Your+Personal+Learning++Network



Read Tanya Rosscorla's article [|5 Reasons Why Educators Should Network]

= **Developing Your Own Personal Learning Network** =

=** Below are some tips, links and resources to help you create a PLN that meets your teaching and learning needs: **=

1. Join a professional social network.

 * They consist of communities of educators interested in similiar topics.They offer a range of learning options.One of the most popular sites are called Nings.. Ning sites offer a range of features such as discussion boards, news, chats and videos. **
 * Below are some examples: **

[|Classroom 2.0]A social network for those interested in Web2.0 and Social Media in education. [|Edutopia's Community] Connect, collaborate, and share resources with people who are passionate about improving education [|Scootle's Community] //Scootle Community// is a national professional learning network for all Australian educators. A place to belong, connect and reflect [|Educators' Guide to Innovation] An Australian professional network for those interested in innovative practives happening in education. [|The Educators' PLN] Dedicated to the support of a personal learning network for educators. [|English Companion Ning] A place where English teachers go to help each other. [|elearnAustralia] [|Global Education Collective] [|Goodreads] - The largest online reader community in the world. Readers manage libraries, bookshelves and review books. It offers recommendations based on your eading.
 * LinkedIn**: [|Professional networking site] that allows educators to connect, exchange ideas, and find opportunities. Educators can join a variety of groups that cater to their individual learning interests and engage in discussions as well as submit, read, and comment on articles. For more information on LinkedIn check out this [|video].

2.Start your own blog and pick 5 blogs that you would like to follow.
**Blogs are a great source of information that allow educators to share opinions,reflect upon their learning and discuss topics.** [|Douchy's Weblog]An excellent blog by an innovativeVictorian teacher. [|Free Technology for Teachers]Free resources and lesson plans for teaching with technology. [|Cool Cat Teacher] Created by Vicki Davis, a full time teacher who is a passionate advocate for inspiring and informing teachers about technology. [|Will Richardson: Read,Write,Connect,Learn] Educational technology guru,Will Richardson, has been blogging about schools, classrooms and learning for the last ten years. [|Langwitches] Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano's blog about globally connected learning.
 * Common blogger applications include**[| Blogger], [|Wordpress] and [|Edublogs]
 * You might like to follow some of these recommended blogs:**
 * [|In The Know] - ISC blog**
 * [|TED Talks]**
 * [|Powerful Learning Practice]**

=== 3. **Use a blog reader to collect blogs to follow. They are called RSS readers (Real Simple Syndication). A RSS reader will allow you to keep up with educational blogs, news, wikis all in one location.This saves you having to find them each time you want to read them. Limit your reader to 5 blogs to start with so that it is manageable**. ===

[[image:esupportgippslandgrammar/rss.jpg width="64" height="64"]]
===** By subscribing to RSS feeds you can access and customise the flow of information on your mobile device or internet. Popular RSS readers include [|Feedly],[| Feedreader]and the news feeder [|RSSOwl] **===

** 5. Join Twitter. **
===** It is a microblogging platform that allows educators to share resources,discuss best practices, and collaborate. All in 140 characters or less! Teachers who use Twitter are also well placed to support students. It can become a powerful collaboration tool when your network of contacts alert you to upcomoming events,projects,etc. You can even follow conferences you can't attend via hastags. **===

** Join Twitter [|here] and check out [|Twitter4 teachers]**
===** 6.Create or join a wikispace.Wikis encourage information sharing and collaborative learning. View and join some exemplary wikis at Educational wikis Become familiar with our eSupport wiki** and our **Year 9 Book Trailer Wiki**===

=== **7.Store,organise and share bookmarks online using [|Delicious] or [|Diigo.] You now here these tools being called curation tools. Newer image based platform tools are [|Scoop.it] Paper.li and Pinterest** ===

=== **8.Join Facebook to connect and engage with professionals.Think about setting up a professional profile.The Facebook in Education page provides information on how educators can best use it as a resource.Groups worth following are Edutopia and #EdChat.** ===

9. Join Google + It is the newest player in the social networking scene.It is integrated with your gmail and Google Docs as part of the Google suite of tools. You could use Google+ to:

 * **add people to "circles" and choose which posts you send to which circle**
 * **Join existing circles and connect with inspiring people.**
 * **Use as a collaboration tool to share documents ,have discussions and hold online meetings**
 * **Have video chats with up to 10 people(Hangouts) - great for collaboration**

===** 9.Join a Webinar. They are a cost effective way to engage in professional learning and help you to become a more effective teacher. Also a good way to build your professional learning hours. [|Eduwebinar] is a fantastic Australian site to join. You might also like to look at Professional Learning Practice [|webinars] **===

===** 10.Join Skype. Skype is the best known tool for VOIP phone calls and video chatting. VOIP calls are phone calls that are carries over the internet rather than down a phone line.Many of you will already be familiar with Skype, using it to talk to family and friends overseas. Skype hosts an Education page linking directly to projects around the world. Also have a look at Anne Mirtschin's blog post 10 ways to take Skype beyond meet and greet. **===

** 11. Subscribe to a self paced online course (MOOC) **
===** Another cost effective way to engage in professional learning.A MOOC is a form of distance education which can be studied at your own pace and in your own time. These courses are usually offered for free online with open access. Many offer certification of some form, and some can be used for formal institutional credits if tasks are completed and a fee is paid. Not being part of a structured course, there is often no set start or finish time, adding to the flexibility. The validity of these courses vary from provider to provider but a well chosen course can provide a useful learning experienceParticipating universiities include Harvard,Berkely,Stanford and Melbourne .**===


 * 12.Make podcasts an important part of your PLN.They are esay to access via iTunes and are 24/7. Here are some Australian education podcasts.**

[|EdPod]http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/edpod/ Presented on ABC Radio National by Antony Funnell, EdPod updates on the first Friday of each month. It is a selection of education stories from early childhood to Year 12 that have aired on Radio National in the previous month. The range of topics are broad as can be seen from this selection for June: [|Teachers Education Review]http://terpodcast.com/ Hosted by [|Cameron Malcher] and [|Corinne Campbell], this fortnightly podcast has a strong focus on educational practice. It presents teachers from primary and secondary schools who explore the implications of educational policies, teaching practices, and international events that impact on teaching and learning in Australian classrooms. Included in each fortnightly podcast are the topics:
 * [|Gonski Urges government rethink]
 * [|Girls in Maths, Science and Technology]
 * [|Great expectations, Holroyd High- Sydney]
 * Main feature – discussion and exploration of a relevant topic
 * [|AITSL’s teacher feature]
 * Education in the News and Analysis
 * [|Off Campus’ with Dan Haesler]
 * Teachers’ Brains Trust – practical ideas and strategies

===**It's easy to get carried away and spend a lot of time on your personal learning network. However, it's important to maintain a life/work balance! **=== ===**Here is an excellent [|article] that explains the stages of personal learning networks adoption and strategies to manage it successfully **===

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