Building a PLN

Screen Shot 2013-12-19 at 4.36.22 AMFor the past 4 years, I have researched the what, who, how, and why of Personal/Professional/ Passionate Learning Networks (PLNs). We have seen the benefits of the people we choose to connect, collaborate, and problem solve with through social media. The educators, subject matter experts (SMEs), authors, and mentors we choose to derive knowledge from help us self-reflect on our methodologies and beliefs. They support us, remember our birthdays, celebrate our accomplishments, and stir within us a passion to improve the status quo.

Within one year of connecting with a PLN, I jump started many projects at my school and in the past 5 years I’ve organized many free incredible professional development events with the help of my PLN. A few examples include #Edchat, the Reform Symposium Global E-Conference, The 30 Goals Challenge, and the eTextbook Teachers open online course.

My PLN helps me be a better educator and prepare my students and trainees. They feed me experience, knowledge, and support 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. So where do you begin? Start by finding your hashtags and hashtag chats. Cybraryman keeps an updated list here. Connect by engaging and thanking those teachers. Below, find more ideas and resources.

Research about PLNs

Below are several resources I have collected about the history of PLNs, how to build a PLN, and the tools needed to build a PLN. Click on the boxes to blow the resource up.

If you enjoyed these ideas, you may want to get your copy of The 30 Goals for Teachers or my $5.99 ebook, Learning to Go, which has digital/mobile activities for any device and editable/printable handouts and rubrics. Subscribe for FREE to receive regular updates!

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