Well, I have to say that this is one of the terms that has really, really been brought to the forefront as of late. My first question would be "haven't we always had some sort of PLN?" I would think we have, but with the increase in technology, PLN's that were once limited to your school or district now, your network can stretch all over the world!
I came across a good article about PLN's when doing research for this essential. Its entitled "PLN Blueprint in Five Parts. It gives a good description of what I learned PLN's are.
My PLN has exploded over the past year, mainly with the use of one tool. That would be Twitter. Twitter has allowed me to receive information, resources, tip, tricks and tools from a variety of professionals from around the country. As I have mentioned previously, I follow some educational professionals that offer a wealth of new resources and information.
In my opinion, PLN's are going to take on even more importance in the future as resources are cut or limited. We are going to be more on our own with regards to our Professional Development. PLN's can assist with this and allow us to have access to information that once was not possible. I am a true believer in Personal Learning Networks.
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I think that educators developing PLNs is a great move forward. Teachers are seeking out other professionals in their content areas or areas of interest. This is providing much more relevant information sharing. With Web 2.0 tools, teachers in PLNs also collaborate and connect with others from their own districts, states, countries and across the world. Education is truly becoming global!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how long it will take for a professional's PLN to be expected for professional development instead of the icing on the cake. I think I might have to go back and expand my Twitter list to start my own PLN explosion.
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