This document discusses the value of developing a personal learning network (PLN) using various online tools and platforms. It defines a PLN as a network of people connected for the purpose of sharing knowledge, advice, resources, and inspiration to support continuous learning. The key benefits outlined are staying up-to-date in your field, accessing timely information and expertise from your global network, and engaging in collaborative learning. Popular tools recommended for developing a PLN include Twitter, blogs, LinkedIn, and content aggregation platforms like Diigo, Pinterest and Scoop-it. The document provides tips on how to get started and effectively manage your PLN, such as following peers and experts, participating in discussions, and sharing resources while
1. The Value of a Professional
Learning Network (PLN)
Carol Skyring
21st Century Navigator
@carolskyring
2. 2 points if you’ve used
1 point if you’ve heard of
• Twitter
• Blogs
• Wikis
• Facebook
• Google+
• Slideshare
• Delicious
• Netvibes
• Flickr
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Diigo
• Hootsuite
• Pinterest
• Podcasts
• Scoop-it
3. • What’s a PLN?
• Value of a PLN
• PLN for on-going professional learning
• Tools you can use to create a PLN
• Connect with others through your PLN
7. Value of a PLN
• Stay current
• Continuous learning
• Answers/help/resource
s/advice when you need
it
8. Top 10 reasons*
1. Access timely information
2. Make diverse and global connections
3. Access valuable resources, advice and support
4. Access key learnings from conferences, workshops or
seminars without having to attend
5. Engage in conversations and discussions
6. Access experts
7. Keep up with current trends
8. Extend professional networks beyond their local area
9. Reciprocity
10. Learning
*From my doctoral research
9. Top 10 Professional Learning Activities on Twitter*
1. Sharing or on-sharing a resource eg website, book, video
2. Following a link tweeted by someone in their network
3. Reading activity updates of others in their network
4. Saving a resource tweeted by someone in their network
5. Acting on something they have read in a tweet
6. Engaging in a conversation with someone in their network
7. Going back to a saved resource tweeted by someone
8. Using hashtags (#) to share information on a specific topic or
from a conference, workshop or seminar
9. Searching for content
10. Asking for a resource on a specific topic
*From my doctoral research
10. Golden Rule
You not only seek to learn from others, but
you help others in the network to learn.
20. Why blogs?
• Up to date information
• Latest from experts and practitioners
• Use Google blog search (http://www.google.com.au/blogsearch)
21. Getting started:
the process is basically the same
• Join & fill out your profile (nobody will connect with
a nobody!)
• Lurk for a while
• Follow a few educators & see who they follow
• Share, comment, ask questions
• On-share resources & ideas from others
22. What does it look like?
• Monitoring blogs – *Carol’s Netvibes (set
up your own at www.netvibes.com)
• Monitoring social sites – *Carol’s Hootsuite
(set up your own at www.hootsuite.com)
*You won’t be able to access my sites
23. Managing all that information
• Diigo and/or Delicious
• Pinterest and/or Scoop-it
26. Its not what you use – it’s how you use it!
• Don’t just ‘consume’ – contribute
• Do acknowledge others
• Do share freely
• Don’t share links you haven’t checked yourself
• Don’t spam people
• Do learn the language
27. Which is right for you? Take the leap
• @carolskyring
• www.slideshare.net/learntel
www.flickr.com/photos/supaztyler/2215267163/