Personal / Scholarly Learning Networks for Students

Learning Trends:
●More informal.
Learning through
communities of practice,
personal networks, and
completion of work-related tasks. ●
Learning and work-related activities are often not separate.
Lifelong.
Where & how to find information are increasing in importance relative to knowledge.
Conceived by George Siemens
and Stephen Downes
Knowledge networks are formed on "Three levels: Neural, Conceptual and External (people, information sources etc.)"
(George Siemens, 2008)
PLNs for Students
The Networked Student
By Wendy Drexler and Alex Drexler
Connectivism
Pedagogy
Theory/model
Tools
Blogs
&
Wikis
Feeds,
Aggregators
Social
Networking
Defining
successful
networks
Practices
for developing
successful
networks
Learning
Trends
Nodes
Scholarly
Learning
Networks
Personal, Professional, Passionate
Do It!
The wisdom of
Will Richardson
http://www.scoop.it/t/pln-creation
Environments
To start a PLN

1. Create a blog

2. Find 5+ blogs that you want to keep up on

3. Set up an iGoogle account

4. Subscribe to blogs in an aggregator

5. Comment on blogs

6. Join a social network focused on your area of interest or study

7. Connect. Collaborate. Contribute.
Student
Social
Networks
Social
Bookmarking
Classmates
Peers & web
Teacher(s),
Media Specialist
Blogs & wikis
RSS Feeds,
Aggregators
Academic
Web
Resources
Video
Instruction
Collaboration
Tools
Communication
Tools
Databases
Presentation
Tools
Guide
Instructor for tool use
Proper communication
Vetting resources
Web search assistance
Info Organization
A resource
Model / demonstrate
Set up educational structures
Design and implement network structures
“…connectivism is the thesis that knowledge is distributed across a network of connections, and therefore that learning consists of the ability to construct and traverse those networks.” (Stephen Downes, 2007)
diverse
autonomous
open
connected
interactive
dynamic
student
practice &
reflection
Roles
of the
teacher/
Media
Specialist
Family
Friends
Specialists
Presentation of Info
Gathering Information
Considerations:
Confer with your administration
Student safety, profile protection
Identify staff, projects
Add networking to rubrics
Standardize tools, e-mail addresses
Students share content & profiles with instructor(s)
Student/
Topic
Presentation
Tools
Expression/
Product
Communication
&
Collaboration
Tools
Human
Resources/
Experts
Information
Gathering
Tools
Information
How are PLNs different for students?