A few days ago, we launched the latest challenge in our free professional development series here on the Teacher Challenge blog. If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out, What the heck is a PLN?
We have many great posts and activities lined up to share over the coming month or so, but wanted to first take the opportunity to do a little bit of informal pre-assessment with everyone participating.
So, this particular activity might be the shortest in the series, but it also might just be the most important.
Your Challenge
Leave a comment below and answer one (or both) of the following:
1. What do you hope to learn more about with respect to your PLN in the coming weeks?
2. What have you learned with creating your PLN that you wish that someone had told you before and what tips do you have to share?
Even better than leaving a comment would be to write your response in a blog post and leave a link to it in the comments 
Challenge on!
June 18, 2011 at 1:06 pm
How do I get connected to other Social Studies teachers?
June 26, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Good question Thomas. I would look at connecting with them on Twitter. Perhaps start with this list here – http://twitter4teachers.pbworks.com/w/page/22554579/Social-Studies-Teachers
You might also be able to connect with some of them via our class blog list – http://theedublogger.com/check-out-these-class-blogs/
June 30, 2011 at 5:57 am
Hi Sue,
What should be done be listed on class blogs?
Kind regards,
asli
June 18, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Before beginning my PLN adventure, I wish someone had told me the vital signs to look for in the Twitter profiles of people I might consider or NOT… following: review their tweets, check # of followers and who they are and bio. But still the best thing I’ve done professional in a VERY Long time, hands down!
June 26, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Thanks Sherri and totally agree. For me the main things are check their bio and if in doubt check their most recent tweets.
Great advice!
June 18, 2011 at 1:55 pm
What I want to know is, well, a few things:
1) What is the best free stuff I can find and use to support making the online teaching environment come alive and connect our students. Not bells and whistles, but enlivenment and education.
2)How can I best organize the tools I come across? Would an eportfolio be the ticket, or a site about sites, or an ongoing blog with organized links, or…?
Looking forward to learning, and to coming up with new questions!
June 18, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Symbaloo EDU is a great website to organize your favorite tools…it is awesome! It has an app-like feature where you can customize all of your favorites onto one page. You can also make it for your homepage. This has saved me. Also check out http://www.go2web20.net for free online tools. Hope this helps!
June 20, 2011 at 8:19 pm
Barbara,
Depends if you want the tools for teachers or students. I run grade 6/7 ICT at my school and I have a class blog. In the header at the top of the blog are pages to links I recommend to my students. This includes websites on topics we cover, websites students have recommended as well as tools for students to try out. Check it out at this link.
June 18, 2011 at 2:32 pm
I love sharing resources on Twitter- been doing it for over a year now and I’ve done a good job filtering out the noise. I’ve learned so much from those I follow and my students have definitely benefitted from what they’ve shared.
However, I feel as though I’ve come late to the party. Everyone seems deeply connected to already-established PLNs.
Where have people found the time to build connections the way it seems they’ve done? It’s hard enough finding time for friends and family while building a program that’s meaningful to students. How do some of the online edu-rock-stars DO the amazing things they do (Tweeting, blogging, meeting-up, webinar-ing, conference-attending, book-writing, curating, etc.)while maintaining balance in their personal lives?
In the past year, it’s been really hard for me to find time to be consistent enough to maintain a blog or build meaningful connections on the various edu-sites I’m a part of. I’d like to change that, but I need to know how others find the time considering they must be just as busy as I am simply being a teacher.
)
June 18, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Oh, geesh. Methinks my emoticon went rogue and is being flirty. Apologies. Can’t take her anywhere…
June 19, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Syd
Loved your ramble and to some extent this is where I sit. I do blog and follow Twitter but only as I find the time, which as you say as a teacher it can be difficult.
June 21, 2011 at 2:46 pm
I agree — I teach full time and am Technology Coordinator. I twitter and blog as I can…this is as it should be, I think.
June 26, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Hi Syd, the key is really to fit is as Sheri says. Do it when it can and when it suits you. That is why PLN’s are personal — it’s about what works for you.
September 14, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Thank goodness for all your comments. I feel so guilty sometimes at not having enough time to be as deeply involved as others are. The point is that every you blog or tweet you build up your skills.
June 18, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Syd said what I have to say perfectly. How do we organize ourselves with our already busy schedule in order to set up a PLN? I know need to network, but do not know how to narrow down the possibilities.
