A Personal Learning Network (PLN) is determining and establishing those connections which will contribute to your ongoing learning and professional development. It is self designed it becomes more engaging and more meaningful. A PLN is a means of communicating with others and sharing ideas. Blogs are one method of this type of PLN communication (Google reader helps maintain the blogs I am following). Twitter is another way to communicate quickly and to read the ideas that others are sharing.
Early in my career (15 years ago or more), we relied on books and magazines for much of our professional learning; this is no longer the case. More than ever, the information I obtain is electronically. Some of the Professional Learning sites from which I get ongoing information include:
LFA: Join the Conversation – Public School Insights: www.publicschoolinsights.org
Learning First Alliance is a collaborative of several educational organizations. LFA shares success stories taking place in public schools. It gives a listing of other blogs, sites and networks by topic for easy searching.
Education Week - www.edweek.org
Education week offers free E-Newsletters with current articles and events in education. Easy to browse and access information. [Can email or print short articles for staff.]
ASCD - www.ascd.org
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development develops programs, products and services essential to the way educators learn, teach and lead.
- I signed up and get: SmartBrief – daily briefings on top stories in K-12 education.
- I signed up and get: ASCD Express – the latest information on learning and instruction.
MEMSPA (Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals) provides not only information to me, but also a means for me to send out questions to members when I want information from other elementary principals.
Finally, even the newspaper I used to subscribe to and have delivered to my home is now only available to me in paper format on Thursdays and Sundays. I can only obtain it the other five days if I subscribe to it electronically.
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I really enjoyed your PLN examples...I think ASCD is one of the best...I have followed their information for a long time. I did add the Public School Insights to my list to follow...this looks like a great site with a lot of information for educators. I also noticed they post podcasts with various educational experts. I plan to go back and explore the site in more detail and listen to some of the podcasts. Thanks for sharing!!
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