PLN (Part 3) - My PLN

Rebekah's PLN subscriptions



Rebekah's PLN on Symbaloo

As part of researching Web 2.0, learning technologies, and social learning, I often found interesting/relevant resources which came from blogs. I then went to that blog's HomePage and scrolled through the other posts. Were they interesting/relevant as well? Is/are the author(s) reliable sources? Would I benefit from seeing new things they were writing? If 'yes' then add to my Google Reader subscriptions. [If 'yes' but the blogs were no longer actively maintained, then I'd just add the articles to my browser favorites.]

I also looked at the Blogroll of each site to see if I could identify other 'experts' and their blogs to follow. [Follow the links and see what you find.]

Finally, I used my subscriptions to help me develop this Symbaloo webmix:

This Webmix represents most of the sites I have discovered while developing my PLN and, therefore, most of the public sites found in my Google Reader. I'd appreciate your feedback.



PLN (Part 2) - HOW to develop a PLN

Scott Leslie http://edtechpost.wikispaces.com/file/view/swl_ple2.gif

"PLN is an acronym for Personal Learning Network. The acronym is relatively new, but the idea is not. Teachers have always had learning networks—people we learn from and share with. Teachers are information junkies. We’re also social. Put the two together and you have a personal learning network…. The kinds of discussions I have, and information I share with my PLN hasn’t changed all that much over the years–what works in class, how students learn, how to become a better teacher. How I meet other teachers, where we discuss ideas, and how we share information has changed." (Sakamoto)

Chapter 2 Overview

http://flatclassroom10-1.flatclassroomproject.org/How+the+World+Wide+Web+has+Changed+the+World

Millions of Web sites and billions of Web pages, huh? I guess I really hadn't thought about it. I've definitely thought of the Internet as infinite but I haven’t ever tried to associate a numerical value to it. With new pages continuously being added to existing sites, it’s no surprise that the number is immeasurable. Shelly and Campbell tell us that “Web sites can consist of a single Web page or thousands of pages.” (38) From a business perspective, sites can be used to sell products or services. There are personal Web sites that can be used for communication purposes. A primary Web page on a Web site is called a Home Page. The web site itself could be a singular page or have multiple pages, links or tabs so navigation is easier. These pages, links, or tabs would allow the reader to review general information about the site and should also include frequently asked questions (FAQs) for problem resolution.

I've never heard of Yahoo! referred to as a Web Portal (AKA portal).  A portal “… is a special type of Web site that offers a doorway to a vast range of content and services.” (39) Portals provide a place for those opening browsers and can feature news, weather, reference tools, etc. Web pages need to be eye catching in order to keep viewers interested (kind of like our blogs!). Things like logos, images, links, and advertisements can be found on Web pages. These things can frequently change. 

“A single Web server can store or host many small Web sites.” (41) Client/server computing is a process by which a Web browser (or client) sends a request to a Web server where the page is stored. The server should respond “… by sending a copy of the Web page to the browser.” (41) A client is defined by Shelly and Campbell as “… an application that runs on computer, such as a personal computer, and requests resources or services from another computer.” Whereas a server is defined as: “… a computer that ‘serves up,’ or provides, the requested resources or services.” (41) Servers can be in the same location or a location far removed from the main location(s).

Alerts [a PLN tip from my mother, the ‘retired’ librarian]

Researching a topic for a long-term project or thesis? Did you know that you can generate on-going searches and receive results as e-mail messages or as RSS feeds to your feed reader?

Both the EbscoHost and ProQuest (journal databases providers we can access via the Empire State library website) allow you to receive an automatic email notification or RSS feed whenever:

• a new issue of a journal you are interested in ‘subscribing’ to has been added to that database or when 

• new articles are available to update a search you have run in that database. 

You can read more about these neat services from EbscoHost and ProQuest.

And you can use GoogleAlerts to notify you of new, updated results for a search you are interested in following on the Internet over time. Each email you receive contains a link to delete the alert, so you can cancel any time you want. Google Alerts has several other settings to help you customize your updates. Learn more fine-tuning your search by source type and frequency of reporting.

PLN (Part 1)



From Building a Future-Ready Personal Learning Network
School Library Monthly/Volume XXVII, Number 3/December 2010 p.35

WHAT is a PLN?

According to Wikipedia: “A personal learning network is an informal learning network that consists of the people a learner interacts with and derives knowledge from in a personal learning environment. In a PLN, a person makes a connection with another person with the specific intent that some type of learning will occur because of that connection. An important part of this concept is the theory of connectivism developed by George Siemens and Stephen Downes. Learners create connections and develop a network that contributes to their professional development and knowledge. The learner does not have to know these people personally or ever meet them in person.”

Need Training?

Jing seems to be an ideal solution for many educational needs. The range is broad and includes things like screen and video captures (which we've been working on). Jing is also being used for other things, like "paperless teaching", virtual training, and evaluation!

Video Captured with Jing

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