social media sites: Linkedin, Facebook, etc to collaborate and share.

This article takes the readers through the definition of PLN and describes how social media is a major proponent of creating a PLN. The article also connects to other "how to" tools for PLNs and professional development.

A personal learning network is a way for teachers to connect with other educators through social media to exchange ideas for growth and improvement.

Describes the powerfulness of a personal learning network, its benefits, and how to get the most out of being a part of one.

Connectivism: This article talks about connectivism model shifts with the learning society and that the educational field is slow to embrace and use new tools. Connectivism is essential for learners to grow in educational technology.

This article was written by George Siemens the father of connectivism, focusing on how learning occurs through networking especially through the use of technology. The article also explains the differences between connectivism, behaviorism, constructivism, and cognitivism in a simple to read manner.

This was the first article I read during my research. It really gave me a baseline understanding of connectivism. I liked the way that it explained how connectivism is different from other learning theories. Overall great article.

In this article George Siemens relates connectivism to PLN's. He begins by explaining that knowledge is growing exponentially and now instead of being measured in decades, the life of knowledge is measured in years and even months. He goes onto explain that half of what is known today was not known a mere ten years ago and according to the American Society of Training and Documentation, knowledge in the world has doubled in the last ten years and continues to double every 18 months. He explains that networks are an integral part of growing one's knowledge base and our small world networks are made up of people who share our interests. He also lists eight principles of connectivism and connects these ideas to social networking. He concludes by stating that connectivism provides insight into learning skills and tasks needed for learners to be successful in a digital era.

I really like this article because of the role of the teacher being discussed in great detail. I think that in Connectivism I was confused about the role of the teacher especially when it came to filtering information. I feel like now I have a better understanding of how the teacher acting as a filter in the initial stages of the lesson can lead to students being autonomous and filtering sources later on.

Very detailed article! I found it it interesting how they defined "strong" and "weak" connections. Strong connections are those we actively collaborate with to produce works and increase our understanding and weak connections are sort of like billboards we pass on the way to work: they expose us to a lot of new ideas and tools that we may or may not investigate further. :)

A combination of PLN and connectivism that shows why we need this more than ever in education.

Nate, excellent find! That really was a great video, thank you for sharing that. One thing that struck me from the video was the realization that the coffee houses and salons of the past provided an opportunity for people with various "hunches" (per the video) to meet and mingle exchanging ideas. Perhaps the salon of the 21st century is the greater web communities (web forums, facebook, twitter etc).

I Loved This! No doubt it gives a terrific explanation of the importance of a connected learning environment. For me it also gives that sense of worth for the ideas that are incubating within and just waiting for the serendipitous moment when they come together with their other piece(s). Imagine how empowering that is for a student who suddenly feels such potential. Nice one.

I really liked this video. I never would have thought to search You Tube for this kind of resources. This video really does describe and make important the ideas involved in connectivism. I am interested in seeing what other great videos on this topic are on You Tube.

The way Johnson describes how ideas (or "hunches," as he calls them) often need a great deal of time to develop is definitely interesting, but I think that part of it is somewhat expected or already understood. The part I found really fascinating with the focus on the connectivism notions that the hunch one person has may very well need to collide with another person's hunch before it can truly form into something useful. The end of the video provided a very profound thought to consider: "Chance favors the connected mind."

I have seen this before and am still moved by it. I always discount the use of videos and I enjoy them so much I am not so sure why I never think to look there. I also like his idea that good ideas are born from smaller ideas.

This is a fascinating article! I was really inspired by at as I'm finding myself becoming more interested in making sure my social media connections are there to provide professional development (while mixing in some personal). As we become more tech centered, I can see there being value in collaborating online and learning through a variety of avenues, rather than sitting in a common area. I think this article can also be emphasized for student learning as we encourage them to learn and find connections to the content outside of the classroom.

This was an awesome article about professional use of social media. I think that it is really interesting to talk about how fewer teachers are attending face to face conferences and are instead replacing those with the use of the internet and social media!