I have been blogging since the first TEacher Challenge and just starting Tweeting, hoping to build a network. Many people are following me and I feel I have nothing to offer…yet.
I maintain three class blogs for adults and university students, the most active being http://teachingknowledge.wordpress.com. I also maintain the local chapter blog for MEXTESOL, the Mexican version of TESOL.
June 26, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Hi Ellen, agreed. Syd said it perfectly. Just work out what works best for you. I think many of us feel we don’t have much to offer. Collectively we do. Sometimes the best parts of twitter are the random conversations we have which are just as important and the ones we have to help and share.
June 18, 2011 at 9:20 pm
Hi everyone!
I would like to learn how to become connected with other teachers around the world rather than still feel that I am on my only lonely.
There is a great community of teachers here in Victoria sharing on Edulists.
I have been using blogs and wikis with my classes on pretty much a local basis.
I would love to see this be expanded to other classes around the world.
You can follow my attempts to do this 30 day challenge on my blog. And please visit the class blog and leave a message for us to get started with joining up with other classes around the world.
Cheerio,
June 18, 2011 at 11:16 pm
Not having much luck tonight!
My challenge blog is at http://magicalbill30daychallenge.wordpress.com/
and my class blog is at http://unit1infotech2011.wordpress.com/
Cheers, Bill
June 19, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Bill
We need the address of your blogs! I did leave you a comment by linking to your name but not sure if this was the active blog!
Kathryn
June 18, 2011 at 10:26 pm
Hi Barbara,
Your first comment sums up what I would like to do – make the online education become alive.
Something that students and staff look forward to logging into on a daily basis to see what is new and of interest.
Bill
June 19, 2011 at 6:28 am
Hi Ronnie,
Thanks for doing a pre-assessment to individualize this for all of us! I wrote a post as a response
http://wwwatanabe.blogspot.com/2011/06/connecting-in-plns.html
Kind regards,
Tracy Watanabe
June 19, 2011 at 6:45 am
My opinion best site for teachers who want to improve lessons and student engagement
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/01/seven-places-to-find-free-ebooks.html
June 19, 2011 at 10:43 pm
Well, I see that many struggle with the same issues as I do. I hope that we can manage to find some answers together, and as suggested I posted on What I want to know about PLNs. See you soon again!
June 20, 2011 at 10:21 am
I’ve added a post about learning from my PLN. Thanks for allowing this reflection!
http://techcsrn.edublogs.org/2011/06/19/learning-from-my-pln/
June 20, 2011 at 10:58 pm
Like others who have responded, I feel a bit late to the party, as well. I’ve been dabbling in blogging and tweeting for a while, but finding time is an issue.
I’m just beginning to form a number of connections, but most are people in regular education classrooms – while I work with kids on the autism spectrum. So finding others in special education would be nice.
Lastly, the question was already asked about how to organize all the resources we do encounter. And a couple of folks already gave some suggestions. Thanks!
June 21, 2011 at 12:26 pm
I hope to become more tech savvy and I want to get really familiar with twitter. I had an account when it first started getting popular but I just lost interest because I wasn’t familiar with all I could do and how to do it. I hope that I can also use the valuable resources that I learn about to get my classroom inspired to learn.
I also want to figure out how to organize everything and how to I search to find educators on my grade level, I am new to fourth grade this year.
June 21, 2011 at 12:42 pm
I want to share and learn more about best practices and resources that have helped teachers implement them. I am also looking forward to just having good educational conversation.
Because I am new to blogging and twitter, I wish I had known more about setting up a blog and all this twitter lingo. I’m learning though:)
June 26, 2011 at 9:53 pm
Thanks for your feedback. Have you had a look at our series on blogging? It should help you get started – http://teacherchallenge.edublogs.org/challenges-2/30-days-to-kick-start-your-blogging/
June 21, 2011 at 1:22 pm
So many more things I could add to my post after reading all of these comments! Nice to see so many people feeling and thinking the same way.
My blog post for this challenge can be found at:
http://firingonallsyllables.edublogs.org/
June 21, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Oh help! I hope I am doing this right. Here is my blog site
http://baeten5.edublogs.org/2011/06/20/pln-challenge-2/
with my response
June 21, 2011 at 5:50 pm
I’m a bit behind in posting but here’s my contribution:
http://bit.ly/kXxEFz
June 22, 2011 at 8:52 am
I have posted on what I would really like to know here.
http://mikebetts.edublogs.org/2011/06/21/pln-challenge-2-what-is-it-that-you-want-to-know/
June 22, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Lots of the above posts have asked or answered some of my ever growing questions. I suppose for me, being new to twitter, I followed people who had a similar class level or interest to me.
