YouTube video: . The Networked Student concept map to help understand networked learning in the 21st century.

Connection between Personal Learning Network and the Constructivism theory. It explains how the members of the network are the ones that make the connection with another person with a specific intent that some type of learning will occur.

The author not only explains the benefits of Personal Learning Networks but also asks himself what would happen if learning communities and organizations made student personal learning networks an integral part of the learning experience. With the popularity of PLNs, the author believes that students may not only build a personal learning network, but also venture into starting their own personal teaching networks.

Connectivism is an adaptation to constructivism for the digital age that we are living and the technology that goes with it. It is a red flag that indicates that all theories have to adapt to the time. This means that it is great that we look forward and get adapted to the XXI century but there is still an important foundation in well-established learning theories like 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.

Description of what a Community of Practice (CoP) is and what they look like. The second part of the definition "and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly" helps us understand the differences between community (a neighborhood, for example) and a community of practice. Based on this article, three characteristics are crucial to have a CoP: the domain, (there is a shared domain of interest), the community (members build relationships to learn from each other) and the practice (members of the PoC share resources, experiences, stories…)

The author lists the needs of sharing experience over time and the commitment to share understanding to make the community of practice work. Collaboration between all parts of the CoP. The article describes how a Community of Practice does not only have to be educational. Examples like book clubs, bowling teams or a church congregation are used by the author in the article.

This article, written by George Siemens explains how connectivism is the theory behind the PLNs. The author describes how connectivism fills the limitations of behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism, the learning theories developed when learning was not impacted by technology. It is the complement. The author compares the connections in a PLN with pipes and says "The pipe is more important than the content within the pipe. Our ability to learn what we need for tomorrow is more important than what we know today." (Siemens, 2014)

In this issue of CUE (Computer-Using Educators), the main theme is Personal Learning Networks. "PLN: Face-to-Face to The Net", "PLN: New Ways to Interact and Broaden Our Horizons" or "Overcoming the Barriers to Effective Ongoing Staff Development Through Online Communities of Practice" are some of the articles compiled in this CUE issue. Authors explain that other members of the PLN are the most important aspect, how empowering it is to share ideas and resources with a worldwide network or the way experienced/tenure teachers are been helped by younger teachers to develop computer-based competences.

This is a very visual comparison between a PLN of a Traditional Networked Teacher and a PLN of Web 2.0 Connected Teacher. It is very dynamic. The author also provides links to website that will help you starting and maintaining a PLN.

Online Communities of Practices are not just a technology project but to make it work careful planning is needed. Starting small is also the key. Countless collaboration initiatives have failed due to an expensive requirement that focused on technology.

I blog that I visit everyday is Free Technology for Teachers written by Richard Byrne. It is a great source of free resources for educators!
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/