A Personal Learning Network (PLN) refers to a social networking tool, with a specific focus on learning, connecting a community of teachers or future teachers; like me to a wider world of support towards a specific vocation. Ultimately one can look to a personal learning network as a platform to a global discussion medium offering collaborative learning. Klindt (2014) argues its success is built upon teachers encompassing a common goal to work together to improve the experience for students. Upon establishing the use of a PLN to grow, connect and collaborate with others, during our Comm140 lectures we were introduced to the use of Twitter, and guided through its effectiveness as a successful tool for the development of ones’ profession furthering Twitter’s ability to transform from just a social networking forum for celebrity updates.
Twitters effectiveness on me has created a surprising revelation within; this network has allowed me as a future teacher to actively pursue a range of resources and opportunities benefitting an educator like me personally and professionally. The attraction to twitter as a PLN is stimulated through the connection, creativity, support and growth one can explore. From personal experience, Twitter helps to gain relations on a global scale with insightful educators, as well as for progressive idea development and substitution into teaching practices and learning ideas beyond what is currently known. It furthers as a tool that stimulates new ideas and abilities which, offer the chance to better the quality of skill and potential a teacher has. Briggs (2015) refers to Twitter as a means to increase student engagement in activities as it serves as a learning and teaching tool worldwide. Catapano (2015) encourages teachers to become connected educators to offer this opportunity for students and move from the “impersonalised modes of tradition development” as it is suitable for teachers to increase education and learning to make it appropriate for the advances of society and technology. Personally, Twitter acts as a platform to receive advice and support irrespective of geographic location only allowing for more diverse academic community to grow from. Twitter is highly useful as a PLN tool as my voice is able to be shared alongside so many other teachers full of creativity and wisdom. Such a network allows for many resources at my disposal, enhancing my capabilities and overall confidence in my approach to teaching. Briggs, S. (2015). The Educator’s Guide to Twitter (Tools, Tips and Hashtags). Retrieved from http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/twitter-in-education/ Catapano, J. (2015). What is a PLN? Why do I need one? Retrieved from http://www.teachhub.com/what-pln-why-do-i-need-one Klindt, R. (2014). How Educators Can Benefit from Personal Learning Networks. Retrieved from http://online-education-degrees.org/2014/01/03/educators-benefit-personal-learning-networks/
2 Comments
9/18/2017 08:02:02 pm
This is a great response to the question, Alexandra ! I believe you've really brought the essence of a Personal Learning Network to a nutshell in emphasising the benefits of having a PLN itself as well as different scholar perspectives. You've collaborated the experiences of and information gathered from COMM140 classes with great depth and provided a clear understanding of a PLN as well as the example of Twitter. I strongly agree with your statement 'Twitter helps to gain relations on a global scale with insightful educators, as well as for progressive idea development and substitution into teaching practices and learning ideas beyond what is currently known.' This is a fantastic way to describe the opportunities available to everyone while using Twitter and personally as a Twitter user myself, I believe I gain these benefits.
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Riham Zeini
9/21/2017 06:32:06 pm
Hi Alexandra,
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