How to Grow Your PLN with Social Media

How to Grow Your PLN

with Social Media

Carollyn MushroSpanish Instructor & World Languages Chair

Lincoln-Way Central & West HSNew Lenox, IL

cmushro@lw210.org

What is a PLN?Even if you’ve never heard of it…you probably have

one!Personal Learning Networks are systems that help learners take control of and manage their

own learning.

Simply put: A PLN is a system for lifelong learning.

Today’s Objectives

By the end of the session you will be able to:

• Curate your own PLN and encourage your colleagues to do the same

• Use Pinterest to grow professionally & organize resources

• Use Twitter to grow professionally and engage with like-minded colleagues

Domains 4d & 4e

Social media can no longer be dismissed as a passing fad…

Added social value

• Enables and provides support for learning

• Can increase the effectiveness of learning

• Can increase access to learning• Allows people to connect with each

other despite geographical distance• Provides a forum and permission to

participate• Complements face-to-face

communication

Have YOU used social media for your PLN? How?If not, what would you like to try?

THINK, PAIR, SHARE!

What is Pinterest?

• Pinterest is a free virtual bulletin board where users pin videos and images captured from around the web. These images are then arranged into different categories on a user's board. Pins are also shared and searchable, making Pinterest a great tool for virtual learning.

How can I get started on Pinterest?

1) Create an account2) Search for other users or specific

content3) “Repin” what you find onto your

own board4) Or, pin directly from the web

Tips for Pinning:

• Add the “PIN IT” button to your browser (you can even do this on an iPad)

• Add “Shot Pin” to Google Chrome Browser to be able to pin pages without images!

• Label your boards with distinct categories to make finding pins easy in the future.

• Give your pins descriptive captions to make it interesting to other pinners, and easily searchable for you.

My Pinterest Page:Follow me!

• http://www.pinterest.com/trevess/

• Twitter is a micro-blogging tool where you can share updates (limited in characters) and send them to your network of followers.

• You can also stay informed of other individuals' updates by “following” or subscribing to users whose updates you wish to see.

How educators are using Twitter:1) Sharing links to educational websites 2) Sharing links to news articles relating to

education 3) Asking for support on an education-related topic 4) Participating in or hosting a discussion relating

to education 5) Inviting followers to read a recent blog post 6) Sharing or “re-tweeting” other educators' tweets 7) Sharing links to recorded presentations or

educational videos 8) Sharing online resources via social bookmarking

siteshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQUnVcLPLdI

How to get started on Twitter:

1) Sign up for an account2) Keep the “social” in social

media: post a photo and give everyone a brief description of yourself!

3) Start by watching & observing, then jump in the conversation

4) Learn the lingo & be mindful of Twitter etiquette

5) Stay active & encourage your colleagues to join in, too!

To Tweet or Not to Tweet?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXPfxwKkSXM&list=PLvzOwE5lWqhTcV-leMPuwhtxcqlL_En4P#t=339

Twitter “Chats”

• Each week, educators from around the world take part in various conversations on Twitter known as “chats.” These conversations have become an excellent way for educators to connect on relevant topics, share resources and best practices, all while challenging each other’s thinking. The premise of a Twitter chat is simple. Each lasts for 60 minutes, moderators pose questions on a predetermined topic, and participants use a consistent hashtag (#) to communicate.

#LangChat Thursdays at 7pm CST

• #LangChat is dedicated to the discussion of topics associated with issues and trends in world language instruction and learning. Educators, administrators, learners, and aficionados of world languages are encouraged to participate and share their experiences and input on various topics such as new ways to teach vocabulary, using music in the language classroom, and making standards-based grading valid. This chat is also unique in that it brings together language educators worldwide and from different contexts (elementary, secondary, higher education, etc.) and languages.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8a9xAOOn_I • http://langchat.pbworks.com/

“Common Concerns For Non-Communication-Based Teachers and How to Help Overcome

Them”

Jerry the Cybrary Man

• #Edchat: Tuesdays noon-1 pm & 7-8 pm CST

• #SBGchat: Wednesdays 8-9pm CST• #tlap: Mondays 8-9pm CST• #flipclass: Mondays 8-9pm CST• #MFLtwitterati • http://cybraryman.com/twitter.html

#csctfl14• Join in the conference

conversation!• Post a quote from an

interesting session.• Take a photo of your favorite

slide at a session and post it.• Comment on someone else’s

post.• Find new educators to follow

by searching this hashtag!

I follow:

• Noah Geisel• Thomas Sauer• Sara-E. Cottrell• Zachary Jones• Greg Duncan• CSCTFLhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy3X9myD6wY#t=420

• Thomas Guskey• Rick Wormeli• Sean Junkins• ASCD

My personal successes & challenges

• Successes:– Creating & managing my PLN when it

seemed daunting at first– Finding, using & SHARING the

knowledge I have found via my PLN

• Challenges:– Getting over the initial feeling of being

overwhelmed by the technology– I would like to participate more!

What are your GOALS for growing your own PLN?

Takeaways:

• Start small• Join in on Twitter chats• Encourage your colleagues to do the

same!• You are not alone…lean on your

PLN!