tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914691703811421691.post5576047829283081727..comments2014-11-15T18:43:14.156-08:00Comments on EdTechBlog2013: PLN Plan 2013Alyson Indrunashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16357343055231520873noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914691703811421691.post-35701110249743171982013-04-07T13:40:31.294-07:002013-04-07T13:40:31.294-07:00Thanks for your great ideas, Judy. You have a new ...Thanks for your great ideas, Judy. You have a new follower on Twitter in me. I really like what you mentioned about "multimodal composing" and the teaching of writing. I realize now that my post may have a negative tone about the comp. scholarship, so to add something positive, I'll share a short anecdote. I was forced to teach in a computer lab during my TA days. If I was given a choice then, I would have chosen a more traditional class with books, a white board, and students. I was really scared of looking like I didn't know what I was doing with computers (because I didn't). I'm so grateful that my program directors had an eye toward the future. That experience really helped shaped how I teach to this day. Your anecdote about your dissertation made me think about that. I also love that you list students as part of your PLN. Great to connect with you! Alyson Indrunashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16357343055231520873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914691703811421691.post-22030399846999504362013-04-05T14:36:49.704-07:002013-04-05T14:36:49.704-07:00Hello Alyson,
For me, PLN is an experience such a...Hello Alyson,<br /><br />For me, PLN is an experience such as our etmooc. Although I have been hearing a lot about MOOC's especially the kind sponsored by Coursera, the etmooc offered a different kind of experience. The term "connectivism" has been tossed around, and it does apply to how we experienced this course. We could elect to participate in the Collaborate sessions or listen to the recordings, check the Google Community, go online to Twitter, read one another's blog, check one another's digital stories, and engage in one another's multimedia productions. Although I often turn to Twitter for PLN and also attend edcamps and like conferences, on a daily basis checking Twitter, blogs, and other online resources allows for unlimited PLN.<br /><br />Like you, I am an English teacher by trade. But after completing my dissertation in the area of computers and writing and earning a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, I turned from teaching high school to teaching college and doing administrative work related to writing program administration. I agree the literature on writing, which I have been reading for decades, can get tedious and repetitive. However, the technology angle always creates a new way of thinking about communication. When I first started my dissertation on computers and writing, my colleagues who were English teachers could not understand why I would want to explore this area. Since then, the field has expanded and continues to change, and I am glad I got my initiation when I did, as I had a firm foundation.<br /><br />Now, most of my focus is more so on teaching teachers to use technology effectively in their teaching. Although writing is part of it, technology means multimodal composing.<br /><br />Keep in touch about your upcoming conference. I am on Twitter at @judyarzt and have numerous blogs and websites. Students in my courses also create blogs and websites. Their work is also part of my PLN.<br /><br />Great meeting you through the #etmooc on Twitter. I think that speaks to what PLN is.Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15467341120077033854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914691703811421691.post-73021707326308759482013-04-05T11:26:24.101-07:002013-04-05T11:26:24.101-07:00Thanks, Alec! I have no idea if you shared my blog...Thanks, Alec! I have no idea if you shared my blog with others, but it was the first time I went over a hundred readers of my posts. It was a bit shocking and very cool. I can't thank you enough for the ETMOOC experience. I really appreciate the feedback! Alyson Indrunashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16357343055231520873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914691703811421691.post-35194013880943745992013-04-04T20:28:00.903-07:002013-04-04T20:28:00.903-07:00You have a reader for life in me - thanks for shar...You have a reader for life in me - thanks for sharing. :-)Alec Couroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00242440533258916882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914691703811421691.post-241898778634241552013-04-04T18:06:42.193-07:002013-04-04T18:06:42.193-07:00Thanks for all of your great ideas and resources, ...Thanks for all of your great ideas and resources, SISQITMAN! You've given me a lot to consider, and I'm going to look up your group of ETMOOCers. The evolution of one's PLN is something I'd like to discuss because it is so overwhelming. There are so many choices that I think it overwhelms people who are not comfortable with technology. Small steps are actually giant leaps for teachers who already have so much on their plates. <br /><br />I do plan on audience engagement, and my hope is to create a learning network at the conference. I'm not sure about your experience with conferences, but I feel like I never make sustained connections. So yes, audience engagement will be key. I'll post my proposal and abstract soon, and I'd love to hear your ideas. Thanks for the link to your work as well. I'll be sure to check it out:)Alyson Indrunashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16357343055231520873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914691703811421691.post-10571968162616004522013-04-03T19:41:59.261-07:002013-04-03T19:41:59.261-07:00Hi Alyson. I'm in a group of ETMOOCers who hav...Hi Alyson. I'm in a group of ETMOOCers who have banded together to continue our relationships post-ETMOOC. I have had the idea of PLN in my mind for a few years, but I think it's one that evolves over time. The definition or scope of the PLN is different for me than it was a year ago. Some of that had to do with the time and energy I was able to put into it. <br /><br />I taught first as an adjunct Psychology instructor at a small Christian college and then 7 years in multiple grades in a small, rural school in N. CA. The connection with technology grew for me as a teacher as the access to technology and the growth of the resources on the Internet grew. The real online connections with others didn't occur much until after that time. My first real connections came the last year of my time there when I piloted the use of Palm handheld computers in my class and found a few others around the country I could correspond with by email. We would share ideas and our learning about using the technology and websites in our classroom. You can see my artifacts here: <br /><br />http://www.sisnet.ssku.k12.ca.us/~hervieux/Gazelle/index.html<br /><br />For me, a PLN started with someone else's definition: Professional Learning Network. But then I found that Personal Learning Network was more appropriate, as it described how the connections I was making and the learning that was occurring were about me - not just the teaching profession. It's about a relationship with others and learning that takes place through a variety of ways: webinars, blogs, websites, Twitter, Diigo social bookmarking, and now a number of other ways, too. Because of where I live, my network of online relationships and opportunities for learning are what help sustain me, and allow me to share what I'm thinking and learning with others who are likeminded in their passion for education and technology. I guess the emphasis I would share with others is that the PLN represents a relationship with others and learning. I don't know what your topic is for the conference, but with 90 minutes to present, I hope you'll take the time to engage the participants in some kind of interaction with each other. Maybe with some encouragement, they will seek to connect beyond the "event" and continue the learning of ideas you've shared with each other. I wish you the best. You can find me on Twitter and Google+ as SISQITMAN. Thanks for the chance to comment on your blog post. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com