Creating your own Personal Learning Network – PLN Using Web 2.0 Tools

Creating your own PLN (Personal Learning Network) has now become more exciting, global and, accessible for everyone using Web 2.0 tools.

Many people are familiar with using “social media” and are using web based technologies and tools such as Facebook, My Space, email and Twitter to keep connected with friends and family.

These same tools are also used by thousands of people everyday to connect with others from around the world who are involved in similar areas of work or study to share ideas, collaborate on projects and problem solve.

Some people are a little intimidated by the thought of joining a Blog, or creating a Twitter or bookmarking account – one of the great things about the internet is that you don’t have to contribute to any discussions – you can “lurk” quite happily and comfortably in the background: read blogs, Tweets and investigate links and bookmarks without contributing until you feel comfortable to do so.

I use a variety of Web 2.0 tools to gather and collect information. I bookmark a website I’m interested in using Diigo or Delicious, then I link the websites and blogs to my Twitter site if I want to receive regular updates – usually this is easy, just by clicking on a graphic such as this on websites

This means the information about updates and changes comes to me, rather than me needing to visit each of my favourite sites and Blogs. Each time a website or blog is updated a brief message and link will appear on my Twitter page – I can then decide if I’d like to read more, or if I’ll ignore it for now.

I’d like to share a few ideas and links that I use in my PLN

For bookmarking, sharing and tagging

Diigo http://www.diigo.com/user/anitaraftery

Delicious – http://www.delicious.com/araftery

Twitter- @anitaraftery

Understanding what web 2.0 tools can do and how to use them

Web 2.o tools in Plain English http://www.commoncraft.com/social-media-pack An introduction to a wide selection of social media tools and ideas using Brief and engaging videos.

A free online course in using web 2.0 tools ! http://www.slq.qld.gov.au:80/services/learning/looking If Facebook fills you with fear, Twitter sounds like twaddle and Flickr seems as though it is spelt incorrectly, this is the course for you. Jump online, have a go and learn a bit about 2.0.

Twittering not Frittering http://www.edutopia.org/twitter-professional-development-technology-microblogging
Explanation of how Twitter can be used as a professional development tool.

TwittGroups ADE and Teachers http://twittgroups.com/groups/ade and http://twittgroups.com/groups/teachers Listing of many Apple Distinguished Educators and Teachers who are using Twitter
Twitter Tools for Community and Communications Professionals http://www.briansolis.com/2008/10/twitter-tools-for-community-and.html

Here’s just a few of my favourite Blogs & websites.

Click on the links to visit them, if you want to include them in your PLN, bookmark them and follow them on Twitter! I haven’t described each one as it would take up too much space in this blog… Take a web journey and explore!

http://natri.uky.edu/assoc_projects/qiat/index.html Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services in School Settings Wonderful, Wonderful resources and sharing – + great listserve to sign up to!

http://teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com/

http://www.classroom20.com

http://www.futureofeducation.com

http://slpsharing.com/ Speech-Language Pathology Sharing

http://speedchange.blogspot.com/ by Ira Socol, always an interesting read https://sites.google.com/site/iradavidsocol/

http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/ Teach Paperless great educational challenges and ideas – inspiring

http://shawnram.wordpress.com/ inspire change in teachings and preceptions of Special Education

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ fantastic resources!

http://www.cast.org Universal Design for Learning

http://www.mediaaccess.org.au/

http://disabilities.temple.edu/tech/

http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/at/chalcycle.htm

http://www.setbc.org/ wonderful resources and tutorials for everything related to using inclusive technologies

http://www.learnitin5.com/ demonstrating how to use Web 2.0 applications like blogs, social networks, podcasts, interactive videos, wikis, slidesharing and much more

http://www.connsensebulletin.com/

http://aacliteracy.psu.edu/Home.html

http://www.makeuseof.com

http://whatedsaid.wordpress.com/author/whatedsaid/

http://www.ted.com/ inspirational and innovative presentations by amazing people from all over the world -Ted Talks

http://www.educatoral.com/wordpress/

http://maccessibility.net/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/ & http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ouch/

http://www.teachscienceandmath.com/

http://www.simplek12.com/ helping teachers students to build 21st century classroom experiences.

http://www.pwd.org.au/

http://sites.google.com/site/buildingapln/

http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/?page_id=1280

http://twistynoodle.com/

http://www.hiyah.net/index.html

http://momswithapps.com/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodminds/intro.html

http://georgecouros.ca/blog/ The principal of change

http://www.stevehargadon.com/

http://www.edutopia.org/ &

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/twitter-expanding-pln

http://www.davebanesaccess.com/

http://www.UseVisualStrategies.com.

http://www.tobincls.com/learningnetwork.htm

http://www.teachinglearnerswithmultipleneeds.blogspot.com/

http://whatedsaid.wordpress.com/author/whatedsaid/
http://www.LindaHodgdon.com
http://www.AutismFamilyOnline.com

http://www.hackeducation.com/

http://speirs.org/blog/tag/theipadproject

http://teachingwithsoul.wordpress.com/

http://cybraryman.com/voicethread.html

http://nolimitstolearning.blogspot.com/

http://readingk12.pbworks.com/

http://numbernut.com/index.html

http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/

By visiting our Spectronics Blog, you’re also including us in your PLN ! I hope you find something of interest in the links included in this Blog.