Technology and Your PLN

First things first - what's a PLN? PLN stands for personal learning networks. Among teachers, this acronym is very popular in our time. Gone are the days of subscribing to a professional journal to learn new ideas for your classroom or sitting in face to face late night classes towards a degree (or maybe to just learn something new).  Teachers now have lifelong learning at their fingertips - it's called the Internet.

I remember when the idea of the Internet started surfacing.  I lived in a small town (I think they just got online last year). It took so long for us to hear about the Internet many people had even graduated from car phones in bags to real cell phones! At that time, my Internet use was limited to researching vacation spots.  I planned my entire wedding and honeymoon online (it's really not that impressive - I got married in Vegas). But there was no way I was going to book it online. Nope. The only way to handle transactions like that was to go see a travel agent and say, "Here's where I want to go. How much?"

So, what does this have to do with a PLN? Let me help you make the connection. Picture back in the day how new ideas were researched and implemented in classrooms. There were (and still are) lots of resources out there.  Regional Professional Development Centers offer face to face workshops. If you were really serious, you actually enrolled in a grad class (or any night class). From my location, this meant you might have to drive an hour or more to get to the nearest university. And let's face it - professional journal articles are just not easy to read. We were much more likely to skim through those magazines that relied on blackline masters and cutesy ideas that were summed up in a paragraph just to add a little spice to our classes. And that's what we did. I can say that I have participated in all of the above.

Enter the Internet. Now I can Google anything! Need a lesson idea? Google can help you find the answer. I can download lessons, search for new ideas, and gather resources much faster than before. But that's still not a PLN.

Type define: network in your Google search engine and here's what you get:
an interconnected system of things or people
a system of intersecting lines or channels
communicate with and within a group

See a common idea? Interconnected. That's a PLN. My very own way to find information, ideas, to learn from a group(s) of educators with similar interests. Now, let's picture this B.I. (before Internet). Party line, anyone? Faculty lounge? All the teachers sitting around the lunch table actually discussing new ways to teach, ideas to try, ways to handle that "one kid?" Maybe. That might even happen in your school right now. If so, you are very blessed to work with such a great group of educators. But then the bell will ring and you'll have to go to recess duty. Maybe you can talk later.

Here's how you can develop your professional learning in a way that will enrich your teaching (and your students' learning) whenever you have time. Maybe it's after you put the kids to bed and you're in your pajamas. Maybe you go to school early to do a little work before everyone else gets there. Maybe you have 5 minutes at lunch or, if you have one of those new, fandangled "smartphones" you are waiting at the DMV to renew your tags (that is, unless you start doing that online, too).


Step 1: Get a Twitter account. I know you've heard about it because even the news stations use it now. In doing so, consider your purpose. You want to learn, right? List your information in your bio so that people understand that.  Think about if you need to protect your tweets or not. If not, make sure you monitor your followers daily. (You'll get an email that says when someone is following you).

Who will you follow? Again, use the almighty Google. In searching "educators on Twitter" I received 3,310,000 results. Of course, I'm sure they're not all relevant. But that's a lot! The top hit was a blog linking to a wiki that had educators using Twitter, their purpose in using Twitter, and their username. Second hit - same thing, different wiki. Excellent resource!

Look at your followers closely. If the information they're giving you isn't what you need, see if someone else does provide that information. That's the reason we're doing this.

Reap the benefits of a lifelong learner while implementing new ideas in your classroom. Your kids will do great things!

Step 2: Do you use Facebook? Lots of teachers do, and they do this for their PLN. However, I do need a disconnect between my professional and personal life. Therefore, Facebook is personal, but Twitter and Classroom2.0 are professional. Classroom2.0 is a lot like Facebook and Myspace meshed together. Take a look - it's all teachers. You can follow people if you like, but the benefit of Classroom2.0 in my opinion is the groups.  Search the groups that are there and see where common interests lie.  You can blog, post to groups for ideas, and even sync it with your Twitter account.  Benefit of Classroom2.0 over Twitter? More characters. Developing curriculum with people states (or even countries) away.

Step 3: Make a Del.icio.us account. I have three computers and an iPhone. I can't remember where I save things. I tried using folders for bookmarks, but if I was using another device, I couldn't do anything. If people I worked for asked for a link, I had to search for it and email them. Now, I just say, "It's in my Del.icio.us account.  The tag is ____(fill in the blank here)."  Now my bookmarks are held online. No worries when the computer crashes or when groups want to work together. We can search each other's resources easily.

These three collaboration tools will greatly benefit your PLN and your students' learning. The best part-they're quick, easy, and continuous. Never the same information. Always the latest news. Just remember - it's a network. Learning from others also means contributing. We're all in this together, right?

Video Conversions

You Tube. Fun website.  It has great material that can be used for classrooms.  Many times when kids just don't "get it," you can find a clip that makes the lightbulb go off.

Two problems - it can't be accessed from school (for good reason) and it can't be trusted when we want to keep our kids safe.

