Group items tagged

I chose to share this link for two reasons: 1) It describes communities of practice, ways to support CoPs through networking, social learning, and online identities. 2) It's presented via a wiki, which is a platform that embodies the spirit of SNL, CoPs and PLNs.

I found this site to be very informative in a brief way! I find sites such as this a nice way to get started on something...find out enough so you know where to go next!

I appreciate the comment in this wiki about communities of practice developing a common store of knowledge. When I first heard the term, communities of practice, a few years ago, I thought they were simply referring to a group of people with something in common, not necessarily a group with a common purpose or goal toward which they are actively working.

This is a fantastic resource to learn more about CoPs, particularly if you are considering forming one. It provides basic info and background about CoPs, but also provides a few examples, and also concludes with some links to external Websites where you can see additional examples of live CoPs.

This 2 minute video provides some motivation and encouragement for teachers to consider forming a PLN. This doesn't contain much of an academic slant, but it does incorporate the "why" behind building a PLN.

This is a great resource for PLN. Like you said, it doesn't have much of an academic slant, but it does provide information to the importance of having a PLN. The possibilities are endless in this day and age.

I love the visual that accompanies this one page text detailing the different modes of the CoP model. The definition of CoP that is found on most other resources is repeated here, but the CoP model is dissected and more is explained about the different elements.

MiddleWeb is all about the middle grades - with a sharp focus on teaching and learning in grades 4-8. It is a central location to find resources, commentary and advice from expert teachers and learning leaders, and book reviews.

Chris, Great little site for the middle school environment. The color scheme and graphics composed on the site make it really fun and the ease of the image buttons are great too. Lots of information for students at that age groups to explore.

Good resource for Educational software by subject. This is aligned with California Standards.

Students create a fake profile for Bill Gates that presents major life moments. "Friends" created by the fakebook page author can comments. Fellow students can also comments, making this a rich resource for research and academic social networking.

Multiple links to STEM activities. Great for co-teaching.

A video that defines a PLN and discusses the importance of them in an educational environment.

Cool resource! I didn't look into using videos as resources but I can see how this would have great value. This one starts out a little dramatic (especially with the music!) but is VERY informative! I also like how it uses other scholarly resources to validate the points of how using PLNs can be effective. Also, I appreciate the clear definition of PLNs

This slideshare presentation by Xiaoyu Wen outlines the main points of each chapter of the Cultivating Communities of Resources book by Wegner, McDermott, and Snyder. I think the best part is the list of linked resources on the final slide.

This article explores self-directed learning via connectivism and other learning theories.

I appreciated this article for a couple of reasons - research on self-directed learning (Yay!) and one of the conclusions that indicates that this is one of the more challenging environments for students. That means that if we ask students to be more self-directed and use the tools and resources that are "out there" and freely available, we need to provide some strategies and guidance on where to look, how to evaluate the information and how to network for learning.

I think that this is a good resource. It was really interesting to learn about connectivism and personal learning environments from a research study point of view. I believe that this source is a good way to learn about the growing needs of our students in the digital era. The source suggests that students need to be able to take control over their education in order to be truly successful.

This is one of my favorite resources for educational technology. Includes examples of videos and a matrix of key indicators of levels of technology integration in classrooms.

Thank you for this resource! When deciding to use technology, I struggle with efficiency vs effectiveness. Bu using the matrix, I can now frame my analyses in terms of "to what extent" does the tool meet student needs.

The resource linked here is a page to the first lesson of a MOOC on connectivism and connective knowledge. This page features several resources on connectivism, many f which are from Siemens and Downes themselves.

This article addresses the many challenges of setting up a Personal Learning Environment. The article also discusses the many benefits and various modes of collaboration and online discussion forums.

This article is about how learning management systems can be set up to encourage the development of Personal Learning Environments and connectivist learning. Currently many LMS are not developing students who are reaching their potential in creativity and autonomous learning. The large limiting factor in this include lack of student or even instructor knowledge of tools within an LMS. This is creating students who are dependent on the resources available within their LMS rather than capable of finding their own resources to guide their learning. When designing an online course it is crucial that students have the opportunity to discuss their learning and to share resources among each other.

There are four main aspects to a successful PLN: 1. Tools - depend on learners ability level but commonly include social media 2. Connection - groups of people with similar interests and goals. There is no boundary for location of group. 3. Delivery - can be through any method the learner prefers 4. Opportunity - with the development of technology, this can happen anywhere the learner has access.

This wiki site was one of the most simplest definitions displaying the elements of a PLN: tools, connections, delivery, and opportunity. Tools allow the learner to use what is most familiar, connections provide the ability to build relationships with others, delivery includes how information is disseminated, and opportunity is when the learner has the time to practice.

This is a great site for someone new to PLNs. It provides a description of what makes up a PLN along with visuals. I also like the "growth" section of the wiki. In the first paragraph it discusses district PLCs. Many districts like to have vertical meetings, where all of the math teachers from elementary through the high school meet to see how their coursework aligns. These meetings are inconsistent because it is difficult to get all of the teachers out of class at the same time. Digital PLCs for vertical meetings would be a great way to allow for more constant collaboration.

Defines CoP's and reinforces that CoP's focus on sharing knowledge and developing best practices. Identifies CoP's as a model for connecting people for learning, knowledge sharing, collaboration and organizational development. Provides great key questions for growth of a CoP.

This is a great guide from Educause on the "nuts and bolts" of establishing a PLN. This resource provides a step-by-step guide to establishing a CoP.

This article is really helpful since it gives practical there are some things you can do. My favorite is "Design." You can not just set up spaces and expect people to interact. You have to drive purpose and there has to be meaning there.