Final Action Plan - Personal Learning Network Course

   Prior to taking this course, I honestly did not know what all a Personal Learning Network (PLN) entailed. I had no idea that a lot of what I was doing was including in my PLN - such as e-mail, using a lot of the other technology in my classroom, social networking sites, etc. However, I have learned a great deal during the last six weeks. Some of the tools I have already begun to use in different ways.  Others, I used during the course for the first time, but I am not quite sure if I will continue to use them or not as I go forward.

    I will definitely use the Reader and the RSS feeds. I had no idea that was such a great resource, and so easy to use!  I made the comment earlier in the course about having to go back and trim down my list of feeds because I just kept adding, but instead I have added more! I plan on keeping this active and adding to it so that I can stay abreast with developing trends in education, technology, and classroom research. This will allow me to stay current in many different areas. It is just another way for me to read wonderful content quickly. It is wonderful for research. I think back when I was having to do so much research for graduate work, and I think, "Wow, what if I had this then...." I can also see how I can use this to collaborate with my colleagues on new strategies that I read about. I can share content from my RSS feed with others in my school and/or district - even parents if the content is appropriate.

    I was a new user to Twitter with this course, but I can definitely see the positives to using this along with other Social Networking sites to keep abreast with other professionals in Educational Leadership. Along with this growth, I can also see how it can be a positive and quick way to get quick updates about school annoucements out to all of your stakeholders who follow you. I would definitely be willing to employ this as an administrator and/or teacher in my school.

   Again, I feel that this course has really impacted the way I look at using the tools I come into contact with everyday. I was already using some of the tools the course considered part of a PLN, but I had never thought of using them in the way they were presented! I feel that I can definitely reach more people and continue to grow and develop as an educator and administrator with the strategies relayed through this course.

First Post to PLN Blog

    My Personal Learning Network (PLN) will definitely be a growing and changing experiment. I have already grown with the three sessions we've finished already in this course. I had no idea that some of the stuff I was already doing was included in my PLN - such as facebook and pinterest. I also didn't include some of the things that had already become so second nature to me like e-mail and using certain types of technology in my classroom.

  It is wild how things change so quickly especially with technology. Things we wouldn't have dreamed of doing in our classroom years ago - kids having electronic devices out during class - are now becoming more and more accepted! Some of the teachers I started teaching with years ago would NOT be happy! :)

  I am still in the classroom. I am not an administrator yet. So, my ideas are just that - ideas. I think that having a blog would be a good way to keep people abreast of what is going on. It would also be a good way of being able to share some of your thoughts & ideas. This is exactly what I plan to do with my blog here. I am not exactly sure if anyone will care to read them, but it is a way for me to get them out there!