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I love the video! This is the first video I've come across that gives a short, sweet introduction to exactly what a PLN consists of. It mentions both the online global community and the people who you interact with. I love how it mentions that you get to choose who is in your PLN. That isn't something that has been mentioned in my research.

This discusses what a PLN is and the benefits to having one. It talks about the flexibility a PLN allows you that a more traditional setting would not. A PLN allows you to personalize things and choose your level of involvement.

This was a great article that succinctly describes what a PLN is. The page includes a brief video in which Marc-André Lalande illustrates, in a very practical manner, how educators can use PLN's to connect with other professional educators to share ideas. He also shares a few of his favorite PLN's, including Twitter.

Marc-Andre Lalande breaks down the definition and key aspects of PLNs. He first expresses the importance of choice in a personal learning network, as it is a "personal" decision who to connect with, when to connect with them, and why you connect to begin with. Next, he discusses the idea of a "network" and how the Internet provides connectivity to people of all backgrounds to engage in conversation on topics of similar interest. Finally, he explains the crucial "learning" aspect of a PLN, asserting that learning happens through observing (or "lurking") as well as contributing to a discussion.

Great article Michelle! I like how it breaks down and explains "personal" and "professional" learning networks! Great insight!

Good resource. Simple, to the point. The video is a good resource to share too. If you have colleagues who don't know about PLNs, this is a good place to start.

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.

I have always been a firm believer that there is a balance in all things. Quality teaching practices remain the same today as they have always been. However, we have to adapt pedagogy to encompass all of the necessary skills to be successful in a global community. Although connectivism is built on a foundation of multiple epistemological philosophies, it is essential that educators focus on technology and networking in their classroom.

This was a very good article. It was interesting that considering when it was written how things are very similar when it comes to "Connectivism". It states how it is the process of becoming connected. Thank you!

The article touches on the friction that is likely to result between older learners who have grown up without technology for learning (except maybe an overhead projector or TV) and the younger learners who have embraced technology. The connectivist model has not taken hold because staff and institutions are not fully aware of the possibilities.

I liked this blog post for two reasons. One, it gets you thinking about how you can use twitter in your everyday class. How will my students use this tool/app. Two, it can be used for formal assessing different concepts to see if your students are understanding. It's simple, short, and to the point in answering questions. Teachers can get a quick glance at what students know and what needs to be retaught.

It amazes me how vast the uses for Twitter are. The more I read about how it can be used for PD and broadening my own scope of learning, the more impressed I am. So many students already use it for social/personal reasons, why not tap into the source and reach the kids where they are? I noticed at Open House for my high school son last night that many teachers are using Twitter to keep the parents in the loop, but to also share resources with the students instead of maintaining formal, dated teacher websites.

Bell, F. (2010). Connectivism: Its place in theory-informed research and innovation in technology-enabled learning. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 12(3), 98-118. Unlike the other articles I've discussed regarding Connectivism Frances starts by detailing the world Internet market. Which is an interesting starting point because in order for Connectivism to be a qualifying learning theory for everyone, the actual "connection" part must be prevalent. This is the first article that draws attention to the potential digital divide that could keep some countries and regions from the potential benefits of Connectivism. From his subtle inclusion of what can be read as the digital divide, he details the history of sharing on the Internet, and the general practice of sharing the Internet in itself has created. I also like that Frances describes Connectivism as a learning theory not looking to take over past practices but collaborate with them. This was an important note compared to the other articles I read that were determined to sell Connectivism as the all or nothing approach towards the future of web 2.0 in learning either for or against. Finally Frances discusses Connectivism role in research and those looking for a more fundamental understanding of research done on Connectivism and regarding Connectivism. The author tackles both topics with great research backing up all scenarios and discussions.

Is connectivism a real learning theory? This article explores the theory through different aspects of the digital era and how other learning theories (i.e. behaviorism, constructivism) are observed through various scenarios involving technology.

This is a very interesting article. I like reading more about connectivism because for some reason I find it difficult to understand. It questions whether connectivism should be considered a learning theory.

This article provides some great background on the theory of connectivism: its beginnings, major influencers, and basic principles. The article goes on to question whether connectivism alone is enough to answer all of the questions regarding how best to reach students in the technology-abled classroom. The article provides 5 scenarios to tackle the question, and offers some thought-provoking findings.

