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This article is beneficial for understanding the background of CoP's; in fact, the reader is educated about much of the terminology associated with it. Overall, the research in this study focuses on using Twitter as a personal network, but I think the value I pulled from it was that it expanded my knowledge base of researchers spanning from 1991-2010 who have defined and analyzed data associated with this subject.

In this article that focuses on social networking and learning, Ruth Reynard explores research conducted by The National School Boards Association (USA), in partnership with research firm Grunwald Associates and with the support of Microsoft, Newscorp, and Verizon, published a 2007. The research cited indicates that learning through social networks is mostly "unidirectional (posting messages, downloading media files, updating personal information) and students utilize it as "a self-reflective learning environment." However, the author points out that the researchers also found if instructional design is geared toward "the user controlling the tool rather than the tool dictating the user's activity," learning collaboratively can increase knowledge because the learner becomes actively engaged in the task, rather than passively approaching it.

I really like the message where it says that students become more actively engaged when they control the tool rather than the tool dictating the user's activity. The students then take control of their learning. They map the course they want to take.

this was very interesting - I found myself wondering how much of it was still relevant given its "age." Crazy that 2008 is "old" but social media has changed so much since then!

This is a longer slide share detailing the theory of connectivism and its role in the PLE. It also provides very straightforward definitions of the PLE and offers some really nice examples and visuals of learner artifacts in the connectivist PLE.

Here is a great tool for quick messaging your parents and students classroom reminders or information. The great thing is the communication is one way and does not disclose your personal cell phone number.

This pages provides ten links that are basically guides for creating effective PLNs. I was going to post them individually, but thought it was more effective to post them here together. As I browsed them - I saw some pretty cool ideas.

I truly enjoyed reading this page. The guides were short but very helpful. The comment about being a beacon of light was spot on. How often do people take, giving nothing back in return. The whole foundation of a personal learning network is to give and receive. Being an active member also means to help out those who are new to the community. There have been many times when I have struggled with a new concept or application and I know someone in one of my classes knew how to help but chose not to. This is a huge strength of a PLN, helping one another and sharing information. I think introducing elementary students to the concept of a PLN would be useful not only now but in their futures. Learning how to network is a 21st century skill that everyone must know how to engage in.

The line between those creating the educational content and those consuming the content has been blurred through the development of technology and various networks. Students are creating content for each other to learn from, working with teachers, etc. (Think all of the EdTech classes here at Boise). Personalization, Participation, and Productivity are the measures by which we can judge network learning now and in the future. Learning improves as the learner can become active, put their unique spin on learning and ultimately create someth.ig meaningul

As PLEs are often positioned as the antithesis (or antidote) to closed institutional based learning management systems, this article title struck me as an oxymoron. The article sets forth several plans for making the existing VLEs (think LMS) systems more like a PLE. This includes a widget store, significant options for customizing appearance and perhaps most interesting, a mechanism for making system data available back to users (where confidentiality is not an issue). Did not see whether or not, post-graduation access to institutional PLE resources will be provided or not, as this is a key issue in my mind.

This article explores personal learning environments in detail. It first explains the theory of cognitivism and its limitations and then goes into learning networks as an alternative to this theory. When describing learning networks it first details what a network is and then tells of some of the characteristics which are good for learning and limitations of learning networks. Characteristics included learning resting in a diversity of opinions, learning as a collection of specialized nodes, and decision-making in itself being a learning process.

This research paper looks into success factors for communities of practice. Although the "success factors" portion of the article may fit better with future "how-to" assignments, I found the breakdown of CoPs helpful. Retna covers the basic idea that adults learn from day to day experiences, not just activities specifically designed for learning. Knowledge transfer is explained with emphasis on what it looks like in organizations. The paper goes on the account for CoPs in a multi-national company based out of Singapore. The findings are explained in the three components domain, community, and practice. The key success factors are identified as leadership, culture, and individual motivation to learn. 

