My PLN: I am a newbie when it comes to PLNs. Like my peers, I am just starting to build my personal learning network. After working on sites like Twitter, Diigo, and Educator’s for PLN, I understand how the open network can reach out to educators and aspiring educators just by looking for answers. When this journal assignment was assigned to us, I had no clue how to communicate on Twitter – I mean these teachers had their own lingo (ha)! However, over time I began to catch up with the conversations that were occurring. Overall, starting my PLN at this level in college is a great thing to learn and being to expand on my PLN.
As an aspiring educator, my PLN consist of various resources of articles, videos, new ideas from peers and educators, and games. Although my PLN is just starting, it should be able to help me in my future classroom because I had already adapted to collaborating with other educators through the use of social networks and I would know where to look for certain sources. However, even if I get there, I am sure there will be new areas for educators and students to collaborate.
Twitter: As I have already noted, I do not “tweet”. I have tried it before, but I did not like it because Twitter, at one point, was not viewed as a tool to communicate ideas. Rather, it was another social network for celebrities and others to throw their personal story out in cyber space – just another gossip space.
Well, Twitter can be used in a positive perspective. Using Twitter, I was able to collaborate with other educators who were from other states, who have experience, who are teaching, and who are also expanding their PLN. The chat I enjoyed the most was with #sschat (Social Studies Chat). This chat occurred on Monday, April 11, 2011 at 7 P.M. (EST). We had various topics going on throughout the hour, which made the conversation really fun and fast. Topics covered such as PLN, creations of timeline in history, and how important is it to integrate technology into a classroom to make history relevant. As I read the comments that came through, I simply thought about a quote I found from Benjamin Franklin, “tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn”. I have always loved this quote and I simply added this quote within the conversation. Simply to explain that although technology can add to one’s teaching it’s also matter of involving the students. If a teacher is just talking and showing the material through the use of technology, how could teachers be aware of how many students actually comprehend the material? Greg, a history teacher from Plymouth, MA. Stated, “even with more tech based projects this year I’m still at [the] same pace and covering content”. It seems that others are on the same boat with putting technology and history together. However, he is glad to PLN because of us bumps in the roads to help toss ideas of one another. Overall, my experience with #sschat was great and the people on there were so inviting. I am looking to joining the next convo just because.
Diigo: Now, I found this social network a lot easier to use because I was simply looking around at articles, videos, or interactive lessons where out there. I had tagged a Math Live interactive video, an article on Web 2.0 tools, and an article guideline for teachers using Twitter. Math Live (http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/me5l/html/math5.html) was tagged because math can be hard for some students in first grade to comprehend. For my visual learners, this interactive lesion from Math Live will be a great tool in teaching math. I had gone through it and I like the different explanations they give students. Then I had tagged this article on Web 2.0 tools because it illustrates the professional development of educators for the 21st century. Furthermore, it gives others who are not familiar with Web 2.0 tools a better idea of how these tools are used and can be incorporated into one’s teaching. The last tag was in a guidebook for teachers using Twitter. Twitter is easy to use if you know where to go. This article illustrates how educators can use this social network to expand their PLN and find useful resources.
Digital Discussion Forum: I joined the Educator’s PLN. It was through this network that I was able to find an inspiring video that was shared by T. Whitby, (http://edupln.com/video/tmb-panyee-fc-short-film). I found this video significant because I will have students who will be interested in sports and in particular, it may be soccer. This would be an inspiring video to share with my students because this soccer team started out with very little resources at a young age. However, this video illustrates their team’s drive, passion, and team work can get people far in life. Furthermore, it adds the importance of action can be. This video was made “to inspire people to start thinking differently” (Whitby). This video is a heartfelt story, just like any real life experiences.
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