Interestingly, I've found that in my field, Twitter has become a way to supplement the conference experience. Those who can't afford to attend are encouraged to follow along with what's happening (live) using session-specific hashtags. I can see librarian conferences eventually going by the wayside, and I'm not certain that I would be upset about that!

Fabio. Neat little video. Here is the part I find really interesting. In the comment area below the video, Alec Couros writes "Those that are connected...can pragmatically extend their neural networks beyond the confines of their own cognitive space." In essence they share brain-power with their network. It becomes so much more than "help me solve this" (which is how I use my small PLN). Taken in the context of this Stephen Johnson video shared here in Diigo as well ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NugRZGDbPFU ), it seems that the many pieces of a great unseen puzzle can come together through such connections. Would the PLN all be striving for the same end goal or simply working on similar goals and have the group epiphany? Funny how a short "cute" video and a comment from 4 years ago can get a guy thinking about such interesting, if not esoteric, ideas.

This is a really cool video. Fabio, you are correct, watching this video helps make this topic much more clear. The comment shared here by Jon is quite profound. It make the saying that "two heads are better than one" seem very true, except now you can have thousands of heads working together. Very neat.

Thanks! @kcastello Siemens has such a cool perspective on connectedness and such an amazing way of explaining his ideas. My favorite is his comment: "Education is not about creating better Googlers."

This quote from the article: "A Personal Learning Network can be seen as one's gateway to continuous learning" is a true statement. Continuous learning is vital in life. This article has some remarkable points that make PLNs so important and an easier way to gain knowledge.

I think this article illustrated a number of valid points. This day and age only thrives with the means of PLN's. When we look in the past back to the 80's and 90's, it is very evident how we've evolved as a society. Back then, it was almost unheard of to have practical means of communication among those across the nation and across the world. We are so fortunate for the advancements of modern technology and networking.

This article built a strong case for belonging to a Personal Learning Network. It is imperative to keep up with today's resources and knowledge base. The small amount of time I used to build my PLN has proven to be so beneficial. I appreciated the final thoughts of the article to help guide me throughout this process. I am excited to strengthen my PLN and grow professionally this semester and beyond.

This article makes a case as to why Personal Learning Networks are an important part of continuing education. She describes this age as one of constant influx and change and therefore encourages people to use their PLN's to tackle new practices with a sense of creativity and innovation.

This is a great article to pass on to educators who want to know why a PLN is necessary and how connectivist theory makes it possible. Connectivism facilitates continuous learning, exchange of thoughts, and validates insights. Establishing networks allow teachers to tailor a professional development plan, and it doesn't need to take place at the faculty meeting or on teacher work days.

This elaborates on how chaos theory relates to all this, something I didn't really understand until I read this particular article. Additionally, it gives you an idea about the skills required in order to build a proper PLN... Here's a telling quote from the article... "In short, the concept of teams working shoulder to shoulder every day, literally and metaphorically standing by each other, talking over problems and challenges at their desks, is slowly being replaced by virtual teams who interact via social tools and platforms, use Webex for meetings, and update each other via enterprise social networks and WhatsApp. This is why the skill of being able to build one's Personal Learning Network is essential. It's time for everyone to take charge of their own professional development. One of the ways to keep on top of our game, and remain on the cutting edge of relevant skills and knowledge, is to be a part of communities of practices and to focus on building and maintaining our Personal Learning Networks with a deliberate intention to learn, share, and collaborate."

I really like this article. It is always good to read about the "why" behind our practices. The article explains that "A Personal Learning Network can be seen as one's gateway to continuous learning." This reminds me of the thinking behind connectivism, that connecting to a network of resources and people will help us become lifelong learners as we continuously connect to new resources and knowledge.

This article talks shares some history on the Personal Learning Network (PLN) and how the term came to be and how technology use impacts the PLN. It also highlights some of the different definitions for it. One thing that stood out for me was the point that they are dependent on the reciprocity and trust of members, as well as the literacy level and drive of the members.

Our everyday life is revolved on some type of social networking (i.e. cellphones, email, social media, etc.). Through networking, we build a personal learning network (PLN). As we continue to use networking, as users, we need to be able to find out how we learn best and then seek out for networks that fulfill our learning needs.