Step 1: What Is A PLN?
Welcome to our professional learning series on building a PLN.
This self-paced free course guides you step-by-step through the process of setting up your own PLN.
We have an optional PDF workbook that will help to keep you on track and focused as you work through the 7 steps of this course. Scroll down and click on the ‘download’ button under the document to save it to your computer.
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Open in new tab The aim of this first step is to:
- Unpack the definition of a PLN and “connected educator”
- Help you understand why educators create their own PLNs and how they use them
What Is A PLN?
Back in 1998 when the internet was in its infancy, Daniel R. Tobin wrote an article about the term “Personal Learning Network” which was abbreviated to PLN. This term was used to describe a network of people and resources that support ongoing learning.
Whether or not Tobin actually coined the term PLN is up for debate. As Clint Lalonde has pointed out, others, such as Dori Digenti, also wrote about the term in the late 90s.
Digeni said,
The PLN consists of relationships between individuals where the goal is enhancement of mutual learning. The currency of the PLN is learning in the form of feedback, insights, documentation, new contacts, or new business opportunities. It is based on reciprocity and a level of trust that each party is actively seeking value-added information for the other.
The term has evolved and is now sometimes referred to as a Professional Learning Network — taking into account that fact that most “connected educators” use their PLN for professional growth and interaction.
As Tom Whitby has pointed out, there can even be a hybrid of the personal or professional learning network — the Personalized Learning Network.
…the shift in nuance maintains that participants are both personal and professional learners. A PLN is a tool that uses social media and technology to collect, communicate, collaborate and create with connected colleagues anywhere at any time. Participating educators, worldwide, make requests and share resources.
Are PLNs Exclusive To Education?
PLNs don’t just exist in the education world. They are important in all aspects of the business world, various vocations, and hobbies.
We contacted Daniel R. Tobin to ask him about how he came up with the term Personal Learning Network. We wanted to find out if he coined the term in relation to a particular industry or field.
Daniel told us,
It came from my own experience.
As I was thinking about how I had learned to do the various jobs I had over the course of my career, I realized that I had built an extensive network of people who had helped me learn. These included managers and colleagues and people I had met while doing research for my books, speaking at conferences, attending workshops, etc.
As I started writing about corporate training and development, I realized that what I had learned from my PLN was greater and more important than what I had learned from my formal education.
Interestingly, many teachers who are active online have remarked that they’ve learned a great deal more from their PLN than from any professional development session they’ve attended.
Are PLNs Something New?
All teachers know successful teaching and learning does not occur in a vacuum. Teachers have always relied on others for guidance, ideas, inspiration, support, and new perspectives. Naturally, some teachers are more active in their interactions than others.
Traditionally, all this interaction might take place in one school community. Teachers might have rarely connected with educators from other locations — apart from an occasional conference or professional development opportunity.
Technology changed all this.
Like in many other industries, educators now have access to people from all corners of the globe 24/7. This may largely be through social media but other platforms as well, such as blogs, online communities, and news sites.
So many barriers have been removed — geography, culture, language, timezones, travel, costs, logistics.
Embracing new networks and building a PLN doesn’t mean throwing out your old connections. Of course, it will always be valuable to talk to the teachers next door and down the hall. But imagine the possibilities of building on that network in diverse ways!
Video: What is A PLN?
Want to learn more about what is a PLN? This is Marc-André Lalande’s take on the matter in less than two minutes.
Being A Connected Educator
A connected educator is someone who collaborates online and uses a range of tools to build their own PLN.
Watch the following five minute video to learn more about being a connected educator. It shows interviews with educators who explain the importance of being “connected” in order to be effective teachers and leaders.
Why Create A PLN?
There are many reasons why all teachers should develop a PLN.
Here are eight benefits of having a PLN:
- You are in charge of your own professional development. PD is no longer something that you have to “sit and get”.
- You can explore your own interests, needs, and passions (or your students’). You might have a student who is struggling with reading, or you might have heard of makerspaces and decide you want to learn more about that, maybe you have a student who wants to research global warming, or perhaps you want to find a better system for running a sports day at your school. You can turn to your PLN for advice and support with all these sorts of things.
- 24/7 learning offers the flexibility to learn and connect at a time that suits you. You don’t have to wait for a PD or conference. And 24/7 learning certainly doesn’t mean you have to be constantly online either — you decide how much time you want to invest and when.
