Digital PLNs: Personal Learning Networks

    According to Tom Whitby, digital PLNs are a way to communicate, collaborate, and experience new technologies with other educators locally or globally. I will be exploring social media groups on Facebook that meet these expectations, as well as why I use it and how it works. 

PLN is an acronym for Personalized Learning Network. As educators, we must constantly evolve. As more technology becomes available to students the traditional way of teaching becomes more obsolete and interesting. ISTE standard 2.1 describes professional goals on how to stay on top of current research and technological tools that can be incorporated into our classrooms. In my experience as a student, I have found myself to be more engaged and interested in course content if presented in a digital format. I believe this is due to the fact that I have grown up with technology playing a role in every part of my life. In contrast, reading from a textbook,  or writing a paper by hand seems tedious and boring. However, simply using Google Docs or PowerPoint presentations can also be dull. This is another example of why it is important teachers stay on top of the latest digital tools. According to writer Tom Whitby “... it requires, at least at first, digital literacy beyond a Google search” (Whitby, 2013). In order for these tools to benefit our students learning, we need to first test the tools to ensure they fit our needs. For this reason, FaceBook community groups are a great way to communicate with other educators on tools they have enjoyed using, and some they have not. This forum is also a great resource for asking questions about troubleshooting or just modeling examples of how to use the tool. I have joined the group NSW Technology Teachers, where I have been able to see what educators have been using along with current research studies on why the tool may be helpful. As I explored the page I also enjoyed reading the dialogs between different teachers. Many pose important questions such as “why should I put in extra effort to learn how to use this?”. These questions open up beneficial conversations that gave me a more realistic picture of how the tool can be used. 

Overall, I like the idea of using Facebook as a digital PLN for communicating and learning from other educators. I can see myself implementing tools discussed in this forum into my classroom based on their reviews. Another added benefit is notifications. I can be notified when a new post has been submitted allowing me to stay on top of the current trends and research. Digital PLNs will allow me to communicate and grow with other experienced educators on a massive scale, and I am eager to see the benefits of our communication in my future classroom.

References 

Diaz, P., Hutchison, H., Breedwell, D., Lopez, D., Miller, P., Robinson, S., Hartley, C., Better, K., & LaPrad, V. (2012, January 31). Personal Learning Networks for educators: 10 tips. Personal Learning Networks for Educators: 10 Tips. https://www.gettingsmart.com/2012/01/31/personal-learning-networks-for-educators-10-tips/

Ray, B. (2012, December 7). How to use Twitter to grow your PLN. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/twitter-expanding-pln

Whitby, T. (2013, November 18). How do I get a PLN? Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/how-do-i-get-a-pln-tom-whitby