The Power of the Online Professional Learning Network

1. The Power of the Online Professional Learning Network Helen Otway Manor Lakes P-12 Specialist College

2. Background • Teacher at Essendon Nth PS • Leading Teacher at Parkwood Green PS • Ultranet Coach, WMR, DEECD • Assistant Principal - ICT/Student Learning at Manor Lakes P-12/Specialist School

3. Guiding questions… • What is an online Professional Learning Network (PLN)? • How is this different to traditional Professional Learning experienced in schools? • How has Web 2.0 made an impact on Professional Learning for educators? • What are some examples and tools for online PLNs?

4. “When I first began teaching in the 1980s as a graduate, the people I would turn to for support would be my fellow teachers and my leadership team. They knew everything I needed to know about what to teach and how to teach it. Or so it seemed.” http://helenotway.edublogs.org/2008/05/31/the-power-of-the-professional-learning-network/

5. Typical Teacher Network This was me Alec Couros

6. “At times, depending on budget allocations, I could go off to a PD to hear what was happening with Literacy or with new technologies. This information sat with me until I was ready to use it or would be buried within my mind with all the chores that were more pressing at the time.” http://helenotway.edublogs.org/2008/05/31/the-power-of-the-professional-learning-network/

7. Traditional Professional Development • Whole school PD • After school - 3:45pm • Offsite workshops • Planned for you • Scheduled • Have to attend

8. “In 2008 this would no longer be enough for me and wonder if it is enough for others. Admittedly I am not a graduate teacher anymore but still feel that there is a wealth of new knowledge and experiences, especially in the area of ICT out there that I cannot ignore. So would my immediate colleagues be able to support my desire to learn and grow now?” http://helenotway.edublogs.org/2008/05/31/the-power-of-the-professional-learning-network/

9. http://www.wordle.net/

10. “In the last 8 months my life as a teacher and learner has changed somewhat to include a new online Professional Learning Network (PLN). A network that is growing and fluid enough to accommodate my wonderings and discoveries, my shifts in mindset and my whims.” http://helenotway.edublogs.org/2008/05/31/the-power-of-the-professional-learning-network/

11. The Networked Teacher This is me now Alec Couros

12. Implications of Web 2.0on Professional Learning Learning - • Anytime, anywhere • Interactive and dynamic • Collaborative and connected • Relevant and purposeful • Spontaneous and open • Reflective

13. Steve Hargadon’s 10 Trends http://helenotway.edublogs.org/tag/twitter/ • New publishing revolution • A tidal wave of information • Everything is becoming participative • The new pro-sumers • The age of the collaborator • An explosion of innovation • The world gets even flatter and faster • Social learning moves towards centre stage • The long tail • Social networking really opens up a party!

14. Why Professional Learning? • Knowing what to do • Knowing how to do it • Knowing the best way or other ways to do something • Knowing where to find help • Knowing who to ask for help • Do these fit with your expectations of PL?

15. Online Professional Learning Networks • Ning (social network/website) • Blog (online journal) • Twitter (micro-blogging) • Diigo (social book-marking) • And heaps more!! We will look more closely at the top four

16. “As a result of joining these online communities and developing them into my own PLNs, I have been on a huge learning curve and also a journey that I have some say, in how and when I learn. I am able to self regulate my professional growth and can share my reflections along the way through the same networks that support me. This blog helps me to process and document my journey.” http://helenotway.edublogs.org/2008/05/31/the-power-of-the-professional-learning-network/

17. Nings

18. Launched in 2005 Online platform Join networks Create own profile page Make it unique Add photos, text, and videos Write a blog post Join discussions and forums Add friends or ‘colleagues’ Join groups with specific interests Create you own group Create your own network Over 500,000 networks now Ning Interestingness!!

19. Some examples • http://classroom20.ning.com/ • http://secondclassroom.ning.com/ • http://nowconference2008.ning.com/ • http://oznzeducators.ning.com/ • http://school20.ning.com/

20. Blogs

21. Short for weblog A web page Journal like Most recent entries or ‘posts’ go to the top of the page Text, images, videos can be included Personalised Shared online over the Internet Read by your network and others Subscribed to Hosted by - Edublogs Campus Edublogs Blogger Typepad Blog Interestingness!!

22. Some Examples … • http://helenotway.edublogs.org/Helen Otway • http://mscofino.edublogs.org/Kim Cofino • http://heyjude.wordpress.com/JudyO’Connell • http://betch.edublogs.org/Chris Betcher • http://weblogg-ed.com/Will Richardson • http://theopenclassroom.blogspot.com/ Jo McLeay

23. Twitter

24. Free online micro-blogging service Users send and receive updates Messages are no longer than 140 characters Begin with the question - What are you doing? Add friends and follow Follow people with similar interests Have updates sent to mobile Direct message someone Seek advice Answer other people’s queries Twitter Interestingness!!

25. Twitter Why use it? • To be connected with like minded people • To share links and ideas • To learn what is happening with education locally and globally Or as an ICT facilitator in NZ put it - And a university lecturer says -

27. Diigo http://www.diigo.com/profile/helenotway

28. Social book-marking service Like delicious Save ‘favourites’ to the Internet Access book-marks on any computer at anytime Add friends Join groups Pool resources for specific projects Annotate and add sticky notes to a website or article Diigo Interestingness!!

29. Diigo Groups http://groups.diigo.com/groups/peer-coaching http://groups.diigo.com/groups/google-in-education