Personal Learning Network

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Assignment Description

For this assignment, you will begin to develop and document your Personal Learning Network. Your PLN is an important element in the ONID program.

Establish and/or develop a personal learning network, the core of which will be Diigo and Twitter. You may use existing accounts if you already have them, or you may create new accounts for this program. These accounts will be used throughout your involvement with the ONID program. In the process of using these tools in this class, think about your larger PLN and the elements that comprise it, and begin searching for new tools that will enhance your PLN.

Visual Representation

Word cloud that spells out PLN. Words include things like reiterative, never-ending, communication, collaboration, internet, diigo, library

I created this word cloud because I think word clouds are fun. Too, I really enjoyed just taking some time to brainstorm about the types of words I associated with “personal learning network,” after working within that concept throughout the semester.

I really liked Bob’s emphasis on how a “personal learning network” consists of more than the internet– it’s also the people, your collegial and academic interactions, the brick-and-mortar resources, etc. Many of those types of resources are also included in my word list. Similarly, the word “reiterative” appeared frequently while I brainstormed and typed my list of words for my word cloud. I envision a great PLN as a reiterative, never-ending process. You revisit old ideas as you learn new ones, while new connections you make as part of building your PLN encourage you to think about both old and new concepts from a different perspective.

Reflection on the Assignment Design

I am nearing the halfway point of the ONID program (not quite there yet, though). I started in January, which means I also took courses out of sequence. In ED 653, Instructional Design, I was first exposed to the concept of the personal learning network, and it was in that course that I had the opportunity to create a Twitter, Diigo account, etc. So, when I saw the Personal Learning Network assignment in ED 431, it was probably the assignment I was least looking forward to, because it felt a little redundant.

Similarly, I try to be intentional about the time I spend on the internet, and so I am not one of those people who seeks to create an extensive Twitter following. Consequently, really the only times I would go on Twitter this semester was to do the required number of tweets for the PLN assignment, which often made it feel artificial. This semester (and throughout my time in school, really) I feel as if I am much more likely to expand my personal learning network when I have a purpose in mind. In other words, if I have a specific question or an assignment to complete, that’s when I am likely to dig up resources and websites and scholars that become part of my PLN. For this assignment, I often found myself just scrolling through Twitter looking for something somewhat interesting to share, which is quite different than the targeted searches and the exploration of specific issues that I am used to doing.
To sum it up, then, this is what I would offer in terms of feedback to the PLN assignment:
  • Make sure that the PLN assignment approaches the personal learning network concept from a different angle than the other courses in the program, and perhaps expect that many students will take the courses out of order.
  • While some may disagree with this suggestion, I think it would be great to give the PLN a more focused direction. I think it could be interesting to pose a new question, issue, or problem related to the course materials each week. Then, the cohort could practice using their PLN to expand their knowledge of that specific concept.

3 thoughts on “Personal Learning Network”

  1. Nikki Stein says:

    This quote really hit home for me! “For this assignment, I often found myself just scrolling through Twitter looking for something somewhat interesting to share, which is quite different than the targeted searches and the exploration of specific issues that I am used to doing.” I found myself doing the exact same thing.

    I completely agree with your idea about focusing parts of the PNL assignment. I found that I was post with more “purpose” when I was researching for an assignment rather than twiddling my thumbs trying to think of a post.

    Reply
  2. Skip Via says:

    I love your idea of reiteration as a core concept for PLN development and use. And I agree with your ad Bob that this is an element that is not sufficiently present in the current assignment as it stands. I hope you have a chance to read and comment on my response to Bob’s post (http://www.rdheath.com/blog/?p=133) in that regard. This assignment next semester will look quite different and will be, I hope, a more useful and ITERATIVE exploration of the concept.

    Thanks for your thoughtful response. Very much appreciated.

    Reply

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