Like many other educational articles, this writer questions whether connectivism deserves a place as a learning theory in its own right. Bell discusses the growing use of the internet as a classroom and how connectivism applies. He also discusses connectivism as a phenomenon versus a learning theory.

Connectivism: Frances Bell explores theories in technology-enabled learning. Bell states, in 5 different scenarios, that it is proven that with our global society we should keep researching how to improve connections and learn from the past. Not all countries or people are equal when it comes to technology.

This 2011 journal article discusses how researchers can bring more rigor to research into Connectivism to counter the claims of some analysts that insist the concept lacks true academic support. Their final results indicate that Connectivism alone can not be a theory for education, but instead needs to work in congruence with other theories. A wide variety of reasons from personal preference to funding will influence which theories we use. As technology expands, so does research.

This article examines connectivism and its role as a learning theory in the digital age. It explains the principles of connectivism and provides scenarios that connectivism could help in an educational setting.

There is significant debate as to whether or not connectivism is a stand alone learning theory. While the data does not fully support connectivism as separate and distinct learning theory, there is considerable support for it a a learning phenomenon. The author of the article emphasizes the connected world in which we live has evolved, and therefore, has influenced the manner in which people learn.

From the development of the internet to present day, using technology for informational purposes and learning development continues to grow and become more common. Connectivism supports the theories that learning occurs as a more intrapersonal experience and occurs while the learning creates information and deeper understandings. This resources presents the development of technology as a cause for a new view of learning and education.

I'm particularly fond of the idea that connectivism strives for currency of information, and that what is "right" today may not be "right" next week. Hence the need for access to, and participation in, a network of constantly updating information being contributed to by professionals and novices alike.

This is an analysis of connectivism that defines and outlines Siemens fundamental principles of the theory. It highlights how the amount of knowledge needed to be an expert today can't be self-contained within an individual but instead requires the use of networked technology to house it all. It also touches on newer exploration being done to further advance connectivism and the limitations or issues with the theory. The values of connectivism through practice in the classroom and knowledge management are also presented. It also points out some limitations with the theory that need to be addressed such as learner autonomy and balances of power in the network.

This blog is maintained by Kevin Stranack, a librarian and educator at Simon Fraser University working on open source software projects. In this post on connectivism, Stranack furthers his understanding of the theory, examine its limitations, and considers its relevance to both classroom teaching as well as knowledge management practices within organizations.

Interesting, I continue to go back to an idea from an additional post on connectivism that points out our brains have been "re-wired" by the onset of technology. We learn differently than we once did because of the impact technology has had. This post confirms those same ideas.

This review had a slightly different tone than others that I have seen. It helped me to see the fundamental principals of connectivism and the focus on the "one". I also like how it described the development of the network from seeking, to sense-making, to sharing.

This blog post provides a critical review of the theory of connectivism. Stranack also discusses the application of the theory both in the classroom and within knowledge networks.

This post defines and explores the details of connectivism as a theory and then breaks down the application of connectivism in the classroom as well as in society. The author breaks down what a connectivist learning environment would look like and how learning would be impacted.

This author is new to me, so thanks for the resource. Her experiences in MOOCs and how to think about using them as a PLN resource is a new twist to participating those environments. I liked her list of strategies - will probably relay some of those to my students in the coming year.

I love the specific suggestions that the author offers so as to maximize the power of a PLN. As with all of the articles I've looked at, the onus falls on that of the participants in order to make the PLN successful. The author of this article emphasizes the ways in which individuals can contribute to the overall success of a group.

I enjoyed reading this blog post. I especially liked the explanation of what a PLN was vs. a PLE. That concept is something that I struggled with during this module. I also liked the discussion of MOOCs because I have never gotten to participate in one.

Here the author argues that Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) are not an application but an approach to learning. They require a radical shift in how we use technology, but they supply a holistic environment where students learn to take responsibility for their own education.

This article presents the features and reasoning for personal learning environments in e-learning. It discusses reasons for its importance in e-learning and lifelong learning. The ways that "learning" is changing with new technologies and resources are considered. The social aspect of personal learning environments is also described, with an emphasis on the tools that are used to facilitate the connections.