I am passionate about literacy and some of the people I follow are educators who are also mad about reading and writing. I follow who they follow, who they follow, who they follow etc ….. BUT then I got to thinking…
This is all well and good to watch out for their tweets (and believe me just reading some of the tweets has been the most powerful PD for me ever!) But I wished I could be part of the conversation or ask a question to learn more. So recently I just jumped in and started asking, collaborating and talking through Replies, @mentions, DM and RT.
I think there needs to be more of this collaboration/conversation going on with Twitter as often I see us all tweeting madly, but how do we reflect or know who/where the audience is or what the purpose of these tweets are,or even if anyone cares what I have to tweet?? I would like to learn how to form a PLN that collaborates and enters in professional dialogue that is practice enriching and engaging through #edchat, @mention, #FF, RT, DM, R, etc. What do others think???
Food for thought.
Jasmine
June 26, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Hi Jasmine, it’s definitely worth taking the time to be part of the conversation on Twitter.
Watching how people like Michael (@mgraffin), Kathleen (@Kathleen_morris), Jo (@johart) and Phil (@Philhart) do it are great ways to see how you can become more involved.
You’ll see that like a f2f conversation there is a certain amount of small talk, casual conversation, mixed with helping each other and connecting with others.
The stronger the relationships the better your interactions become.
June 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm
My response is here:
One Does What One Can
Do what you can…
June 22, 2011 at 11:51 pm
Hi, I am looking for ways to share what I know with others. I also am looking for ways to improve my teaching skills.
June 23, 2011 at 2:06 pm
I’ve posted a response to this question at my blog:
http://kimberlyhirsh.com/2011/06/pln-looking-forward-and-back/
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June 25, 2011 at 5:55 am
I blogged! http://newschoolelt.wordpress.com/2011/06/24/plnchallenge123/
June 27, 2011 at 11:19 am
Thanks everyone so far for sharing what you are hoping to learn and what advice you would give others.
I’ve spent the last few days visiting everyone’s posts and reflecting on everyone’s feedback!
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June 30, 2011 at 6:47 am
Hello everyone,
At first I felt overwhelmed but then I decided to participate in the challange. I am a bit behind posting but I hope to catch up!
Thanks for the opportunity.
Here is my response:
Asli’s Blog
(In case link does not work)
http://aslisaglam.edublogs.org/2011/06/29/a-new-challange-pln/
June 30, 2011 at 11:36 am
We all seem to have the same problems (lack of time) and the same worries (being overwhelmed, wondering whether we are doing enough).
Here is my contribution: http://lunas994.blogspot.com/2011/06/pln-challenge-2-how-pln-works.html
June 30, 2011 at 8:08 pm
I’m a little bit behind with these posts, but better late than never. I am slowly but surely organising my PLN. Well I think I am. Started a blog, on twitter and now trying to get a website together. Is that a PLN? My problem though, which is not really a complaint, is that I am overloaded with information. I am getting so many website links from twitter, reading fantastic blogs. So where do I start. Trying to make things as simple as possible to get started. Thank you for all your advice, much appreciated.
July 3, 2011 at 9:58 pm
I’m reasonably behind on these posts, as well, and I agree that it’s better to comment late as opposed to never. Much like Claire (above) I’m starting to build and organise my PLN and there’s just so much information out there. While I’m not new to blogging, I’ve just recently set up a blog specifically dedicated to my teaching and learning experiences and after speaking to my school’s Ultranet coach have re-discovered the usefulness of Twitter in terms of finding and locating like-minded individuals and delighting in the resources that are being shared.
I’ll admit to quite a bit of lurking, but I would imagine that at this stage that’s probably the best thing for me to do (although I am hoping to become ambitious in the next little while).
At this stage, just reading other people’s comments and questions have been fantastic and have answered some of my own questions in the progress. I am hoping to now get back on track with this challenge over the holidays. I just wanted to step in for a quick moment to say a big thank you for all the advice and suggestions that I’ve been reading about. It really is fantastic.
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