Think, Think...... What Else Should I Use?

This, is my interpretation of my very own educational sharing world:

As you can see, I do not have all that much on it yet in comparison to some.  However, I am somewhat new to the massive educational sharing network, but I do know that one day this will be a lot bigger.  The first one that I ever used, and probably almost everyone first started using, was the web browser (except for family and friends; but lets just talk technology for now).  In sense, it almost had to have been the web browser, because to get the majority of the others you had to use the web browser (except for the iPhone and iPad, but you probably did research on it before buying one through a browser; and again the family and friends of course).  The web browser allowed me to reach all of the other portions of my network, even though I did not show using arrows because that would just look too busy.

Out of all the portions of my PLN, I would have to say that Twitter is the one I use the most.  I joined twitter last year (to follow the NHL trade deadline), and have used it constantly since.  I used it for more personal stuff for awhile, but then I learned through ICT that it had a countless supply of educational benefits.  Sharing, following, and chatting about all kinds of educational opportunity, ideas, lessons, sessions, and the list goes on.  The best part is, that all it takes is a quick follow or a hashtag search and it is at your fingertips.

I cannot count how many times Google Docs has come in handy for me.  Collaborative projects, study notes, slideshows, etc.  The ability to take multiple people's experiences and ideas and collectively add it to an online database is just astonishing.  Google Docs would have been one of the most handy tools I could have used in my undergrad degree, but sadly I never heard of its existence until I was in my first year in the Faculty of Education.

I just started using Diigo... so I'll get back to you on that one.

MAPLE is going to be DA BOMB (yeah, I just said that).  I have just been added to this amazing online resource thanks to John Evans, and once it becomes more widespread, it will be the go to online resource for Manitoba teachers.  Just think, an online social website created by teachers, and exclusively for teachers!  It is essentially Facebook without the veil.  I say this because if you are on MAPLE, then it is you, not a fake version of you.  You have to be a Manitoban teacher to use it.  No invite groups, or special 1 month trials, only real teachers.  You have to love that, because then you know you are getting the best possible resources available.

I would start talking about the iPad, but if you just look at how many connection arrows I've made with it, I think it sums up my thoughts on it well enough (it is literally the best piece of equipment I have ever owned).

I am still learning and always will be.  So, in ten years from now if I am asked to create another mind map of my network, and then compared the two, I would probably be astonished to see how much it has expanded.  I am going to keep thinking, searching, and trying, to see how many I can possibly use effectively.  I am also very open to suggestions of really good one!  So... wish me luck!!  Until next time... CHEERS!!

*Thinking of what to try next, or about what to eat?  You decide!*

Professional Learning Networks (PLN)

This past Thursday we had John Evans visit our Internet for Educators classroom, and he presented on professional learning networks (PLNs). Professional learning networks can include such networks as Twitter, NING, Scoop It, diigo, and MAPLE. PLNs are essentially networks that teachers can use to continue learning. As teachers, we have the responsibility to continuously learn, or we will be doing a disservice to our students. Through PLNs, teachers are able to share resources, ideas, and advice without having to meet face to face, or by having to negotiate a phone call. PLNs allow for these things to be posted, or linked, and then can be viewed at any time to according to convenience.

My personal favourite PLN is Twitter. To be 100% honest, I did not originally get Twitter for educational purposes. I do not have cable, therefore, I was unable to follow the NHL trade deadline a couple years ago. So, I got Twitter so I could follow some hockey analysts so I could know what was going on (trade deadline is addictive OK, not my fault). Then, I started to realize the educational value of it, once I realized that educators used it continuously. Resources, upon resources are posted on it everyday, and to be honest there are so many posted that I don't have enough time to look at them all. I'm lucky if I view 10% of the ones on my feed. However, that just shows the vast quantity of resources, and the major benefit of it. I also use my Twitter account for personal use as well, but I do so in an appropriate way. I realize that a lot of people prefer to keep theirs professional, or have a separate account for personal use, but that would just be another password to remember probably and I have too many of those already. Plus, how else am I going to keep updated on Game of Thrones, Dexter, and Breaking Bad news? And I have to stay in touch with my celebrity future wife Kate Beckinsale somehow (she doesn't know it yet, but its inevitable). I haven't done too much sharing educationally speaking much yet, except for good YouTube clips that could be used in the classroom, but I plan on making a strong effort to tweet some. I have used many that others have tweeted, such as from John Evans and his tweets linked to his iPads in Education column, and they have all been beneficial.

I really want to use NING more. I have only really used NING as part of class assignments, but it is ridiculously useful when you think about it. Everyone on it is an educator, everyone on it has a link to Brandon University, and the quality of discussion is unparalleled. I will be making an honest effort to use it in the future for non-assignment related tasks.

John introduced us to a site called MAPLE, which I now believe is going to be the go to online tool for educators in Manitoba. A website that will literally link all Manitoba educators to one place is just the best thing since sliced bread (or burritos). I have looked around on the library, and it contains everything necessary for teacher, especially the curricular documents. Having John sign all of us up was just amazing, and I cannot thank him enough for doing that for us.

Overall, the presentation was amazing, and the topic too. John is a thorough speaker, and is extremely passionate about education, and continuous learning. PLNs are very beneficial to teachers, because it allows us to organize our resources and ideas in a way that avoids bedrooms turning into extreme fire hazards (see picture below). PLNs are something that every teacher will need to be apart of, because as time goes on, technology is just going to evolve, and we can't afford to be too many steps behind it. Why? As much as the theory of natural selection is true, we don't want to see it come into play with careers.

Until next time fellow educators... CHEERS!