The author discusses the potential of learning environments in eLearning and how these LEs can bring together more authentic contexts for learning. The paper also reviews the different purposes and uses of Personal Learning Environments. Through PLE, individuals are responsible for many aspects of their own learning within the most useful contexts. Blogging was also covered as a way to incorporate informal learning. Attwell considers the challenges associated with continued LEs after a course is over, and points out the overarching questions regarding the responsibility for institutions or teachers to continue to support this ongoing learning.

Attwell, G. (2007). Personal Learning Environments-the future of eLearning?. eLearning Papers, 2(1), 1-8. In Graham Attwell's article he offers some insight and ideas towards why personal learning Environments may be essential to learning in the future. . He details the technology behind the buzz surrounding personal learning environments and examples of how we can use them going forward. What I enjoyed about the article was the notion that everyone's learning environment, style, context, and situation are different and PLE's enable the learner to pace themselves and grow on their own terms. While detailing lifelong learning the author grabs the theory of self-driven education being helped by personal learning environments. Graham does a good job of not following into a common misconception that technology directly correlates to better learning, but rather approaches the aspect of what technology could do for learning as well as what personal learning environments could do for learning as well. From his own personal PLE list of software to explaining the next steps in adopting personal learning environments on a wider scale Graham makes sense of a complicated theory.

Learning is the process of participation and does not just have a beginning and an end. Learning is ongoing and must be collective within communities. Learning is not just a form of knowledge but is co-participation and social relationships.

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.

I think this article does a good job of showing how Professional Learning Networks can be a great tool when looking for ways to implement deeper learning. With the Common Core, it is expected that students will know how to network and how to use the networking for their benefit.

Great article to bookmark. This generation is definition heading the way of needing PLNs as a requirement because of their numerous advantages. Just from a social aspect, students can learn so much more within a PLN. http://senior.googlecode.com/files/media11561-1.pdf

I really like how it describes the cycle of knowledge development. Ideas are connected and then information is cycled back in and the cycle continues while expanding the circle with new information that adds to previous knowledge.

Debi, I find this idea of helping students to manage networks as very provocative. I see daily student misuse or illuse of networking sites. While I agree that they should be free to be social, learning how to manage these networks more efficiently to represent themselves and their interests seems a much better use of time. Thanks.

I think the explanation on how established beliefs and learning help new information to be routed through connections that have previously been made really helps to establish the point that in Connectivism in order to gain knowledge, one has to continually update existing connections and seek to make other connections outside of the realm of what is already known.

I like how this article points out that you HAVE to have the "ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill" in order for connectivism to really have a chance to work!

This is a great article. It talks about how knowledge is growing faster and what we need to do to keep up with it. It was great to read about Pros and Cons because you would think there would mostly be Pros but you have to think how this affects older generations not just younger generations and how technology is constantly changing. Thank you!

As educational technologists, connectivism almost seems like a natural next step to ensuring that are graduating students are prepared for college and the work force. This includes a working knowledge of technology and many of its applications. This seems as though it is as important as reading, writing and arithmetic. However, for many educators technology is a source of great anxiety. They feel as though teaching connectivity and networking is a waste of precious time in the classroom. This article did a great job of bringing to light the pros as well of the cons.

A very detailed definition of connectivism, including comparisons in many categories with other learning theories and descriptions of pros and cons.

The concept model of the PLE provided a good visual of what it should look like. The symmetric relationships clearly define how the user needs to actively contribute to the environment along with use or consume what it available from others. In the 21st century, PLE's can very easily be global which just brings that much more information to the users. The emphasis on tags, lists, and smart groups just reinforces the importance of making sure to remember to use them. I have not been very good in the past of using tags, but have recently realized how much of a difference is made when looking for information.

This article is about switching from a virtual learning environment (VLE), originally introduced to help facilitate technology in education, to personal learning environment (PLE) where technology and social interaction are used to enhance individuals learning experience. The advantages of a PLE include focus on coordinating connections between the user and services, symmetric relationships, individualized context, open internet standards, open content and remix culture, and personal and global scope.

I found it interesting how the traditional model of teaching could be enhanced to accommodate the lifelong learner. I liked how it gave a new approach to allow for a more symmetrical learning experience as well.

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.