As I understand it, the idea of a Personal Learning Network is actually pretty simple: you find the tools you want to use to keep up on the things you’re interested in, and think about them in an integrated way.
The idea of a Personal Learning Environment is also simple: it’s the place/way one organizes the input from the PLN. This would include tools, including social networking tools, RSS aggregation, and even things I write in a notebook.
The first major reference I can find to a PLN is dated 1998, from Dan Tobin in a business context: Building Your Personal Learning Network. Now we have articles (like this one by Miguel Guhlin Build Your PLN) and blogs and even an entire class (PLENK) based on the idea.
It begins to sound like a product, something everyone should get or have. Or a structure that we should build. And within the context of this class, many students are doing that, building a PLN using the tools that are suggested, especially Twitter.
I see PLNs as more organic, not only because they are ever-changing but because they grow over time. And sometimes a very long time. Longer than this class will last, for sure.
Vanessa writes, “developing a PLN takes time and that I have already completed a number of the necessary tasks that will help me on my way to establishing connections on Twitter such as creating an account, learning to follow, watching and listening, retweeting, tagging tweets, etc”.
Time is crucial. You can start growing your own, but throwing one together could end in disappointment and disillusionment.
This is where you get comments like “I just don’t see the point of Twitter” and Jud’s wonderfully honest and insightful post that includes “I don’t understand the appeal of using a blog, twitter or other forms of social media for much of anything”.
It isn’t about the tools, but where the people are with whom you want to connect. Many people join Facebook, not because they want to be in Facebook, but because their family or friends are already there and they want to interact. I’m in Twitter because that’s where the ed tech people are, and I enjoy the challenge of writing in 140 character spurts because I’m perverse. I read blogs because that’s where the emergent thinking is published, and books because that’s where the polished, extended thinking is published. I belong to a listserv because they have one for community college history instructors, and I want to interact with them. I use Google Reader because I prefer to scan multiple blog posts instead of going to each blog.
I’m really glad I started doing this first, before everyone started calling it a PLN. The name itself sounds technical, and therefore difficult. The fact that people are writing research articles and holding classes about it makes it seem even harder and more distant from ordinary, daily activity.
That’s a shame. Because really, it’s pretty simple.
Well done!!
I am very hesitant to use terms like PLN (plus others) because they aren’t terms that I would normally use. I know what works for me and I’m open to using new tools and technologies but don’t make use of the language or jargon surrounding them… personalizing the learning and personal learning are all things that make sense, are important AND they are simple – and simple is good.
Lisa, very insightful. I agree, the PLN does sound technical and difficult. Really it isn’t difficult at all, it just takes time to grow and evolve. My pln is in a constant state of change and flux as new voices join the conversation, new conversations begin, and old connections sizzle out with the conversation. The important part of the social network is the community that it creates, the ability to connect with those who you need to connect with at that moment in time.
I actually used Tobin’s definition in a recent presentation “… a group of people who can guide your learning, point you to learning opportunities, answer your questions, and give you the benefit of their own knowledge and experience.” I rather like this non-techy, non-product, version of the PLN. You’re right, it’s simple and the current incarnation of this PLN does turn off people.
Pet Peeve: When people begin Twitter posts with “PLN: “
I will have to remember Alec’s Pet Peeve!
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Yes Lisa. Many People do things because they are obligated socially to do it like being on Facebook or Twitter. I remember a woman who said that she practices sports not because she likes it, but she wants to have be in good shape and sports does that. Although she does not like the effort and that she has to go to the gym, but she likes the benefits of sports. So, we do things for the consequential results of them. We study to succeed. I like knowledge and learning though. But, this is the only way to succeed in life and it’s so exhausting task (hew)…
I love this post, Lisa! To be honest, I find it very easy to get lost in terms. My school division uses terms like PLC (professional learning community), PLT (professional learning team), etc. These groups consist of teachers who have come together to share thoughts and ideas, and to work toward exploring topics as determined by the group. Your point that, “It isn’t about the tools, but where the people are with whom you want to connect” really hits home. As a school division, we make use of technology to a degree (email, BRIDGIT, Moodle. etc.). However, we primarily use it to keep in touch with other colleagues within our school division. Through this class, I am seeing so many new possibilities and am excited about the opportunity to connect with professionals from around the globe. I am hoping I can incorporate some of these tools in my work beyond the end date of this class and can encourage some of my ‘internal’ PLC/PLT groups to consider using these tools to connect with others that we really should be connecting with in order to learn and grow.