A PLN is a personal learning network that helps you learn, gain new insight, and collaborate with other people who share the same interests as you. My PLN is made up of educated math teachers, technology teachers, a couple of teacher organizations, and useful educational websites. My goal is to be a Geometry teacher one day and my PLN mostly consists of math teachers. These math teachers inform me on useful web links to provide math lessons and helpful math hints. The technology teachers that I follow post useful links for incorporating technology in the classroom. Lastly, the few teacher organizations that I have on my PLN infom me of important educational news from the goverment (state and federal), teacher conferences, etc. My PLN is very helpful for my future teaching career, and incorporates several different tools.
Twitter is my first tool that I used to create my PLN. Twitter allows you to post useful information to share with the network community, and fosters collaboration with people who share your interests. I chose to follow 9 educational organizations, 3 math professors, and 2 technology educators. The 9 educational organizations are dedicated to helping not only math teachers but all teachers in general. Two of those organizations are affiliated with the US Department of Education, which constantly informs me of new educational reforms, news, and goverment influence all throughout the country. The 3 math educators I chose to follow are all college professors that not only post helpful links for math educators, but other fun math concepts like mathematical jokes or innovative lesson plans. The technology educators I follow are passionate for promoting technology in the classroom and constantly feeds helpful tips and links to incorporate technology in any and all classroom subjects. The chat I chose to participate in was Edchat, on March 29th at 12pm EST. The topic was " What are the possibilities, negative or positive, if we do blended (Internet and F2F) classes on secondary level?" The benefits that most people exhibited on the chat was that students get more variety in their learning structure, students get more prepared for college, and it allows for better scheduling for students. Students are restricted and planned to be in a classroom a certain amount of time per day, but the Internet is always available to them. The Internet also provides more access to other experts besides just the teacher. Blended learning can also get more students motivated to learn, as most students nowadays are constantly online. A Face to Face environment requires deliveries of school supplies, and the Internet is free. Blended Learning can decrease school spending because of the time spent using the Internet. The main issues that can arise with Blended Learning is that teachers are not educated enough to appropriately encompass Blended Learning, and students might not have access to computers outside the classroom. Overall, Blended Learning is a great benefit for students. This PLN chat was very enriching, and I can see myself participating in more chats in the future.
Diigo is a great tool for creating a PLN. Diigo allows you to follow and collaborate with people of interest just like Twitter, however it is also a social bookmarking site that allows you to bookmark useful websites. This is a public site and using tags, you can look up useful infomation you might need, or post useful websites that you want to share with the public. People who often share your interests post useful website links that you can always easily access because of the bookmarking capability. I chose to follow 4 educators that specialize in math and technology. The websites that they bookmark are greatly useful to me for my future math teaching career. The first website I bookmarked for my PLN is edtechpost-PLE diagrams. This website provides useful links and tools to create a positive and engaging personal learning environment for all educators. The second website I bookmarked for my PLN is Teacher Reboot Camp. This website lists goals that all educators should strive for and useful resources to educate teachers, gain student learning, and increase test scores. The third website I bookmarked is Creating a PLN with Web 2.0 Tools. This site provides more web 2.0 tools that can be useful for expanding your PLN.
The last tool I incorporated to my PLN is The Educators PLN. This is a website that used the NING tool that is a PLN for educators to join. This PLN is constantly growing as new members are joining, and new information that is useful to educators is constantly be uploaded in video form, blog form, articles, and website links. This is an already constucted PLN that fosters collaboration and educational transformation. A very interesting article I read was titled " 5 Reasons Why Educators Should Network". This was a great article to read as this NING site was created to help teachers network. This is a great article to convince other teachers to end educational isolation and work together to help transform education. This article conveys that educational isolation, teachers keeping isolated from one another, is one of the reasons our education system has had a downfall. Creating a PLN network allows teachers to collaborate and grow from one another, instead of struggling alone. The five reasons to network are to " learn with others, serve your students, access a dynamic resource, extend your learning base, and to stay engaged in education" (Roscorla 2010). By networking with fellow educators, you are constantly extending your learning base and you are serving your students by gaining useful information to be the best educator you can be.