First thing that caught my attention was, "An employee picks up the most relevant know-how in an organisation from day-to-day activities and by watching and talking with other employees." This absolutely defines what a community of practice is. Professional development is a great way to learn, but many of us learn best by seeing a theory, action, or idea in practice. Communities of practice connect people who have similar interests, providing them with a wide range of resources to draw upon. Motivation is also a major part to making a CoP a success. Once a member, one must stay active. Having a responsible leader helps to maintain motivation and organization of the community. I especially appreciated the emphasis on informal CoP. Members are there because they want to better themselves and periodically the leader may provide a reward however I believe knowledge is reward enough. Great paper!

I like how this article talks about knowledge is best understood as a "habitus". This habitus is everything that a person does that helps them acquire knowledge. This includes their activities and life experiences.

This video funded by the EU explains why it is important for educators to look outside of their local community for their PLN. The video highlights three main reasons that a vast and diverse PLN is important: Availability, knowledge, willingness to share. The video focuses on the PLM for foreign language. The ability to connect with speakers globally has revolutionized how, when, and where we can learn from.

This article states the importance of connectivism in the facilitation of self-directed and self-regulated components of education. Details of a study on introducing learners to this type of learning report the necessity of student support and scaffolding when planning to implement self-directed learning into a course.

Due to mobile world there are new types of learners. They might already know social networking but do they really know how to manage and use this correctly? They need to be taught to deal with information overload, provide information back into a network, and learn how to stay current.

This article contains a you tube video by Wendy Drexler discussing the connected student and the usage of Web 2.0 tools to create student PLN's

Connectivism is a pedagogical approach where the person has control over when, where, and how they learn.

a. For the visual learners, this slide share gives a brief account of how we have gained information in the past and how connecting with others can build our knowledge bank. The second part provides ideas for building PLNs, specifically focusing on twitter and social bookmarking services.

This is a great visual representation of PLNs! After all of my article reading, and beginning to read a few other people's articles, it was great to see this and reaffirm my understanding! It also seems like it does a nice job explaining how to use Twitter and social bookmarking tools to get started. Thanks for sharing!

This short article is written for school administrators to convince the audience of the power the PLN can bring to their work. The article recognizes apprehensions to use twitter, defines a PLN, and finally explains how it can connect the reader to a valuable group of fellow professionals. If ebscohost doesn't work, this is the link through BSU's Library search results: b. http://boisestate.worldcat.org/oclc/4595249723&referer=brief_results

This study delves into the formal and informal aspects of networks. It highlights the need for informal in a teachers' complex job, but the struggles with qualifying/managing the occurrence. It also speaks to administrations delicate roll as a "gate-keeper" or "barrier". Interesting read. 

Nice find Cassie. While the study is lengthy to read it is full of excellent information. I believe the ladder half of the text (discussion and key points sections) is where the most valuable information lies. I always appreciative objectivity and honesty, and the authors of this study were clear that networks aren't for everyone. Everyone is a unique and distinct learner so to blanket the idea of a network as something that is a "must" for effective professional development wouldn't be fair. Yet, it does acknowledge that from a team initiative perspective, networks are a blank canvas and platform for maintaining open communication so all parties involved grow.

This site outlines the three-pronged approach of the connected learning communities model, which includes professional learning communities, personal learning networks, and communities of practice.

Another Blog I follow, Alice has tons of resources. Her specialty is spreadsheets and she dabbles with badges and gamified learning.

This is my personal website. I post a lot on using Google products, but also on educational pedagogy. I am currently getting around 11,000 to 16,000 hits a day on my blog. I think this will be a good resource for many of you who are using technology in the classroom.

This site contains a paper that explains the characteristics and distinguishing features of personal learning environments. It includes a table that outlines ownership, control, and literacy components.

This site is a peer-reviewed journal on the Internet outlining the structure, content, and networking skills to use a personal learning network.

This site is complete with Siemen's Principles of Connectivism and offers several videos and Power Points by Stephen Downes explaining various elements of personal learning environment.