Build Your PLN

Ask yourself this question: Where do you do your learning?

As staff, we've explored  topics that help us think about our own learning- phrases such as growth mindset, grit, and learning zone should be familiar to all of us. And while understanding these concepts helps reframe our approach to learning, we need to know what to learn and where to get the learning from.

Our Staff Development Days offer rich learning opportunities, but we can't claim to be  life-long learners if we limit our learning to a few Staff Development days a year. At the same time, we all know that conferences and outside trainings cost money and time- both of which are scarce at best.  Which brings us back to the question: Where do you do your learning? Some staff in our district have answered this question with these responses:

"I learn so much from Twitter!"

"Other teachers."

"The best PD comes from my PLN." 

A PLN is simply a connection with other educators who share, learn, and collaborate with one another. Your PLN could be other teachers at your school site, our district, or across the globe. It could be the answer the question Where do you do your learning?

Two Simple Tools to Help Build Your PLN

Twitter- If you're an educator, and you're not on Twitter, you are missing out on some incredible resources, ideas, and connections. Click on some of these links to see what people are sharing on Twitter. Then check out this document if you're curious for more:  Getting Started on Twitter

#lusded     #STEMed     #edtech     #kinderchat     #LearnLap     #digcit     #primarychat  

   #tlap      #edtech     #inquiryed     #makerspace      #hyperdocs  #caedchat

Voxer-  Connect with others through this tool that combines text, voice, photo and video sharing, and a  walkie-talkie all in one tool. It's unlike anything most of us are familiar with. You'll need to set up an account to use to use it, but it's a powerful way to grow your PLN.  Be prepared to be mind-blown at the number of Voxer groups you'll find on this spreadsheet.

Voxer Groups for Education 

"Alone we are smart. Together we are brilliant." Steven Anderson

Creating a Collaborative YouTube Playlist

How are you organizing your YouTube Videos? Some of us might be bookmarking the videos we use in class and  others might by copying and pasting the links in a document somewhere. But did you know that you can easily create a playlist in YouTube? It's an easy way to keep your videos organized. To add to the awesome, YouTube allows users to collaborate on playlists. 

In fact, one of our teachers recently reached out to ask if any teachers in our district have a playlist of music they use their classrooms. In a recent email, she asked, "I started making a Youtube playlist of songs that aren't cheesy but are still appropriate and I was wondering if someone has already started one or something like it".  Imagine what would happen if she shared the playlist with a few of her team members and they worked on it together.  Rather than working on this playlist on an island, she can work with a team! 

Below are the basic directions to get anyone started: 

 (Click here a printable version)

Creating a Playlist 

Go to YouTube 

Find a video you want to add to a Playlist - Look for the three dots on the bottom right of the video 

To add the video to a new playlist, click + Create New Playlist 

Give your playlist a name. Here you can also specify your playlist settings: 

Public: Anyone can search for your playlist and find your playlist

Unlisted: Only people with the link can access your playlist (recommended) 

Private: Only you and specific individuals you allow can access your playlist 

To find your playlist, click the three lines on the upper left, and look at the menu. You may need to click Show More 

Collaborate on a Playlist  

Open your playlist  and click Playlist Settings 

Click Collaborate

Select Collaborators can add videos to this playlist

Copy the link 

Select Save 

Share the link with  your team

When your team members accept your invitation, there names will be visible and team members will be able to add videos to the playlist