Don't fret just yet - with a little planning, you'll still be able to access those YouTube videos that will assist in your instruction.  This is where the video converters come into the picture, and there are several options out there.  Depending on what works for you, you can use Video Converter, Media Convert, or Zamzar.  I've tried them all, and the one I find that works the most consistently is Zamzar.  With Zamzar, you can convert not only YouTube videos, but any file on your computer to almost any file type.  Watch this for the easy steps: Using Zamzar to Save Videos.

Creating Podcasts

It seems like everyone is podcasting something these days. I really like to listen to Ed Tech Talk and SMARTBoard Lessons Podcast. But what really makes a podcast? It's not simply sharing video or audio files on the web. By uploading that information to a website, people still have to be told to go find that file and download it. A true podcast sends the file straight to you without you looking for it.
At the top of most blogs, there should be an RSS feed link with the universal orange-curved-line icon. By subscribing to a podcast, blog, etc. with an RSS feed, the beauty of the Internet does the rest of the work for you. This blog can be subscribed to by scrolling to the bottom. Click on the button and choose how you'd like to subscribe. It will send the new file or post straight to you. You didn't have time to go search for information, anyway, right?
So, with this example, we see how great a podcast can be for our professional careers. But what about our students? We want to provide the same benefit to them and even their parents, too, right? That's where podcasting comes in handy.
To start, you need to open your website folder and create a new page as an .xml file.



I like the directions given from "Make RSS Feeds." They are very easy to follow and given in step by step form. You can simply begin a post (the file that you plan to podcast), and then copy and paste after that.
Watch this video for a step by step visual.


Once you've done this, you're almost ready to go. You need a "host" site that will syndicate everything you add to your website, including the xml file. I like Feedburner. It's very easy to use. First step - create an account. It's basically follow the bouncing ball after that. The video at the bottom of this post will walk you through it.

At this point, if you're going to hand out your web address to people and encourage them to subscribe, you're done. However, as we discussed earlier, it's all about easy these days. Here's how to submit your podcast to iTunes so people can search for it themselves and subscribe. This will also help you achieve a larger audience.

Blogging for Beginners

What is your purpose in incorporating blogs in your classroom? Will students collaborate with each other or with the teacher? Describe how this will enhance learning.

Making the Most of Your Blogs

Now that you've decided to incorporate blogs into your classroom, it's time to decide how you want to utilize this tool. This blog will include helpful tips and some ideas to make your blogs be more than just words on a website. Here's the top ten ideas to make the most out of your blogs.

1. First, determine your purpose. How will your students use this? Will it serve as a general comment to a blog you begin or their own blog page so others can comment them? Find a site that provides what you’re looking for. Make sure the site you choose isn’t blocked in your district.

2. Plan how you will assess. Thoughtful conversations will be taking place on your blog. This might be the best way to determine if your students really “get it” or not. What do you want to assess? Detailed explanations? Thinking skills? Problem and solution? Grammar? Find the most important areas to assess and allow your students to create the scoring guide. This allows them to carry the tools and purpose personally. Copy the scoring guide so every student has one available to check when writing their blog. Model to your students how to use the program and provide some practice time with it. Younger students will need some experience before they’re ready for assessment. Fifth grade and up might only need one practice session

3. Find another teacher to collaborate with and discuss your expectations with them. This could be someone in your own district or from farther away. Assign each student a “blog buddy” based on ability or interests. This will allow for consistent comments instead of one student receiving an onslaught of comments while someone else doesn’t receive any.

Need some help finding teachers?

• Use the collaborator tool on Blogmeister
• Join Classroom2.0 to network with other teachers

4. Make students aware of their audience. When they realize the entire world is reading their classwork, they’re more motivated and thoughtful.

5. Use multimedia. Pictures, slideshows, and movies within your blog will engage students and provide visual literacy skills to reach higher order thinking. Slide.com or Picasa Web Albums are great tools to store your pictures online. Simply copy and paste the html code into the bottom of your post and your picture will appear upon publishing.

Keep in mind, though, multimedia should be used to enhance learning. Parents and community members love to see class pictures, however, your main job is to enrich the learning experience.

6. The purpose of comments are to make both the reader and the writer think. Meris Stansbury explained it well in the linked article. Students will learn more from adding information, providing challenges or asking questions. Cheerleading, or general praise from students regarding the initial post, only serve purpose to more cheerleading.

7. Include more types of collaboration than just the blog. If you have the capabilities, hold a virtual field trip to study with your collaborating class. Students can write their own questions and then quiz the participating class. Skype is a great way to communicate with others either via chat or through a live call. If a webcam or digital camcorder is available, use it to provide a visual for students.

8. Reflection is an important part of the learning experience so that students can learn from mistakes, look at what they've done well, and plan for future experiences. In order to encourage student reflection, provide prompts. In the prompt, list what needs to be included in the blog. Ask students to use details, examples, and evidence to back up their ideas and thoughts.

9. As stated in Stansbury's article, questioning and challenging provide the most opportunity for student growth. When commenting, pull up an example blog and model how to question for understanding, clarification, or even to challenge the writer with different ideas. At the beginning of a lesson, provide an essential question for the students. Often, questioning an essential question is a great way to get students motivated, engaged, and thinking critically about the lesson.

