Personal Learning Networks

I have been reading about the use of Twitter in the classroom and have learned about “ PLNs”. According to Kate Messner, “A PLN or Personal Learning Network, is a group of like-minded professionals with whom you can exchange ideas, advice, and resources.” (Pleased To Tweet You)  In my words, a PLN is simply a group of people sharing knowledge online. PLNs are not just for professionals to communicate, they are also for our students.  K-12 classrooms can participate in  PLNs in order to gain knowledge from professionals and their peers.

This can take place in many areas of the web such as Twitter, blogs, Wikis, Facebook, and others that I am still learning about. (Why (And How) You Should Create A Personal Learning Network) What a great way for our 21^st century learners to engage in their learning. Our middle and high school students are most likely using forms of social media and are comfortable with it. They would be excited to use it in the classroom and to connect with experts to gain knowledge for research projects.

 I imagine a group of students in a classroom utilizing a PLN to jigsaw a research project. This could take place at many grade levels and even between classrooms in different buildings, districts, and states. It would mirror an online classroom group assignment. The students would be assigned a group (within their classroom or with others via the web), the group is assigned a topic and the tasks of gathering research divided among the students. Students gather the information and report back to the PLN. From there the students can complete their individual projects or through the use of Google Docs create one report. This is just one of many ways a PLN can be used in a K-12 classroom.

Resources

Messner, Kate, Pleased To Tweet You, School Library Journal, December 2009

How to Create a Robust and Meaningful Personal Learning Network
PLN: Your Personal Learning Network Made Easy
Why And (How) You Should Create A Personal Learning Network