- You can learn and connect in a way that you enjoy. This might be via videos, podcasts, text, social media, Skype, blogging … the list goes on.
- There can be light and shade to your PLN. You can engage in a general chat about education (or anything) to debrief, laugh, or unwind. Or, you can engage in deep discussion, debate, and reflection that can really challenge and transform your thinking and teaching. The choice is yours and there will probably be a time and place for both.
- You can stay current on research and best practice, regardless of whether this information is being discussed in your own school, district (or even country!).
- A PLN allows for broad brainstorming or fine tuning. You might know very little about a certain topic and ask your PLN for any/all entry points into exploring the concept. At the other end of the spectrum, you may have already done a lot of work on a topic and use your PLN to fine tune your ideas and resources.
- Globally connected students need globally connected teachers. Having your own PLN is a key way to also help your students connect with others and start developing their own networks. We know this is important to enrich student learning and help students thrive in the changing labor market.
Feel free to use the following graphic on your blog or share it with your colleagues.
Four Big Ideas Around The Connected Educator
Silvia Tolisana (aka Langwitches) has written about four big ideas that surface when thinking about connected educators.
I think about the isolation of a teacher within their classroom walls and how connectedness to a global network of experts and peers could expose and add multiple perspectives to their world view and professional practice.
I am amazed every time by the transformative nature of teaching and learning, when harnessing the power of a network to crowdsource authentic data, resources, connections and collaborators.
Last, but not least, the idea of being able to model for our students what connected learning in an interconnected world means is a moral imperative for educators who are charged to prepare our kids for their future.
You can unpack these concepts further by reading Silvia’s post.
Building Your Own PLN
The great thing about a PLN is that it’s personal!
You make all the choices:
- What tools you use!
- Who you connect with!
- How you want to learn!
- When you want to learn!
The idea of this series is to guide you through the process of building your own PLN and give you a taste of the opportunities that are out there.
Remember, we each have our own preference of what online tools work best for us.
Throughout the seven part series, we’ve included popular tools for building a PLN to help get you started.
Conclusion
A PLN is a network of people and resources that support ongoing learning.
We believe all teachers could benefit from having a PLN.
You might be in a fantastic school but in some ways, schools can become echo chambers for the same beliefs and viewpoints. It can be easy to go with the status quo and fail to really question things or bring in new ideas. A simple conversation with someone from a very different community can be so eye opening.
Your Task
PLNs are all about sharing, collaborating, and learning from each other. So here’s your chance to ask a question, comment, and get involved!
We’d like you to add your voice and ideas to our ongoing conversation about PLNs by undertaking one or more of these challenges:
- PLN Definition: Watch the video What Is A PLN? Leave a comment on this post to explain what a PLN means to you. You might like to share your thoughts on “lurking”. What are the pros and cons of this approach? Or, you might like to explain what you think PLN stands for — personal, professional, personalized … or something else?
- PLN Benefits: Choose one or more of the eight benefits of having a PLN that’s listed above to explore in a comment. Tell us why this is a benefit that resonates with you.
- Connected Educators: Watch the Connected Educators video. Leave a comment on this post to explain why it’s important to be a connected educator and how a PLN can help you. You might like to give an example of one person in the education community that you’d like to follow and learn from or with. This could be a thought leader, or just someone you find interesting.
- Go Deeper: Write a blog post to explain what you have learned about PLNs. Perhaps your post could be a way to educate or persuade others on the benefits of PLNs. Or you might like to summarize some of the information from this study on PLNs for teachers. Leave a comment with a link to the post so we can have a look at how you went.
Also feel free to leave a comment to ask any questions or share your tips.
How to leave a comment: Scroll down to find the comment box. Write your comment, then enter your name and email address (email addresses are not published). Enter the anti-spam word. Press submit and we will moderate your comment ASAP.
The following information on PLNs was adapted from an original Teacher Challenge post by Australian teacher, Michael Graffin. You can check out Michael’s original post — What The heck Is A PLN.
This resource was updated by Kathleen Morris in 2018.
1,448 comments on “Step 1: What Is A PLN?”
I think that a PLN is a tool that can be very beneficial for teachers. I like how you are able to share as much as you would like and you can take as much information as you like. There are no regulations or rules, but it is to simply help you network with others. I think it brings connections and bonding between a variety of people and it is easily accessible at any point in time.