PLNs are greatly useful for future and current educators. Having a PLN allows you to share your knowledge, and constantly gain new knowledge that can help you in your teaching career. Educators should have a passion for learning, and PLNs greatly foster that. Using your PLN, you have a better capability to grow and become a great educator. People with other interests outside education can also collaborate to grow in their field of expertise. Everyone can greatly benefit from having a PLN.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Journal #6- Grow Your Personal Learning Network (NETS I, III, V)
Warlick, D. (2009). Grow your personal learning network. Learning & Leading With Technology (36)6, Retrieved from http://istelearning.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Grow-Your-PLN.pdf
With the new digital-age coming into play in education, building a personal learning network is a great way to share your knowledge, meet people with the same interests as you, and most importantly gain new knowledge to utilize. David Warlock addresses the different forms of PLNs you can use, and how to properly use your PLN.
Personal learning networks can be created through Twitter, Diigo, Second Life, Google Docs, Wikis, and Blogs to name a few. There are many resources out there to create a learning network that is personalized just for you. There are three types of Personal Learning Networks, which can encompass your social life and your business/ work life. The first type of PLN that you can create is a personally maintained PLN with synchronous connections. This is the traditional PLN that includes the people and places you consult with every single day. IM and text messaging are two tools that can greatly enhance your PLN. The second type of PLN that is created is a personally and socially maintained semisynchronous connection. This type of PLN includes facebook, chatrooms and almost every other technological communication tool. It is only semisynchronous, so you are not synchronized with information 24/7. This type of PLN is very common for people with busy schedules, as schedules often prevent PLN members from engaging in their PLN 24/7. The third type of PLN is a PLN that connects us most often with sources that we feel are highly useful. This PLN is known as a dynamically maintained asynchronous connection. This type of PLN is easy to use as when you sign up for an aggregator such as Google Reader, your PLN is updated when they post new information. This type of PLN is training people to get information delivered to them. Having a PLN gives you a sense of responsibility to actively participate in your PLN as you most likely have network followers depending on you for new knowledge as well. PLN's are not about just acquiring information, you have a responsibility to contribute as well.
David Warlick presents us with a very useful publication distinguishing the three different types of PLN's, and how you can effectively use your PLN. The great thing about this publication that while PLN's are a great tool to participate in, once you create a PLN you have a responsibility to spread information as well.
Analysis Questions:
1. How does Facebook qualify as a PLN?
A PLN is a network of people that you associate with frequently, or maybe once in a while. Generally a PLN is created to collaborate, spread ideas, and keep in contact with people that you affiliate with. Facebook qualifies as a PLN because you "friend" people that you share the same interests with, or people that you know, and posts are regularly made sharing ideas or even links to websites. Facebook allows you the opporunity to share with your friends website links, or other information that can be greatly useful. Generally people use Facebook as a personal leisure website, but information can be transmitted and spread.
2. How do you start a PLN?
Starting a PLN is very simple. You first must choose a tool to create your PLN such as Diigo, Google Docs, Blogger, Wikis, or other collaborative tools that you see fit. Once you sign up and create your account, you describe what your interests are in your personal information. Once you have done that, you can search other people regarding to your interests. Once you find someone with the same interests as you, all you have to do is click " follow" or add them to your profile. Their posts will show up on your stream and you will gain new information from that person. Once you continue to find more people, your PLN further develops.
3. What is the difference between a PLN with synchronous connections and a PLN with semisynchronous connections?
A PLN with a synchronous connection is a PLN that you are always connected to. It is always synchronized to you and you are able to access it 24/7. Semisynchronous PLN's are PLN's that are not always synchronized. With a semisynchronous PLN, you are able to step away and take a break for a while. You don't always have to be connected.
With the new digital-age coming into play in education, building a personal learning network is a great way to share your knowledge, meet people with the same interests as you, and most importantly gain new knowledge to utilize. David Warlock addresses the different forms of PLNs you can use, and how to properly use your PLN.
