The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
Jan
4
Written by:
1/4/2010 2:06 PM
Our Personal Learning Network (PLN) at times reminds me of a spirograph.
It first starts out very simplistic….you add a few friends on twitter, you
mark a few blogs to come back to read posts, and you might join a ning.
Then, you start adding more…..perhaps comments to a blog (or even you own
blog), you create a delicious account, and add your name to a list
somewhere.
Eventually you journey into facebook and diigo and evernote and flickr
and……….add your own ideas here…..and each time you are taking others along as
you go.
And suddenly, something that you started out with as very simplistic is now
an overlapping of overlapping with people from all over the world….that is now
called your Personal Learning Network.
You share with someone, someone shares with you, someone shares what you
said, you share what someone said, you comment on a blog, someone comments on
your comment, you ReTweet, someone retreets you……and so on and so on and so on
—
And at times it is a beautiful thing….and at other times, it might be
chaotic, crazy, and seemingly unmanageable.
So what do you do….to make this manageable, workable, and productive??
…………..Well, I am glad you asked……..here are my thoughts.
1. Stretch yourself by 10%. Invite more people to be your friend on
twitter, join a ning and comment on a forum, participate in a project, try a new
option in your classroom.
2. Don’t hesitate to share an idea which you think everyone always knows
about. Not everyone is online 365/24/7 and ideas get missed, overlooked, or not
seen for a variety of reasons. So go ahead and share….I can promise you that
someone will say “wow, I had never seen that before and thank you for
sharing.”
3. In total contradiction to #1, it is also wise to occasionally weed
through your PLN….it is okay to stop following someone, it is okay to remove
names from your blogroll, it is okay to trim your delicious feed.
4. Wander through your twitter friends to see who their twitter friends are
and see who their twitter friends are. This is not stalking, instead your
twitter friends have given a silent recommendation of people they think are
worth listening to.
5. Next time you are at a conference, walk up to a name you recognize,
introduce yourself, and then join in the conversation or start a new
conversation. Don’t keep your PLN at a virtual arms-length.
6. You don’t have conquer everything. At times, on twitter, on
delicious/diigo, and blog posts come pouring forth like a waterfall and you
simply cannot grasp everything that has been shared. That is okay. If it
proven to be educationally sound, it will come around again. One nice thing of
waiting is you let the others conquer and you can read how they did so.
7. Join in a conversation…..but backtrack a bit in case you are joining
midstream to catch up with what has been already said. Also, follow a chat.
The #edchat conversation on twitter is something I just don’t have time to join
yet. But because they use a the hashtag (#edchat — http://twitter.com/search?q=%23edchat),
I can search that tag and go back and reread the conversation when I have
time.
8. Walk away. Do something other than tech every so often. Have a
conversation that does not include the words Web 2.0, twitter, PLN, google,
flickr, 2.0, Tech, etc. (Just fyi, it is okay to turn off your phone
sometimes!)
9. Be yourself and find one name that sticks. Don’t be TechGal47 on diigo,
JenW49 on twitter, and Hoping4Snow on flickr. Find a way to merge yourself into one name that people will know.
10. Remember, just like the lines in spirograph, at times your PLN will seem
distant and far away, conversations will dwindle, and you might post something
that gets ignored. Don’t give up. The conversations will return, your
comments will be noticed, and your PLN will seem very close…..and without a
moments notice….it might all seem far away again. That is fine.
It is normal
and its part of being in a PLN of people with lives, families, papers to grade,
etc etc etc.
And always remember that like a spirograph, with the single twist of movement
the conversations, the contributors, the possibilities might change. Always
something new, something different, something crazy, and something beautiful.
All the overlaps contribute to make you better at what you do best……sharing the
possibilities of edtech with others.
So take a spin — and enjoy your PLN!!
Jen
This post can also be read at http://jenuinetech.com/blog/?p=1298
15 comment(s) so far...
The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
Brilliant suggestions! I will share them with my online Web 2.0 class. And I hope I will someday get to meet you F2F.
By jdornberg on
1/8/2010 12:30 AM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
Good image. The spirograph is difficult to work out (it seems a bit like magic when you're young) but helps you produce amazing patterns.
As opposed to the Etch-a-Sketch of old-style networking. Also magic, takes ages to produce something fairly shaky.
By Simon Bostock on
1/8/2010 1:14 AM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
I really enjoyed this. I am in the process of builing a PLN and starting a blog and it is reassuring to know that someone has remarked the same thing that I have, that it takes time. Thanks.
By Judie Haynes on
1/8/2010 1:17 AM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
Good advice! Sometimes it can be overwhelming.
By Freda Williams on
1/5/2010 6:46 AM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
Thank you Jen. I'm new to PLNs - and have only travelled as far as Twitter. You've summed it up exactly. In the beginning I checked out each link!
By kf70 on
1/7/2010 10:30 PM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
What a lovely and important piece! I am a member of the newly converted masses to PLNs and twitter and am learning so much so fast. You did a great job illustrating the beautiful reciprocity of the relationships/human interactions that fuel these tools. I will be keeping your guidelines in mind and passing them on to others who are just coming on board. Thanks for writing.
By Melissa. C. Tran on
1/8/2010 1:41 AM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
Great advice Jen. One thing I might add, if you write a blog, don't worry, be offended, or question what you have written simply because no one responds.
Commenting on blogs, in a substantive conversation building way, doesn't happen as often as one might think. Often comments turn into someone's blog posts instead of in your comments section. Write to hear your thinking outside of your head - that is where it gains clarity and you can reflect on it effectively.
Again, great advice Jen.
- Greg (akamrt everywhere else ; ) . . .)
By Greg Thompson on
1/8/2010 1:59 AM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
Excellent advice - and I like the Spirograph analogy! I especially like number 8, because it's SO hard to do sometimes!
By Mary on
4/4/2010 12:55 PM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
I love the "stretch yourself by 10%... if all did that for everything it would be great...we would learn sooo much!!
By nusinger@att.net on
10/12/2010 1:54 PM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
i love everyones comments...however I cannot see mine posted...
By nusinger@att.net on
10/12/2010 2:00 PM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
Very nicely penned, as always, Jen. The issue of balance comes up in every discussion I have about PLNs. I actually had a teacher tell me a couple weeks ago, when I was explaining nings in a meeting about technology in education, that "I don't want any more relationships." Despite demonstrated success in the effectiveness and other value of PLNs, there will always be those who think they know it all. Resources like this article will be here to help those of us who know they don't.
By Scott Merrick on
1/10/2010 12:44 AM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
This is beautiful, Jen, just what I needed today as I had begun to think that after a year on this adventure my online life had the potential to spiral out of control. You've helped me begin to regain a more balanced and manageable perspective.
Thanks!
By Chris on
1/9/2010 6:24 AM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
Your post hit the nail on the head with me. I have been on Twitter but I guess I am "afraid" of posting something because with all of the brilliant minds and tech people out there I think they will think what I am posting is something they've already heard of before. I am not a tech specialist, like many, just a teacher who loves learning about and using technology. It is all very overwhelming and at times it is just hard to keep up!
By Alison Snyder on
2/27/2010 4:00 AM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
Wonderful advice Jen, and everyone needs a little number 8 from time to time!
By Rob Mcdonald on
5/9/2010 3:53 AM
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The PLN Spirograph (by Jen Wagner)
Many thanks to you for sharing this information.You explained every point very well.
share tips
By share tips on
4/3/2011 2:32 PM
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