I like how you can fine tune your PLN and stay current on best practices and research!
A PLN is like having a supportive group of friends who share knowledge and ideas. It’s about connecting with others who are passionate about the same things you are, whether you’re a teacher or student. It’s a way to learn and grow. A pro is gathering information without having to participate fully. A benefit is to collaborate and get lots of ideas that you can use in your everyday life as well as your job.
One of the benefits that most resonates with me is that 24/7 learning allows for flexibility. Having a network of people available at any time you are able to sit down on social media is especially helpful when one needs help teaching a certain topic in the classroom. Professional development and conferences are not 24/7 tools that are available all the time. 24/7 learning also means that one doesn’t have to be online all the time but the tools, strategies, and people will be there when needed also one is available for other people in their network. It is a constant exchange of information at the tip of the fingers.
PLN or a Personal Learning Network refers to the group of people or organizations in which you connect with for your personal professional development. It is personal because you have the personal choice of who you want to make the connection with and aren’t limited to who you can learn from because you have the freedom to “lurk” or to observe what people are saying. It isn’t necessary to know these people or organizations personally for it to be a personal connection to you. As you learn from these different people and organizations, their ideas, questions, theories, findings, etc. can be beneficial to you personally as you develop in your profession through making these connections that are relevant to you. I do believe that lurking is a passive but appropriate way of attaining new knowledge. There are limitations to how much you can interact when lurking but the fact that you do not have to be directly interacting makes the information more accessible.
A PLN is a place for collaboration with similarly goal-oriented individuals. When we praise noteworthy individuals in our respective societies, rarely do we look at the collaboration that certainly took place behind their success. Most great things, and even great individuals, are formed by group revision and collaboration. A PLN is your way to get those revisions of your ideas from other’s who have ideas of their own.
24/7 learning offers the flexibility to learn and connect at a time that suits you. This benefit resonates with me because of my ADHD. Often times I have a difficult time planning my days out effectively because I have a hard time sticking to the schedule. Having the ability to access 24/7 learning would be perfect for me so at the drop of a hat possibly even at 1 am I can learn as opposed to having to do it on a strict schedule.
One of the benefits of having a Personal Learning Network (PLN) that resonates with me is the ability to stay current on research and best practices. Education is dynamic, and staying up-to-date with the latest research, innovative teaching methods, and evidence-based practices is crucial for educators. Participating in a PLN allows you to access a wealth of information, even if it’s not being discussed within your immediate school or district. Regular exposure to new research and practices keeps educators intellectually engaged and encourages continuous improvement. As education evolves, so should our teaching methods. Staying informed helps us adapt to changing student needs and societal trends.
A PLN to me means a network for people to learn things, gain insights and stay up to date with what is happening. A good example they gave in the video was twitter. This is a good example because you choose with who and what to connect with based on specific ideas. Lurking means using a PLN without participating in discussions or contributing. Meaning that lurking allows you to grasp information from others without feeling pressured to contribute
A PLN is a group of people and tools that help support learning. Typically PLN’s are used in education to support student learning in a subject. This isn’t just a tool for education, but a tool to help people in many fields like business.
A personal learning network (PLN) is essentially a group of educators linked through an online platform/network where educators are free to communicate with those in their group, but are not required to.
A Personal Learning Network (PLN) is an interactive online community that an individual creates and interacts with in order to interact with and learn from other individuals within their field or in this case the teaching community. PLNs are personalized to each individual in terms of what that person wants to see and post as well as the types of information that they are hoping to get out of the PLN since there are many benefits to PLNs. Even though a PLN takes place in an online format, teachers are able to take what they learn on virtual platforms and apply it to their classrooms through the use of research. Educators get out what they put in to PLNs meaning that they can choose the amount of time that they spend on their PLN but they are able to learn more the more time that they spend on their PLN. Lurking in PLNs means to just observe what people are saying in an online PLN community and not interact with them. Some pros to the approach of lurking is that it allows you to quickly research something and you don’t have to worry about receiving hate/backlash from other teachers in different schools/communities that have different teaching views. Some cons to lurking is that it does not allow to network/connect with other teachers and it makes the PLN less engaging.
PLN is a network that provides a way for people to stay connected, learn, and vent to one another. It provides people with tools and resources they can utilize to improve their teaching.
