PLNs: Toolkits for Students to Create, Collaborate, and Connect

Click to learn about the power of Personal Learning Networks

What is a Personal Learning Network?

A Personal Learning Network (PLN) is “an informal learning network that consists of the people a learner interacts with and derives knowledge from in a personal learning environment.” In other words, the women in your book club, your inner circle of friends who discuss gaming, and the time spent discussing football with the guys, are all examples of a PLN. A PLN can also be digital. Technology allows a person to connect and discuss with a multitude of other individuals who share common interests.

What are some types of digital PLNs?

Click to read this project proposal for a district attempting to implement a PLN.

There are a wide range of tools utilized for PLNs. Here are some examples:

What are the benefits of PLNs for educators?

Professional development
Learn from content-area specialists
Locate resources for your classroom, such as free websites and software
Get lesson plan ideas from teachers who are more experienced
Learn about new technology and how to integrate it into your teaching
Find collaborative solutions
Find interesting links to education news

What are some benefits for students?

Students will learn to collaborate and connect with others about specific topics
Digital PLNs allow for creativity, making learning engaging
Creates an authentic audience and allows for publication
Provides opportunity to master communication skills
Learn to navigate websites and software programs

Integrating technology into teaching

What are the important components of PLNs?

Connect: It’s important to do more than read a blog post or a podcast. Leave a comment or ask a question. It’s essential to reach out and meet new people.
Contribute: Post something you are able to share with others such as an experience or a struggle because it could be valuable to others. Again, it’s vital to keep connected.
Converse: As you continue to connect and make contributions, conversations will arise as people begin to respond.
Request: Now that you’ve build connections, contributed, and conversed, you will be able to ask these individuals questions or advice and you will likely receive much more detailed information.