Developing Personal Learning Networks (PLN)

As part of our technology class we are required to explore and create PLN's.
This has been an excellent exercise for me as I have never been on Twitter, Pinterest or anything other than Facebook.

It has also been somewhat frustrating.  There is an awful lot of junk on twitter.

But now that I have played around with it for a while I see that it will be quite helpful in keeping up to date on educational issues.  I have followed a few twitter chats although I haven't felt comfortable participating actively yet!
I am also learning how to use tweet deck as I think this will help me organize the important items I'd like to keep track of.

I plan to cultivate my PLN by continuing to follow chats and start participating actively.  It seems like a great way to meet other people and share ideas.

Here are some screenshots of my first foray into twitter land !!

file:///Users/lane/Desktop/Screenshots/Screen%20Shot%202015-02-25%20at%202.35.47%20PM.png

 

I've also started using Pinterest which is where I have created my digital toolbox.  I think this will be a great learning tool as well.  I've already found so many great ideas on it!

Here is a pin from my social studies idea board.

TPACK is valuable! We should use it...but use it WISELY!

http://prezi.com/dl4mnpkho02e/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share



When I started thinking about this assignment (to make an argument either for or against TPACK or SAMR) I REALLY wanted to make an argument against the use of both of them.  Of course the assignment is to pick one or the other, so I chose to make my attack on TPACK.

As we were learning about the TPACK model in our Technology class, I thought that there was a significant drawback to TPACK.  Primarily that it encourages the use of technology just for the sake of technology.  That is to say, it seems to promote the use of technology in the classroom just because it is there and available.  In spite of the fact that its goal it to encourage teachers to use technology appropriately, TPACK lends itself to misuse.  It seemed to me that the TPACK model could cause teachers to grasp for ways to connect technology to the content they are trying to impart to their students without really understanding whether the technology is valuable to the content or not.  What about just teaching??? Teachers shouldn't feel forced to use technology.

So, I started doing some independent research and sure enough I found that my concerns about TPACK were shared by others.  HOWEVER,  as I delved further into the issue it dawned on me how truly valuable the TPACK model is and I came to the conclusion that it SHOULD be used, but used wisely.



In today's world the ability to use technology is vital and becoming more so everyday.  Therefore it is also vital that our students emerge from their educational experience equipped to use technology in their lives.  Also, the technology tools available to teachers and students can greatly enhance learning in all subjects.  However, if it is misused technology can be a distraction or even a detriment to learning.  So it is imperative to have a model that teachers can follow which when used properly encourages the appropriate use of technology in the classroom. TPACK is such a model.

By using TPACK, teachers can find the intersection of the content matter they have to share with students, the manner in which they share that content, and the technology which can enhance the presentation of the content and the students' learning.  Employing the TPACK model keeps teachers on track.   If there is no intersection of the three types of knowledge (technological, content, and pedagogical) then don't use the technology!

Attached to this post are a prezi about TPACK and an article from the International Journal of Technology in Teaching and Learning which I found interesting and on point.

www.sicet.org/journals/ijttl/issue1101/1_Willis.pdf