PLN’s are important because they help build connections. PLN’s are meant to be accessed at any time and resources from all over. It provides a continuous learning tool for educators.
To me, a PLN is a community of educators and academic administrators that share knowledge and skills in order to collectively make better, well-informed decisions in teaching students. It’s a wide range of interconnecting webs of teaching professionals that want to share and hear about experiences made in the field of education. As a newer teacher, I think it is important to lurk for a while on PLN platforms to grasp what the overall community looks like and to find a subcommunity, or multiple subcommunities, that resonate most with me in my content area and teaching environment. That way, I can learn, ask questions, and build up experience before sharing knowledge to assist other educators.
PLN stands for Professional Learning Network. A PLN can be a valuable resource for new teachers who need to learn about new technologies, teach concepts differently, or find general information. When you “lurk” in a PLN group, you’re not interacting but rather gathering ideas and knowledge from other actively participating members. I particularly appreciate learning at my own pace and as needed. I think that having multiple platforms for sharing and gathering information and knowledge is crucial in this day and age.
A personal learning network (PLN) is a personalized network of people and organizations, both online and offline, used to enhance learning, share ideas, and gain knowledge. It offers a diverse range of perspectives and resources, making learning interactive and dynamic. Lurking, or observing without participating, has advantages such as learning at your own pace, but limitations, including missed opportunities for engagement and feedback. PLNs are personal, professional, and personalized, tailored to individual interests and needs for professional development. They offer a customized learning experience, promoting continuous learning and growth. Active participation or lurking, PLNs can enrich knowledge and broaden horizons. Forming connections within a PLN can also lead to valuable sharing of knowledge and experiences, strengthening relationships. In summary, PLNs are powerful tools for ongoing learning and personal development.
A personal learning network (PLN) is a way to connect online with peers in the field and exchange resources, ideas, etc. One may ask questions to other colleagues, find answers to previously asked questions, engage in conversation relevant to the field and connect with link-minds or otherwise learn from those who have different approaches. For teachers, this is a wonderful way to have a community and reach out/mingle as needed. Otherwise, it may feel a bit isolating being alone in a classroom or a school. Feeling the need to connect with other scholars to bring fresh perspective is completely normal and PLNs fill that gap by allowing professional collaborative learning.
This benefit, along with the others, resonates with me because I believe it is extremely important to have a space of support, no matter the need, for all educators. With the PLN, support is consistently and constantly available. We can learn from each other and teach one another.
I chose to comment on 2. PLN Benefits: Choose one or more of the eight benefits of having a PLN that’s listed above to explore in a comment. Tell us why this is a benefit that resonates with you. The benefit I chose is, “You can stay current on research and best practice, regardless of whether this information is being discussed in your own school, district (or even country!).”
One of the most significant benefits of participating in a PLN is the ability to stay current on research and best practices. This is especially valuable because it allows educators to access and share cutting-edge information and innovative strategies, even if these topics are not being actively discussed within their own school, district, or country. This global perspective enriches our professional growth and ultimately enhances the learning experiences we provide to our students.
A PLN, or personal/professional learning network, is a group of people who are all connected in some way by a similar topic, like education. You might not know them all personally, but you do know of them and what they do. I think lurking is ok, sometimes you don’t have all of the knowledge yet to comment with confidence. I think as you get more comfortable with your PLN, you can transition from lurking to participating meaningfully.
A PLN is your personalized learning crew. It can be online or in-person, but the online world lets you connect with a vast pool of experts. You choose who’s in your network and what you learn from them – their ideas, questions, and resources become yours to explore. These connections can also introduce you to new people and knowledge through their own networks.
Whether you’re aiming for professional development or just want to keep learning, a PLN empowers you. You control your involvement, dipping in and out as needed. There are many tools available to connect with your PLN, so find what works best for you. The key is to leverage your network’s knowledge and never stop learning!
It’s the responsibility of every teacher to stay up to date on the latest research and classroom strategies that enhance the effectiveness of your pedagogical decision making. In this case, a PLN can help you accomplish exactly that, by entering into dialogue with other like-minded professionals in your specific content area. I like the accessibility of this resource, and that PLN’s don’t require a certain level of technological confidence or ability. It’s great for community building, and a good place to bounce ideas off of trusted educators.