Personal learning networks can be created through Twitter, Diigo, Second Life, Google Docs, Wikis, and Blogs to name a few. There are many resources out there to create a learning network that is personalized just for you. There are three types of Personal Learning Networks, which can encompass your social life and your business/ work life. The first type of PLN that you can create is a personally maintained PLN with synchronous connections. This is the traditional PLN that includes the people and places you consult with every single day. IM and text messaging are two tools that can greatly enhance your PLN. The second type of PLN that is created is a personally and socially maintained semisynchronous connection. This type of PLN includes facebook, chatrooms and almost every other technological communication tool. It is only semisynchronous, so you are not synchronized with information 24/7. This type of PLN is very common for people with busy schedules, as schedules often prevent PLN members from engaging in their PLN 24/7. The third type of PLN is a PLN that connects us most often with sources that we feel are highly useful. This PLN is known as a dynamically maintained asynchronous connection. This type of PLN is easy to use as when you sign up for an aggregator such as Google Reader, your PLN is updated when they post new information. This type of PLN is training people to get information delivered to them. Having a PLN gives you a sense of responsibility to actively participate in your PLN as you most likely have network followers depending on you for new knowledge as well. PLN's are not about just acquiring information, you have a responsibility to contribute as well.
David Warlick presents us with a very useful publication distinguishing the three different types of PLN's, and how you can effectively use your PLN. The great thing about this publication that while PLN's are a great tool to participate in, once you create a PLN you have a responsibility to spread information as well.
Analysis Questions:
1. How does Facebook qualify as a PLN?
A PLN is a network of people that you associate with frequently, or maybe once in a while. Generally a PLN is created to collaborate, spread ideas, and keep in contact with people that you affiliate with. Facebook qualifies as a PLN because you "friend" people that you share the same interests with, or people that you know, and posts are regularly made sharing ideas or even links to websites. Facebook allows you the opporunity to share with your friends website links, or other information that can be greatly useful. Generally people use Facebook as a personal leisure website, but information can be transmitted and spread.
2. How do you start a PLN?
Starting a PLN is very simple. You first must choose a tool to create your PLN such as Diigo, Google Docs, Blogger, Wikis, or other collaborative tools that you see fit. Once you sign up and create your account, you describe what your interests are in your personal information. Once you have done that, you can search other people regarding to your interests. Once you find someone with the same interests as you, all you have to do is click " follow" or add them to your profile. Their posts will show up on your stream and you will gain new information from that person. Once you continue to find more people, your PLN further develops.
3. What is the difference between a PLN with synchronous connections and a PLN with semisynchronous connections?
A PLN with a synchronous connection is a PLN that you are always connected to. It is always synchronized to you and you are able to access it 24/7. Semisynchronous PLN's are PLN's that are not always synchronized. With a semisynchronous PLN, you are able to step away and take a break for a while. You don't always have to be connected.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Journal # 5- Learning Connections: Find Free Tools and More (NETS I, II, III, V)
Ribera, M. (2011, March/April). Learning connections: find free tools and more. Learning & Leading, 38(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Learning_Connections_Find_Free_Tools_and_More.aspx
It is very crucial in today's society that teachers have all the help they can get. Our world is vastly changing and upgrading with new technology standards and requirements. Teachers used to only have to worry about how they teach and the proper books to use, but now they have to worry about properly implementing technology in their classrooms. New websites and helpful tools are constantly in production to assist teachers and a new website called EduTecher (http://edutecher.net/) falls into that category.
EduTecher was created by Adam Bellow, a Director of technology for College Board Schools. He also works for ISTE to help teachers find helpful web tools for their classrooms. His website does not have any ads and it is also free to all teachers. It is a public website that provides links to helpful websites and helpful hints. A great thing about this website is that Adam Bellow constantly updates the site and he uploads new links daily. This site is constantly updated to the latest technology programs and helpful tools. Some of the hints that Adam provides is how to use tools that were not originally designed for education. He also provides audio and visual basic training support. A great thing about this website is that it is the first of its kind to be available as a smartphone application. It is currently available in the Andriod market and the Iphone market. Over 8,000 users have already downloaded the application to their phones. This is a very helpful website.
