Professional Learning Network (PLN)

EDIT 202 WINTER 2013

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@KelliRalphconnectEDconnectED

Reflections on Beginning My Teaching PLN

My Twitter PLN on January 21st, 2013(starting from almost nothing)

George Siemens@gsiemens• One of the “inventors” the theory of connectivism. (Through @gsiemens, I found and am following the other “inventor” – Stephen Downes @oldaily – on Twitter).

• Siemens is with the Technology Enhanced Knowledge Research Institute at Athabasca University (https://tekri.athabascau.ca/)

• A prolific tweeter! Interesting tweets and retweets regarding MOOCs, with good links to resources. I have found a number of other relevant feeds to follow via @gsiemens

• I have regularly visited his blog @ www.eleranspace.org/blog/ (link posted in his Twitter profile) , which links to his other blog http://www.connectivism.ca. Blog entries include topics on technology, connected education and learning network.

• I have referenced his blogs postings in my Week 3 discussion posting and ePortfolio reflection regarding “Frameworks for Guiding Technology Use”.

Eye On Education@eyeoneducation

• A source for books and professional development resources for educators.

• Their Twitter profile links to there web site (www.eyeoneducation.com). On this site, there are webinars, podcasts and videos etc. on a variety of topics relevant for teachers, such as “Get Tech Tools and Strategies to Inform Your Daily Teaching Practice”.

• Regular tweets include links to sources for teaching and learning tools, discussions on issues in education, and other resources. For instance “How To Eliminate Test Anxiety” @http://ow.ly/hBXSo and “7 Things Administrators Can Do to Help Students Develop Resilience @http://ow.ly/hBVr0

• I have found a number of other relevant feeds to follow via @eyeoneducation • One of the most useful connections in my Twiter PLN for teaching and learning resources.

IMS Global Learning (Consortium)@LearningImpact

• I am excited to use technology in my teaching practice, and the IMS Global Learning (@LearningImpact) feed is a hub for emerging information on the use of technology in education.

• IMS Global Learning Consortium is dedicated to the advancement of affordable technology that enhanced learning. Their profile links to their web site blog (www.imsglobal.org/blog), which contains excellent contributions from industry leaders, including LMS/VLE leaders such as Cengage Learning (www.cengage.com), CourseSmart (www.coursesmart.com), Blackboard (www.blackboard.com) and Desire2Learn (www.desire2learn.com)

• Regular tweets and retweets. Many are welcoming new affiliates, but many provide information and links regarding emerging technologies and new apps for education, as well as current issues in the industry.

Alberta Teachers Association@albertateachers

• An association that I will be a member of when I am a teacher. • A link from the ATA’s Twitter profile takes me to the ATA web site. Here I can access information and links on current issues in education and teaching, professional development, education acts and regulations, publications, resources for teachers and parents, and much more.

• I felt it was important to include the ATA as part of my PLN because the ATA and its members include education professionals whom I will be working with in the future. Therefore, initiating connections and joining discussions are good starting points.

• Regular tweets, mostly regarding current issues for the teaching profession. (As a future teacher, this will help me gain a better perspective on my future career.)

My Twitter PLN on February 11th, 2013

• I began by following local sources: ex. EdTech Services UofA (@EdTechUofA), EDIT 202 classmates and instructors, Alberta Teaches’ Association (@albertateachers), Alberta Education (@AlbertaEd), local libraries and my local school division.

• I broadened out to follow other sources I thought may be relevant: ex. Scholastic Teachers (@scholasticteach), SkillsCanadaAlberta (@skillsalberta).

• Each week, I have added follows I felt were relevant to that week’s EDIT202 topic: ex. George Couros (@gcouros), George Siemens (@gsiemens), OpenClass (@JointOpenClass, Blackboard K-12 (@blackboardK12). For each new addition, I have looked through their “follow” list to find and follow other relevant feeds.

• I have tweeted a few times during class when I had something relevant to contribute. Have tried to tweet and retweet postings that are relevant to that week’s EDIT202 topic in EDIT202. I have been retweeted by others 5 times (that I have seen).

• I have tweeted links to my ePortfolio postings, so I could share with a wider audience.

• I have tried to keep the content of my tweets and retweets relevant to the topics of education, teaching and learning, and not about where I bought my morning coffee!

• I am still learning how to effectively use Twitter to follow topic discussions and participate in chats. For instance, I had failed to understand I should include #edit202 in my tweets to reach a broader audience. Some favourite hashtags are #edti202, #edapps and #edtech.

PLN Participation…