Tuesday, January 11, 2011

PLN's

Here we go..my first BLOG POST. I was wondering when I would start keeping a blog and I am glad that Internet for Educators class at BU has initiated this.

Today I am talking about a recent presentation by a guest speaker to my Internet for Educators class, named John Evans. I found a number of different aspects of John Evans (Professional Learning Consultant, MB Education)presentation very interesting. Already I can see that I will learn a lot about the use of internet in the classroom.

I learned about various internet tools, but the presentation mostly focused on PLN's (personal learning networks). PLN's seem to be a very useful tool in the world of education as it is a way to network with other teachers around the glooobe! We all know that teaching is about sharing! Although teacher-sharing within the confines of a school can be very helpful, teacher-sharing on the global level is something that is in a whooole new ballpark. With the use of PLN's we can see how other teachers run their classroom and see what they have to share.

What is a PLN? As far as I can see, a PLN is a group of people that will heighten your learning. This group of people will likely be able to answer any questions you may have about teaching. I think teacher use of a PLN is important because it allows individuals to express themselves through the sharing of resources and opinions on teaching and education via online (global). With the use of internet tools such as twitter, blogs, wikispaces and podcasts we can become a network teacher and connect with other teachers, students and parents. I intend on exploring PLN's further as I believe that these networks may definitely contribute to the success of both teachers and students. I feel that PLN's are a huuuge step in the right direction as they not only connect teachers globally but they also work to promote using online tools which have the potential to create a paperless classroom which will in turn create a healthier, greener planet.

3 comments:

  1. I definitely agree with you. I think its so unique that we can share and use information so conviently now. As educators we have to be a million steps ahead of teachers were 20 years ago, in regards to sharing and using information because of all the wonderful web applications. However, i also feel that with PLN's comes alot more responisbily and that fear of unknown for alot of teachers. For myself I like a challenge and change, why do the same thing year after year?

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  2. Hey Dory, as I was reading your post on PLNs, I though it was interesting that your blog is now a part of my PLN. I was unable to attend John Evans' presentation, so in order for me to post something on my blog about PLNs I had to do some research. After reading a couple of blogs (yours included) I was able to establish a definition and opinion about PLNs and how it would impact my teaching career. So welcome to the Funk's Personal Learning Network (FPLN)!

    In reference to your blog post, I love that teaching is about sharing. Being a somewhat uncreative person, I'm so glad that I can take other peoples ideas and adapt and change them to fit my teaching style, students, and classroom content. Like I've often heard from my cooperating teachers, "There is no reason to re-invent the wheel." I think PLNs are the tool that all teachers need to access and be a part of to continue developing themselves as teachers, and their students as learners. A world without PLNs, is a world of many good, but unshared ideas.

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  3. Hi Dory, we are on the same page for sure when it comes to the benefits of PLN's in today's educational world. Our jobs as teachers should be made easier with the virtually limitless access to so many other teachers' ideas and methods.
    One point you raised that especially caught my eye is the idea of having paperless classrooms. During my student teaching, and here in classes at BU, it's astonishing how much paper is used. Photocopying and printing thousands and thousands of pages seems to be a trend that most teachers and students take up without a second thought. By using PLN's and other internet tools, we can make a considerable change in the amount of paper needed during the school year. My instructor for Social Studies Methods last term used some sort of program to insert comments and marks right into my word document that I had submitted via moodle. She then emailed the marked document back to me, and no paper was needed whatsoever. To me, that is the direction we should be going.
    Excellent ideas and opinions Dory!

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