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This website gives 4 free Learning Networks that teachers can use on a personal level to grow professionally. It gives a summary for each of the networking websites and how that site can be used to network with other educators.

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.

This article goes over the basic understanding of what a PLN is, and how to get one. Basically, it explains that a PLN is not something that one can acquire, but rather a person has to build that PLN based around the needs. It gives some steps for an educator, or anyone looking to network, to follow in order to begin setting up the accounts needed to create their PLN.

This seems like a really helpful resource for getting started with a PLN. Though it does make it clear that there is effort required.

Before you can research PLNs, you need to know what a Personal Learning Network is. This article explains PLNs in an easy to understand format, while also giving rationale for why PLNs are needed to develop well-rounded, 21st century educators. Personal Learning Networks go beyond traditional Professional Development offered by schools and school districts. Instead, they are a way to change educators' mindsets on collaboration and digital literacy.

This article on the Edutopia website describes what a PLN is and how to go about getting one. The author explains that a PLN will use social media to "collect, communicate, collaborate and create with connected colleagues anywhere at any time." Some barriers to gaining a PLN are also discussed but for the most part you will gain insight on what a PLN can do for your professional growth.

Thanks for this resource Patricia! I will definitely keep some of these tips in mind when I gather people for my PLN for our assignment in this module!