A Personal Learning Network is perhaps based on an article by Daniel R. Tobin in 1988, which is later developed into a powerful tool which can be used for educators and learners alike. It contains people, resources, and connections that help you grow professionally and personally either as an educator or learner. PLN can be a platform where you can share knowledge, exchange ideas, and gain insights from a diverse group of individuals. Just like any other network, PLN can consist of colleagues, mentors, experts in your field, and even students. You can develop PLN on social media platforms, online forums, and professional organizations which will enable you to get real life information, relevant news, continuous learning and collaboration. It is a fraternity which bolsters a sense of community and support, thus helping people to stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in your area of interest.
A PLN is an online community made up of people that stay connected because they have similar interests. It is personal because it was created by someone that needs to be connected with people that can help them and adheres to their needs. It is also a place where learning occurs and people are able to grow and adapt as times change and new technologies are being implemented. It is also a place where networking is the goal, people do not have to know others personally but can share ideas and take things in from a different perspective. PLNs are great because they can be accessed anytime and connect people from many different places.
Engaging with various educators is not just about gaining access to different teaching methods, philosophies, and innovations. It’s about the potential for inspiration and the birth of new ideas. This diversity can ignite a spark of creativity and lead to innovative approaches in your classroom. You can gain access to a wealth of resources, including lesson plans, teaching tools, and instructional strategies you might have yet to discover, opening up a world of possibilities for your teaching practice.The math coach in our building is a great resource for teachers and students. She provides great ideas and tools to use. She also supports students that are struggling.
The benefit I resonated with most is #2: You can explore your own interests, needs, and passions (or your students’). As we get to know our students and their learning styles, as well as ourselves as educators, we will encounter so much diversity in learning styles, interests, and cultural backgrounds. In order to be the best and most adaptable educator I can be, it is important for me to continue to seek knowledge that is outside of my own personal and educational experience as well as continue to delve further into my unique experiences and characteristics that make me able to relate to my students.
A PLN is a community that creates a connected pool of people that share and provide knowledge, ideas, and insight. By having those to communicate with in similar field, it keeps the brain fresh and involved. It allows them to keep up with standards and build upon/create new experiences. It is helpful to have people who share goals and can provide assistance and perspective when needed.
A PLN is like a teachers network. Those in our field that we are able to converse with as well as ask questions, and share ideas. It is a network of other teachers and any kind of educators where people can bond, speak about, debate, give advice, and a whole slew of other things. It is essentially a group of support for teacher to reach out to and learn from through. You are able to reach out through this network whenever needed.
A personal learning network (PLN) is essentially a group of educators linked through an online platform/network where educators are free to communicate with those in their group, but are not required to. The PLN’s focus could be on something such as classroom management. A PLN is something that I would really appreciate having, especially during my first 1-2 years of teaching; however, it would be helpful throughout my career. Creating something with no examples or no one to talk to is really challenging, and it feels as though the PLN would take that worry and struggle away.
PLN’s are important because they allow you to take on PDs that are pertinent to you and on your own time. PDs are often a waste of time because they consist of stuff you already know or they are not applicable to real life scenarios. PLNs allow you to connect with your interests and learn things you don’t know so that PDs are not a waste of time.
A Personal Learning Network (PLN) is an online learning network with the function of connecting people to others and resources. There are great benefits in building PLNs with its ability to gain perspective, offer opportunities for PD, engage in interests you don’t know about, and the flexibility and vast amount of resources available. While there are benefits to being able to set the terms of how you would like to contribute to PLNs, I do wonder how lurkers influence the function and efficiency of PLNs. Are there more people lurking than contributing to PLNs?
PLN stands for Professional/Personal Learning Network. It’s like having a group of professionals in your field who you can collaborate with, share knowledge, and support each other’s growth. I think having a PLN is extremely important for teachers as we can connect with others and share various ideas. It’s great to have a community of peers that you can share ideas with and learn new ways to approach different situations.
PLN means a community of individuals connecting with each other to share their thoughts and ideas. It is a great way to help grow your knowledge and connect with other educators. I think ‘lurking’ can be a great tool to grow your knowledge however, you miss out on the opportunity to connect with other educators and share your ideas with them.
Personal Learning Network or PLN aids ongoing learning and development. Initially used by educators, it is now used by a wide variety of industries to share knowledge, offer support, and exchange resources using online and social media platforms. PLN provides global connectivity and access to diverse perspectives by utilizing technology to facilitate learning.
