Benefits of Personal Learning Networks

New and emerging technology has created a variety of possible ways to learn and connect with others. Web 2.0 tools and social media give individuals the convenience of choosing where and when to consume educational content, collaborate with others, and share ideas, (Haas et al, 2020). Professional learning networks have the potential to lead to higher performance as learners shift from consumers to creators, (Kennedy, 2018). By taking advantage of the technology available to users, people can share information and educational content quickly and efficiently.

Belonging to a personal learning network gives individuals the opportunity to gain knowledge from others while also contributing their own ideas. Whether you are trying to connect with other teachers, instructional designers, or artists, there are many different websites and platforms that can allow you to do so. Social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest have loads of content created and shared by like minded individuals. These are a great place to start searching for groups or people who share your interests and can help you grow your knowledge in a particular subject.

Instructional design will continue to change and adapt in order to meet the needs of diverse learners. By creating a personal learning network of instructional designers and educators, you will be able to stay up to date on the latest tools and technology for best practices in ID.

References:

Haas, M. R. C., Haley, K., Nagappan, B. S., Ankelnten, F., Swaminathan, A., & Santen, S. A. (2020). The connected educator: Personal learning networks. Clinical Teacher, 17(4), 373–377. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/tct.13146

Kennedy, J. (2018). Towards a model of connectedness in personal learning networks. Journal of Interactive Online Learning, 16(1), 21–40.