I thought developing a personal learning network (PLN) is a good idea. This is a place where one can collaborate and get help on topics from others. This is a place where a person's opinion is counted, but it cannot be reliable without reinforcement. Also, other peers can be included in this network. PLN broadens a student's learning. Including professionals can give a student other sources, ideas, or directions to look into.
Again, one has to keep in mind that people include their opinions and their posts are based on their own knowledge. Similar to Wickipedia, this can be unreliable if used without caution. For instance, if one uses a bit of information, it should be reinforced by another source in the network. This allows the information used to be more accurate and reliable.
There is a couple of reasons a networked student needs a teacher. In the previous paragraph, I discussed the unreliability of a PLN if the information is interpreted incorrectly. The networked student needs the guidance while building their networks. The students have to be taught how to ask for help and be able to pick out factual information from the network. Also, a tech literate teacher should assist the student in creating an organized scavenger hunt. The student should be encouraged to maintain their PLN throughout their education. It will be beneficial in reinforcing their knowledge of a topic and collaborating with others.
As a high school English teacher, I see many benefits of a PLN. Education is becoming increasingly technical and there is a possibility of a decline in students' reading habits. Creativity is encouraged to enlighten a student's learning in the classroom. My network will allow me to collaborate with other teachers across the globe for creative ideas to use in the classroom. Currently, I am not prepared to teach a networked student, but I am in a continuous learning process.
It's not just a decline in the reading habits of kids. That has already taken place. The challenge is to create contributors to the reading writing culture, rather than just consumers. We are still exploring how that may be done. Mrs. Drexler sees one way to go. Dr. Miller sees another. And they are not mutually exclusive. English teachers will not be teachers of reading and writing but will be teachers of communicating through multimedia. There is much to be done before that is widespread.
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