Based on Utecht's 5 stages of PLN adoption, identify which stage you currently see yourself experiencing and how this impacts on your personal and working lives. Also identify any 'gaps' in your existing PLN (ie. areas which you feel you would like to develop further/in the future).
Personal Learning Network (PLN)
I have never thought about a Personal Learning Network (PLN) before now. Well not formally, anyway.
As a teacher, before the Web 2.0 age, my personal learning network was more localised, consisting of Head of Department, faculty members, other faculties in nearby schools, University friends and professional associations.
The introduction of Web 2.0 has opened communication lines to a network beyond those known personally. This means there are endless opportunities for linking people and organisations to a PLN. The flow-on effect of social networking can also add to this network exponentially. Once one networking connection is made it is easy to find another by exploring their social network connections.
Currently, I am experiencing Stage 3 Know it all of Jeff Utecht's Stages of Personal Learning Networks Adoption (Utech, 2008). I feel very overwhelmed with the amount of content the connections are providing me with and it feels that with every connection made and explored another opens up.
At the start of this subject I was experiencing Utecht's Stage 1 Immersion of PLN adoption . I created connections mainly from blogs and twitter and found that with each connection another connection was made through their collaborations.
The immersion stage very quickly evolved to the know it all stage. On completion of this course I will endeavour to go back and experience Stage 2 Evaluation and disconnect those connections that are not particularly relevant to me gaining employment next year. I need to focus in on networks that I want to focus my time on (Utecht, 2008) and remove distractions from my PLN.
The impact of my PLN on my personal and working life is very segmented at the moment. The need to keep connected is hard to manage during the day. I am not currently working and my use of technology in the day is fairly limited unless I have dedicated set time to study. Balancing time between caring for my children, husband's job, studying and staying connected is a juggle.
Experiencing the know it all stage, while juggling the constraints on my use of technology, leaves me feeling very overwhelmed at staying connected and being inundated with content. The feeling of not wanting to miss out on relevant information and the desire to learn 'everything', also impacts on the personal and work life balance.
The gap in my PLN is current professional relationships. These connections will take on a more significant later in the year when I engage in finding a job. I will begin this process by reconnecting with previous employers in updating them of my qualifications and the desire to re-enter the workplace. LinkedIn will be my first point of call to make these connections and establish where previous colleagues are currently employed.
Utech, J. (2008, April 3). Stages of PLN adoption [Web Log Post]. Retrieved from http://www.thethinkingstick.com/stages-of-pln-adoption/
Currently, I am experiencing Stage 3 Know it all of Jeff Utecht's Stages of Personal Learning Networks Adoption (Utech, 2008). I feel very overwhelmed with the amount of content the connections are providing me with and it feels that with every connection made and explored another opens up.
At the start of this subject I was experiencing Utecht's Stage 1 Immersion of PLN adoption . I created connections mainly from blogs and twitter and found that with each connection another connection was made through their collaborations.
The immersion stage very quickly evolved to the know it all stage. On completion of this course I will endeavour to go back and experience Stage 2 Evaluation and disconnect those connections that are not particularly relevant to me gaining employment next year. I need to focus in on networks that I want to focus my time on (Utecht, 2008) and remove distractions from my PLN.
The impact of my PLN on my personal and working life is very segmented at the moment. The need to keep connected is hard to manage during the day. I am not currently working and my use of technology in the day is fairly limited unless I have dedicated set time to study. Balancing time between caring for my children, husband's job, studying and staying connected is a juggle.
Experiencing the know it all stage, while juggling the constraints on my use of technology, leaves me feeling very overwhelmed at staying connected and being inundated with content. The feeling of not wanting to miss out on relevant information and the desire to learn 'everything', also impacts on the personal and work life balance.
The gap in my PLN is current professional relationships. These connections will take on a more significant later in the year when I engage in finding a job. I will begin this process by reconnecting with previous employers in updating them of my qualifications and the desire to re-enter the workplace. LinkedIn will be my first point of call to make these connections and establish where previous colleagues are currently employed.
Utech, J. (2008, April 3). Stages of PLN adoption [Web Log Post]. Retrieved from http://www.thethinkingstick.com/stages-of-pln-adoption/
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