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PLN: What does it mean to you?

A Personal Learning Nebula!

Over on Gavin Dudeney's blog his latest post outlines a critique of personal learning networks particularly in reference to that associated with ELT. He also questions how useful twitter really is in allowing learning to take place from 'the' PLN. Gavin is quite critical of the PLN idea, but I think he might be trying to provoke a debate to encourage everyone to reflect on the situation, which is a good idea, as reflection should lead to positive change where it is necessary. I have been reflecting, so this is what I think. I am, to be honest, a bit surprised to find myself writing this, which is essentially going to be a defence of the ELT network, because I am by nature quite cynical about the occasional self-congratulation, I have some issues with the nature of some online interaction and I see twitter as a great aid to procrastination as much as an aid to learning.

I'm very curious about the criticism twitter gets in Gavin's post and in the comments. I see twitter as only part of the social space that exists as a PLN. It sort of oils the wheels, allowing for rapid sharing, quick discussions, requests for help or advice and advertising blog posts. Furthermore, the #eltchat forum has been hugely successful and offers a great opportunity for learning, despite the fact that I haven't participated as much since the earlier days due to a feeling that most topics are not immediately relevant to my context and what I want out of the PLN. That's my choice and as this is a free, unguided, open and uncontrolled environment I feel under no pressure to do so, it is my choice.

Actually, no.
The circles suggest boundaries
- see the nebula!

The ELT social network also includes a huge number of blogs, Facebook pages, some ning groups, websites, wikis, second life interaction, yahoo groups and probably more things I have no idea about. Through the interconnected use of all these things knowledge is shared, allowing learning and development to take place. I have seen reference to 'the' PLN. There isn't even a single PLN, what is THE (deliberately emphasised definite article) PLN? I have A PLN. It is mine. It consists of the people I choose to interact with, either actively or passively, people whose blogs I read, tweets I follow, ning groups I join or links I follow up. There is no boundary, no set number of people, no consciously constructed group of people around whom I could draw a line in order to define my PLN. Nor do I think that there should be, people float in and out of my radar and I take what information I can from them, I reflect on what I have discovered and will either bookmark their link, follow their blog, add them to my google reader or follow them on twitter.

As for the fact that the term PLN sounds horrible to some people, well, it's jargon, terminology, it describes a concept, which is a network of people you engage with in order to further your professional development. If you don't like that, call it something else. Any idea? 'Hey guys, I have a 'group of interconnected, professionally-related people from and with whom I gain knowledge and increase my potential for personal teacher development'. Not quite as catchy, is it? There is another option, which is going with PLE - Personal Learning Environment, but that tends to be associated with a particular platform and is a closed environment. The idea is to get people to interact in a way that leads to learning. The PLE that I see myself using online is a mashup of various platforms and I like the fact it is open, although some boundaries do exist, most of them self-constructed, due to perceptions of outsider status, seeing cliques where there perhaps aren't any and feeling anxious or inadequate, leading to a lack of interaction. The clique situation could partly be overcome by people being aware of it and trying not to be cliquey. However, let's face it, all professional and social circles have cliques, why is it going to be any different online?

As for whether people learn anything, on my MA course we are introduced to a lot of tools and new technologies, often I have already used, experienced or at least heard of these things. Most of the others haven't. Why? Well, because I learned about them online from people who I consider to be participants in my PLN or people who have floated into my PLN space temporarily. I am also exposed to many teaching ideas and details about other teaching contexts, which I think is a valuable thing. Simply by reading what other people think about things has allowed me to reflect on my opinions, beliefs and teaching philosophy. Not having an immediate teaching context while doing my MA, I have been able to vicariously live the life of a practising teacher through reading the journal-like postings of various teachers in different contexts. Furthermore, while studying and thinking about teacher development, it has been interesting to find out more about how teachers think and feel in different contexts and at different stages of their career.

I think the idea that a PLN has to be guided or controlled (which has been suggested in a comment on Gavin's blog) misses the point that this is an autonomous collection of people ("I didn't know we had a king. I thought we were an autonomous collective") who are using each other to make forward steps in their development as more knowledgeable and competent teachers. I don't want to play follow the leader, I don't need or want one. Perhaps for some people there is an issue of not really knowing why they are bothering to develop a PLN, they just thought it was something they should do. Well, without good reason, I would maybe agree that there is no point. Yet perhaps there is a potential reason that has been missed and finding it might be the key to unlocking the point of constructing a PLN. Likewise, if you are happy with the colleagues you have in your staffroom and the professional development you are already engaged in, then this is also a reason not to get involved online. You don't have to. Originally, I got involved because I effectively had no staffroom, there was no opportunity to interact with anyone and being able to do it online really improved my situation.

Having said all that though, I must be honest. There is something about the relentless positivity that gets my goat, although perhaps that's my upbringing as a northern English cynic. Nobody is always happy. Nobody is always positive. I sometimes also get a slightly unnerving feeling about some interaction that borders on self-help guru and religious evangelism, the latter referring mostly to outrageous claims about the wonders of technology and the internet. Furthermore, when I joined twitter I only managed to get going due to the help of a real life friend and former colleague, which was of great help. As a result, I found it quite easy to make connections, perhaps it's not as easy for others and that's why they gave up. As much as I like people including me I'm a bit fed up with #TT and #FF. I tried to start a new # a while back, but nobody responded. I wanted to initiate a #WW - 'Welcome Wednesday', through which new users relevant to the ELT community can be given an introduction and as it's on the same day as #eltchat as well, more people are likely to be around. Any takers?

Anyway, all in all, a PLN is personal, as the big P suggests, so make of it what you will. I for one do not think it is an outrageous claim to suggest that having a PLN online can be a hugely beneficial experience and I think there are people I know who would agree, having perhaps been able to take even more out of it than I have; other people spend a hell of a lot more time online than me. Perhaps people who don't feel like it has worked for them have not found the right people to interact with or the right media to use.

In terms of the wider world, it is true that the percentage of English language teachers online is a small part, but I will happily explain the benefits I have felt of having a blog, reading blogs and from meeting people on twitter. Maybe it's just a start or maybe it's destined to be a small gang, but if it works for me, then I'm happy with my PLN.

Related:

Willy C on social networks
Sue Lyon Jones' Twitter resource links
Gavin Dudeney On PLNs
Connected Principals Why social media can and is changing education

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