Adam Bellow is a technology leader. He created a website to help others and he is greatly appreciated. It is a website that not only provides helpful information, but constantly updated helpful information. After learning about this website, it is something that I can see using in my future teaching career.
Analysis Questions:
1. How did Adam locate all of these helpful websites that are currently linked on EduTecher?
Adam is a Technology Director and his job is dedicated to technology. He is able to search up useful education programs because he knows where to look for them and how to look for them. He has dedicated his professional life to technology and he is also well appreciated, known, and educated in the technology community.
2. When it is mentioned that this website does not have any ads, what does that mean?
Most websites that you come in contact with like emailing sites (Yahoo, hotmail, etc.) , have ad links on the left side or the right-hand side of the webpage. This can pertain to weightloss supplements, dating websites, etc. Websites have ads because they make a lot of money from the company who has the ad posting. Companies pay websites to display their ads throughout the internet to provide more awareness and propaganda for their product.
3. How do you find the phone application?
First and foremost, you must have a smart phone to be able to access applications. Phones like the Iphone ( ATT and now Verizon) ,the Droid (Verizon), and the Evo (Sprint), are great examples of smartphones that have web access abilities. Your cellphone must have internet access and memory storage. You will either have the Iphone market on your phone (Iphone), or the Android market (Droid, Evo, etc.), if your phone is fully capable. Once you have those requirements, you click on your market and in the search option put the name of the program ( EduTecher). The application should pop up and you should be able to click or hit " Ok" to download. Then the program will be fully installed on your phone!
It is very crucial in today's society that teachers have all the help they can get. Our world is vastly changing and upgrading with new technology standards and requirements. Teachers used to only have to worry about how they teach and the proper books to use, but now they have to worry about properly implementing technology in their classrooms. New websites and helpful tools are constantly in production to assist teachers and a new website called EduTecher (http://edutecher.net/) falls into that category.
EduTecher was created by Adam Bellow, a Director of technology for College Board Schools. He also works for ISTE to help teachers find helpful web tools for their classrooms. His website does not have any ads and it is also free to all teachers. It is a public website that provides links to helpful websites and helpful hints. A great thing about this website is that Adam Bellow constantly updates the site and he uploads new links daily. This site is constantly updated to the latest technology programs and helpful tools. Some of the hints that Adam provides is how to use tools that were not originally designed for education. He also provides audio and visual basic training support. A great thing about this website is that it is the first of its kind to be available as a smartphone application. It is currently available in the Andriod market and the Iphone market. Over 8,000 users have already downloaded the application to their phones. This is a very helpful website.
Adam Bellow is a technology leader. He created a website to help others and he is greatly appreciated. It is a website that not only provides helpful information, but constantly updated helpful information. After learning about this website, it is something that I can see using in my future teaching career.
Analysis Questions:
1. How did Adam locate all of these helpful websites that are currently linked on EduTecher?
Adam is a Technology Director and his job is dedicated to technology. He is able to search up useful education programs because he knows where to look for them and how to look for them. He has dedicated his professional life to technology and he is also well appreciated, known, and educated in the technology community.
2. When it is mentioned that this website does not have any ads, what does that mean?
Most websites that you come in contact with like emailing sites (Yahoo, hotmail, etc.) , have ad links on the left side or the right-hand side of the webpage. This can pertain to weightloss supplements, dating websites, etc. Websites have ads because they make a lot of money from the company who has the ad posting. Companies pay websites to display their ads throughout the internet to provide more awareness and propaganda for their product.
3. How do you find the phone application?
First and foremost, you must have a smart phone to be able to access applications. Phones like the Iphone ( ATT and now Verizon) ,the Droid (Verizon), and the Evo (Sprint), are great examples of smartphones that have web access abilities. Your cellphone must have internet access and memory storage. You will either have the Iphone market on your phone (Iphone), or the Android market (Droid, Evo, etc.), if your phone is fully capable. Once you have those requirements, you click on your market and in the search option put the name of the program ( EduTecher). The application should pop up and you should be able to click or hit " Ok" to download. Then the program will be fully installed on your phone!
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