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Saturday 4 February 2017

Personal Learning Network and The Connected Student - TT6

     Today we had a presentation delivered by John Evans from Manitoba Ed and one of the topics he talked about was the huge change in each personal learning network (PLN). The PLN is growing so fast and expanding like crazy! John explained that back when he graduated from Brandon U Education in 1980 his PLN looked something like the following:

by A. Couros: http://www.flickr.com/photos/courosa/344832659/

     Now with the advent of so many online platforms designed for reflection and sharing the teacher network has evolved into something like the following:
by A. Couros: http://www.flickr.com/photos/courosa/2922421696/

     This figure is even beginning to shift as well. These diagrams are just another testament to the amount of information out there that requires some sifting. "Getting information off the internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant" John explained. Except the water is tainted. There is a huge amount of fake news/facts out there that it's overwhelming. Even in articles that are posted from credible sources can be well beyond misleading. "we have to develop our crap detectors". We need to work on our critical analysis reading skills so that we can show our students how to detect internet lies. We have to help them develop a information filter to discern between not just whats important but whats factual.

     I've started the process of trying to organize my own PLN and so far it looks like the following:


     This is only the beginning as well. As I type I can think of quite a few more items that need to be added. I really like the idea of creating a PLN using a mind mapping tool. Mindmeister was used for my own. The map is a good way to keep track of which networks are still being used frequently and which could be touched upon again. 
     Students should be aware of what their PLN's are as well. They build them without thinking about but creating a small assignment where they map their sources would really adjust their attention. I have created a map of what a student PLN may look like and hope to update the image with the upcoming teaching practicum:


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5 comments:

  1. Mike5 February 2017 at 08:43

    Good post, Joe. Your maps are nicely done and, as you say, it is interesting and useful to contemplate our connections. Having students do a similar activity would be - probably - eye opening to them and open up good conversations.
    One thing I should point out - the top diagrams you used were created by Dr. Alec Couros (he talked to us earlier in the term). He encourages sharing, but remember to cite you resources/images ;-)

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    1. Unknown6 February 2017 at 19:07

      Noted! Credit is now given where it is due.

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  2. Unknown5 February 2017 at 16:07

    I agree with you both about having students complete a similar assignment. I think it would be really cool to have them make the same kind of mind map but than having to add safety aspects and other important things to remember while using technology. They could have the completed assignments around the class and maybe after make one all together that has the whole classes PLN and rules and safety to go with.
    Great post Joe!

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  3. Unknown5 February 2017 at 20:42

    I like that you created and added your own personal learning network organizer. This would definitely be a good activity for our students to take part in, (and everyone else!) just to see how and from where we get our information. For example, those who get all their political information from Social Media might be able to realize that from this and then decide to broaden their searches before forming opinions. For students, it is a good method for introducing the concepts of digital footprints and digital citizenship. I think the fact that there are so many different items to connect will drive home the importance of digital citizenship to the students as well.

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  4. Practice Blog7 February 2017 at 16:09

    Hi Joe,
    I think you have a great start to your own PLN. When we starting talking about PLN's at the beginning of the course I would have assumed that mine would have been relatively small, but after this course has moved further along mine has grown. This course has provided us with a great number of resources.

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