Creating Learning

Networks in School
Communities
Lucy Gray

Instructional Technology Strategies Conference

February 22, 2011

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 1

 Agenda
• Go to http://www.lucygray.org to download these
slides.

• Why social networks are important for teachers and

students

• Guided tour of my network

• Explore other social networks

• Brainstorm ideas for developing our own networks

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 2

 A Few Thoughts...
• We need more thoughtful conversations about decisions made
regarding learning environments.

• Teachers and students alike need to take more control of their

own learning.

• Educators need to participate in learning communities in order

to truly understand the dynamics and implications for students.

• Schools should have a plan for providing safe networked

learning opportunities for students and teachers.

• Students should be participating in age appropriate networks

across grade levels from early grades through high school.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 3

 Learning By
Heart

Using
Technology with Keep your learning

Classroom strategies in mind

Instruction That Plan activities that directly supp

these strategies

Works Focus on your learning group’s

space in the community

Then, add features that

benefit the group at large

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 Buzzwords
• Professional
Learning • Professional
Communities learning networks

• Social networks • Personalized

Learning
• Virtual learning
environments • Online
Communities of
• Personal Learning Practice
Networks

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 What is a PLN?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mghGV37TeK8

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 The School at Columbia

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 National Educational Technology Plan

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Tuesday, February 22, 2011 9
 p.11

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Tuesday, February 22, 2011 11
 p. 40

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 Connected Online
Communities of Practice

The Connected Online Communities of Practice

project will steward a scalable, sustainable ecology of
online communities in education to improve teacher
and leader effectiveness, enhance student learning
and increase productivity.

“The highly connected teacher”

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 The Survey Says:
Advice from my PLN

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 14

 Guided Tour of the
Global Education
Collaborative

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 Your Mission

• In small groups, add to this mindmap:

• http://www.mindmeister.com/maps/show/83269561

• Be prepared to share details about one social network.

• Use the following social networks or search for other examples.

• Join one of these networks, explore, and post a

question or a resource.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 16

 Think About...
Next, generate a couple of ideas on each of the following topics:

• What features are desirable?

• How do you build community? Specific strategies and activities?
• What are some guidelines and protocols for keeping everyone
safe?

• What are some outside resources that enhance spaces?

• How are you providing 24/7 access to learning for your students?
• Should we be always on?

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 Student Spaces

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 ThinkQuest

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 19

 Imbee

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 Togetherville

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 Schoology

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 Edmodo

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 Teacher Spaces

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 Classroom 2.0

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 The Global Education Collaborative

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 Setting the Standard

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 27

 Punahou Technology Lab School

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 Making Curriculum Pop

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 Ethical Expeditions

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 30

 iEAR

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 31

 ISTE Community

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 32

 ISTE 2011

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 33

 K12 Online Conference

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 34

 Middle School Portal

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 35

 NCTE

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 36

 Grant Wrangler

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 ISE Network

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 38

 Wild Earth TV

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 39

 Polar Bears International

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 40

 Future of Education

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 41

 Discovery Educator Network

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 42

 LearnCentral

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 43

 Thinkfinity

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 44

 EdTechTalk

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 45

 Alternatives to Ning
Alec Couros’ crowd-sourced list of options for creating
your own social network

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 46

 Revisiting Our Questions
• What features are desirable?
• How do you build community? Specific strategies and
activities?

• What are some guidelines and protocols for keeping everyone

safe?

• What are some outside resources that enhance spaces?

• How are you providing 24/7 access to learning for your
students?

• Should we be always on?

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 47

 Stay in touch...
elemenous@gmail.com
http://twitter.com/elemenous
AIM/iChat:
http://lucygrayconsulting.com
http://www.lucygray.org

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