A PLN, or Personal Learning Network, is a network of individuals, resources, and tools that help lifelong learning and professional growth. It involves connections made through different platforms and interactions. It also encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development.
Lurking in a PLN involves observing rather than participating, offering the advantage of learning without direct engagement. A con of lurking is potentially missing out on opportunities for deeper connections and contributions.
The benefit that sticks with me the most is the one about keeping up with current research. To me, this is important because it’s always nice to know what new research is coming out. There’s new information that comes out every year, and as a teacher, keeping up with it is essential. This way, you’re able to update your teaching methods, pedagogy, lesson plans, etc.
The benefit that resonates the most with me is the ability to stay current. All subjects, science especially, require the content you teach to be up to date. There is constantly new information coming out and discoveries being made and you want to make sure that your students have the opportunity to learn about these things. Teachers should be able to expand on the standards of learning by incorporating relevant and current events. It enhances the content and may help students engage more if they feel it is something that they can connect to.
A Personal Learning Network (PLN) is a valuable resource for continuous learning and professional development. A PLN offers a platform to exchange ideas, gain inspiration, and receive support from peers and experts as it facilitates collaboration and access to diverse perspectives. Overall, PLNs work to enhance teaching practices and fostering professional growth
A PLN is a personal/professional learning network. A PLN is a set of contacts and resources you keep in your back pocket to use to explore interests and opportunities. I think personal is more appropriate than professional for PLN because these resources can be used to explore interests outside of the chosen career.
Becoming a connected educator can help you expand your knowledge and help with keeping an open mind to new ideas. I would like to follow the principal at my practicum school because I would love to learn more about leadership and being successful as a woman of color in the education field.
A PLN, or Personal Learning Network is a personalized network where individuals and resources can connect to enhance a person’s learning and/or professional development. A PLN consists of so many individuals with so many different resources including, but not limited to, books and websites.
The idea of a PLN is definitely new to me but it I see the value. The principles of PLN will help me grow as an educator. Gaining feedback and insights from others is priceless. We are very fortunate to have the web in our hands which allows us to connect with professionals across the globe. I especially like benefit #2, to explore my own interests as it pertains to being a future teacher. Because each of us is in a different community with different needs and resources, connecting with others can help us gain insight and creative ideas that will best address the situations we encounter individual, but that we can improve upon collectively. I don’t believe I would lurk, but would actively participate my Personal/Professional Learning Network.
A PLN is a way for people to connect with others through an online community. You are all learning from each other in some way, shape, or form. It is to assist you in your own work from others who have experienced something similar.
PLN Benefits I really resonated with number 2 on the benefits of a PLN. I love learning and exploring on my own already, but being able to find things that can be engaging and unique for my students is something that I would love. Finding things that can engage and pique students interests is always an advantage to me.
A PLN (Personal Learning Network) is a community where people, in this case educators, can share resources, ideas, and offer support. This is especially important as an undergrad education student, as I will soon be entering the classroom on my own, and having a strong support system will be imperative to my success as a first-year teacher.
PLN stands for personal learning network. Although they are beneficial to educators, PLN’s exist in all aspects of business, vacation, hobbies, and much more. As an educator a PLN is especially helpful because we can rely on other teachers for guidance, ideas, inspirations, support, and new perspectives. A PLN provides people and resources to support ongoing, mutual learning.
A PLN is a Personal Learning Network of people and resources provided to a collaborative community. For teachers, this could look like sharing feedback, lesson plans, online teaching tools, and connections.
As an undergraduate secondary education student A PLN to me a community of people all trying to grow and develop in a specific area. Especially within the education community, I feel we use PLN to expand our knowledge outside of our local areas and PLNs help us do that globally.
A PLN is an online community that can help so many people feel connected. In order for the PLN to be effective the most important factor is learning and growing especially in education The most vital part of PLN is that you can access it at any time and you are able to find the resources anywhere. This is so important that people can learn from anywhere even through their busy lives.
A PLN is an online community that can help so many people feel connected. In order for the PLN to be effective the most important factor is learning and growing especially in education The most vital part of PLN is that you can access it at any time and you are able to find the resources anywhere. This is so important that people can learn from anywhere even through their busy lives.