4.++PLN+Development+pt1

One disadvantage to taking a course as an individualized study is you miss out on the advantages of social knowledge construction. However, social media and other connective technologies allow us to create for ourselves a social learning experience even in a class of 1. Networked learning challenges our traditional notions of teaching and learning. We promised an immersive experience---here's your chance to take a dip in the bracing waters of networked learning and PLNs. Your mission is to create a Twitter account, follow a group of passionate educators and commentators, listen to their conversation...and see what you learn from it. Remember the cocktail party analogy? Here's your chance to by a fly on the wall in a virtual room full of smart educators.

Steps: 1. Set up a Twitter account at []. 2. We've created a starter list of recommended people to follow. Click here for the list; you'll need to enter your Twitter ID and password at the bottom of the page. 3. Read the tweets that come through from the people you're following. You don't have to read every tweet, and you don't have to read every day. Do whatever fits your style of inquiry--read systematically, read randomly, browse around. When someone shares a link to a resource or website, click through if it catches your interest. Step into the Twitter stream for a few minutes, or an hour, or keep it running all day. Play with it. 4. Collect three tweets you found interesting, valuable, or provocative. They may be links to resources,, enlightening observations, pithy comments, responses to someone else's pithy comment, etc. You get the idea. Post your three tweets on your reflective blog along with a brief one-sentence explanation of why you chose it. 5. In your blog post tell us your Twitter name so that others can follow you.

6. EXTRA CREDIT: Post a tweet or two of your own. Be brave. Be funny. Share something. Venture beyond our starter list and follow some other people. We'll discuss our Twitter Tracker findings on Wednesday night and share some more ideas for using this for professional learning.

//OK, I did it. I have yet to be convinced that Twitter is valuable but I will give it a try. At first blush it seems pretty trivial. But it may be the first step in opening some doors.// //http://twitter.com/potentialoak//