Personal (Learning) Networks
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 Teacher Page
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Using online networks to grow what you know
By now you know that there are lots of great websites to go to when you need more information about something.
In the "Search Strategies" section, you learned some new techniques to help you search for and find information using the internet.
You can also share information and learning with a network of people. This is called a personal learning network.
You probably understand what "personal learning" means, but what is a "network?"
Basically, a network is a group you belong to and interact with where members have some common interests, goal, location, or activities.
- The friends and classmates that you hang out with at school is your school network.
- The people you live with and all of your relatives make up your family network.
- The people you hang out with on Facebook or MySpace is your online social network.
Why learn about PLNS?
- You will be part of many learning networks over the course of your lifetime.
- You will collaborate on projects at school, at work, or as part of an organization you belong to where you will need to gather and use information about different topics.
Here is a quick video overview of social networks. After viewing, think about how this kind of network might be helpful to you in learning.
Along with social networks, some people choose to share information and opinions through Blogs. View this quick video overview of blogs, then think about how blogs might be helpful to you in learning new information.
View this video from You Tube called "The Networked Student". This is a great example of how a student can create and organize his or her own personal learning environment.
The following activities will give you a sample of how you can tap into some cool information using resources shared by others.
Activity 1 - Your Online Network
1. Click here to complete an activity called Life Online. When you get to the site, you will select "View" where it says "Media Type: Student Activity," to begin the interactive program.
2. As you navigate through the activity, make sure to take notes in the boxes provided, then save them before going to the next page. You will be able to print your notes at the end of the activity.
2. As you navigate through the activity, make sure to take notes in the boxes provided, then save them before going to the next page. You will be able to print your notes at the end of the activity.
Assignment 2
After completing the "Life Online" activity, you will create a presentation of your ideas about online communication. You may choose a particular topic that interests you or that came up in the videos you watched, or your teacher may have some suggestions for how to focus your presentation.
Before you get started, check with your teacher to find out if you will be working individually, in pairs, or in small groups to develop your presentation. Your teacher can also give you options for your presentation. For example, you might create a video, a podcast, a PowerPoint presentation, or a poster, or you might write an essay.
In the end, you'll have the opportunity to share your presentation with your classmates and to see their projects as well.
Before you get started, check with your teacher to find out if you will be working individually, in pairs, or in small groups to develop your presentation. Your teacher can also give you options for your presentation. For example, you might create a video, a podcast, a PowerPoint presentation, or a poster, or you might write an essay.
In the end, you'll have the opportunity to share your presentation with your classmates and to see their projects as well.
Activity 2 - Blogs
1. Visit Edublogs.
2. Click on Community, then scroll down to view the Edublogs Directory.
3. From the directory, select a topic or subject area of interest to you.
4. Spend some time exploring the blogs available. You'll find that the authors range from teachers to kids of all ages.
2. Click on Community, then scroll down to view the Edublogs Directory.
3. From the directory, select a topic or subject area of interest to you.
4. Spend some time exploring the blogs available. You'll find that the authors range from teachers to kids of all ages.
Assignment 2
1. Sign up for an account at Edublogs and create your own blog.
2. When you have your account set up and log in to your blog, visit the "Getting started with Edublogs" area. This will walk you through the basic steps of setting up your blog.
2. When you have your account set up and log in to your blog, visit the "Getting started with Edublogs" area. This will walk you through the basic steps of setting up your blog.
Student Feedback
If you are completing this Personal Networks 'thing' please feel free to provide some feedback to us to help improve it. We revise and edit during the summer. This survey will ask for your teacher's name. Thank you for your input.
Student survey link
Student survey link
Connections
21things4students by REMC-RITS is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at 21things4teachers.net.