10. Use the tools frequently and consistently. After using the blogs on a regular basis, students will treat it like a discussion. They will form bonds with their partners and provide a great learning experience for them.

Wiki Wiki

In my last post, I gave the ins and outs of different blog sites and the benefits of utilizing blogs in your classroom. There are, however, many more tools than just blogs that can be used to motivate and encourage student learning.

One tool that is actually quite popular is the wiki. More than likely, we are all familiar with Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia that provides up to date information regarding just about any topic imaginable. Just like Wikipedia, classroom wikis require users to have an account or user key that is provided by the teacher. Once the students have the account, they are free to edit the webpage as desired. Watch this video for a basic overview of wikis:

Like the video suggests, wikis are a perfect avenue for collaboration, or group work. I remember when I was in school and the teacher assigned a group project. This usually meant getting together in the evening or on the weekends, and working around busy schedules could be difficult to manage. With a wiki, the group could work together at their own convenience.

I have found wikis to be a great brainstorming tool. Furthermore, they provide the perfect structure to incorporate cooperative learning strategies. Vocabulary and test review are a few of the ways my students have used the wiki in our class. Take a look at the following examples:

Test Review: In this example, students created most of the review questions. Students logged into the wiki using the invite key, and then answered the question to the best of their ability. After a given time, they rotated to another station where a different question was waiting to be answered. The process continued until all questions were answered multiple times. Students were asked to not delete information, but either add to previous answers or state reasons for disagreement.

Vocabulary: I have a great speech teacher who always asks for new vocabulary words to assist with students in pull-out situations. In the past, I looked up vocabulary words and their definitions and emailed them to her. With the use of the wiki, this is no longer necessary. I simply add the vocabulary words to the wiki, and students use a jigsaw activity to add definitions. As in the previous example, if definitions are already given from another class, the students add to their definition. Because it's best to provide definitions with kid-language, all of the definitions differ to some degree. Pictures can even be scanned in and added. With this feature, I no longer have to make the vocabulary list. Not only is it now student led, but the information is available to all students and teachers anytime they need it.

Editing: Ever seen writing workshop in action? If so, you're familiar with students reading, editing, and revising classmates' writing. Following a given number of edits, the teacher conferences with the student and reviews the writing along with the student individually. With this example, students and even the teacher can edit and revise the work right on the computer. This can also simplify the process of teaching a mini-lesson for the teacher. There would be no need to make transparencies or scans of student work. The writing is held right on the Internet and ready to go.

I like the classroom applications Wetpaint suggests for wikis:

• Group projects
• Collaborative writing, such as newspapers
• Resource storage
• Communication for students/parents
• Assignment information and details
• Peer Review
• Frequently Asked Questions

Wikis are also an easy alternative to a class website if the software isn't available to you. In addition, they're free! Take a look at pbwiki, wikispaces, or wetpaint to find a format you like.

Thinking About Blogging?

I've spent the day working on all sorts of Web 2.0 tools, but my favorite is the blog. One reason I like it so much is because it is so versatile. It can be used to journal thoughts, ask questions, reflect upon lessons, or respond to videos, photos, or a given prompt.

There are lots of blogs students and teachers can use in their classrooms. At my district, there are four that can be accessed through the filters of our secure system. These are Blogmeister, Gaggle, 21 Classes, and Edublogs. I have a basic overview of the ins and outs of each site on my website. I've used more than one site to host blogs. I started out with Blogmeister, switched to Gaggle, and then back to Blogmeister because it is user-friendly for elementary students.

Blogging is beneficial for students in many ways. In an action research project, I found that students using blogs were more motivated and engaged. Students using blogs to both write, question, reflect, and comment others showed greater gains over a period of time and became deeper thinkers than students who were not blogging. One unexpected occurrence was peer teaching. After students began blogging, those that commented confirmed their ideas, strengthened hypotheses, corrected misconceptions, and even broadened understandings of various vocabulary terms. My favorite was when my class ran out of time while gathering background knowledge and vocabulary. I thought I'd have to use the next day's class time for that until I saw that our partner class had finished their activity and actually taught it to my students through their blogs. Way to reinforce our learning!

In addition, blogs are a way that the school day can be lengthened. In the above example, I could have easily assigned the homework of reading their partner's blogs and commenting them. If a student is absent, they can still participate in class as long as they have access to the Internet. Although we all teach students who fall in Title I status, a computer with Internet access in the home is almost as commonplace as a family vehicle. Libraries also offer free access.

In every classroom, there is "that one student," not the one that gets in trouble, but the one who is so painfully shy that you don't know if they truly understand or not. They'd never tell you. They don't want to speak up and risk the embarrassment. Blogs are a great way to get all students involved in discussions. They can also hamper the enthusiasm of the kid that never stops talking long enough for anyone else to put in their two cents. Because blogs can be posted instantly, you can immediately know if your students understand the lesson simply by checking your email.

So if you've been tossing around the idea of integrating some technology into your classroom, blogging is a great place to start. It's free, simple, and meaningful. You can even set up your account so all blog articles and comments go straight to your email for approval. Take a look at the above mentioned tools and see what you like. Happy blogging!