-PLN

=Personal Learning Networks/ Personal Learning Environments=

What is a Personal Learning Network? What is a Personal Learning Environment?
====“A Personal Learning Network (PLN) consists of the **//people//** a learner interacts with and derives knowledge from in a Personal Learning Environment.” (Wikipedia, Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Learning_Networks)====

====The rise of information and communications technologies has provided opportunities for us to learn from and share with anyone or any group of people, from anywhere, and at any time of the day. It is truly amazing to see the effect that new technologies and the internet have had on learning in the last five years. To envision what technologies will be available in the future is nearly impossible. The best way we can prepare our students for this ever changing world, is by instilling in them the desire and skills to be life-long learners. One way to do this is to help them develop Personal Learning Networks. PLNs are based on an individual’s interests and personal learning needs. Once a student learns this process, he/she will be able to use it for the rest of their lives to support their formal and informal learning. As technologies and interests change, a PLN can be expanded on or changed accordingly. The best way for us to support our students in developing a PLN, is by us as educators having had the experience of developing our own.====

The video below are thoughts about PLNs from Will Richardson, a parent, an educator, a speaker, and an author.
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====According to the NCM Horizon Report: 2011 K-12 Edition, “PLEs serve a dual purpose: They enable students to determine the style and pace at which they learn while exposing them to technologies that they may not otherwise encounter in traditional classroom settings …” Constructing their own PLEs allow students more control over their education while also giving them a model towards life-long learning. The role of the teacher then becomes that of providing guidance based on the student’s understanding and progress. This new role will require teachers to change their attitude and thinking toward learning and how it occurs.====

What Will PLNs/PLEs Look Like in 2025?
====The unique thing about Personal Learning Networks is that in the future everyone, teachers and educators included, will have a personal learning network. It is important for teachers to stay current in their craft and teaching, and a having a learning network will help teachers learn new things to help their students grow. Some PLNs already exist for teachers, and there are also some resources to help teachers start to build their PLNs.====

====- The Educator’s PLN – This is a site that helps to create connections between educators. It has a bunch of downloadable podcasts, discussion groups, and other links to relevant blogs, videos, resources, and events.==== ====- Powerful Learning Practice – This is a professional development program that has a year-long curriculum. It provides cohorts of teachers new ideas and practices to help them with technology integration in the classroom. It is not free, but teachers can get earn education credits for participating.==== ====- Classroom 2.0 –This site is designed to share resources about using web 2.0 in education. You can connect with others, find events, join groups, attend Saturday webinars, or join various discussions.====

In the following video, //Welcome To My PLE!,// a 7th grade science student explains her personal learning environment.
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====Bernard, Sara. ( May 19, 2011). “5 Personal Learning Networks (PLNs for Educators).” Retrieved from http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/05/5-personal-learning-networks-plns-for-educators/====

Drexler, Wendy (2010). The networked student model for construction of personal learning environment: Balancing teacher control and student autonomy. //Australasian Journal of Educational Technology//26(3), 369-385. Retrieved from : []

Willrich45. (December 7, 2007). Personal Learning Networks. [Video]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/mghGV37TeK8