Power of a Network
January 21, 2008 by Kate Olson
I learn so many new things every day from my network (and Lucy, I know you didn’t coin PLN, but your blog is where I saw it first!), it just blows me away. Yesterday was one of the spectacular ones where I was hit from all sides with ideas, resources, advice, and yes, a little bit of criticism. But that’s what this is all about. I wouldn’t put my work out here if I didn’t expect a little debate, although I didn’t anticipate QUITE what I got with yesterday’s post - somehow I got Twitter hopping, the Cool Cat Teacher herself blogging about me, and lots of thought-provoking comments. It was good though, and really showed how powerful a network can be. Here are 2 other really great (really DIFFERENT)things my PLN shared with me yesterday:
The Los Angeles Fire Department is using Twitter to give information about fires
This is SO neat, on many different levels. You can check out the LAFD’s blog about the release of the Twitter updates to get more on their rationale, but it truly does demonstrate Twitter’s usefulness beyond social (and educational!!!!) networking. All you have to do to get these updates is follow @LAFD. Thanks to @mkrigsman for the tweet regarding this yesterday. After I saw that, I checked out @LAFD’s updates - as I live in WI, I won’t be following, but I truly believe this is huge.
There was the most amazing halo around the moon last night (at least in the midwest!)
(image by jeffk) See what I mean about different? What could be more different than @LAFD and a moon halo? It was just so amazing - I was working like crazy on a course I’m developing, chatting with my Twitter network about a multitude of things (seemed like THEY were all talking about the Packer game) and carrying on 2 IM conversations about blogging/work issues. All of a sudden a dear friend and mentor breaks in to my self-involved, philosophical mental debate with this Google-chat:
9:08 PM ****: Are you still online?
me: yes ma’am
****: Put on an jacket, scarf and mittens and go outside to look at the moon.
Way cool!!!!
It’s so cold that the moon’s light is reflecting on the crystals in the sky!
me: ummm, will look out WINDOW!!!
9:09 PM ok, going……..
*****: There’s a halo…it’s incredible!
9:10 PM And?
9:13 PM Are you still at the window?
9:14 PM me: went outside and AMAZING!!!! Thank you so much for drawing me out of myself and putting things in perspective 
Wish M was awake, she’s obsessed w/ the moon
This is someone deeply involved in the edtech world and we’ve built our relationship on that, but I just find it so cool that our network can go beyond that. Of course, after that, we both start tweeting like mad to get everyone ELSE outside to look :-) The moon itself was extraordinary, but the lesson I learned from the experience was just as wonderful. The people in my network are opening up new worlds to me - thanks to all.
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It is great to see the effect that such a network can have. You can even see the moon in a whole new light… literally.
What a great story to tell. I love it. And I love the picture… and just to think I was chatting you when all of this happened.
I can really relate. I am working toward a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with special emphasis in technology. Since I jumped into the PLN word in October, I have learned more in the last three months than I have in this graduate program. Something is wrong with this picture. The six courses cost lots of money and all had the same old education slang attached to the course.
The conversation you started yesterday was great. Thanks for starting it. We have to be held responsible for what we write once it is published. We must remember that. I appreciate the reminders.
Bill
Vicki -
Yup, that was happening right around the time my computer crashed!
Bill -
I’m starting to believe that all new teachers should be encouraged to form a PLN, which would increase the tech-literacy of ALL educators in this country.
This is probably “old hat” by now, but think about the communication stream you can have with parents using twitter. It would be incredibly easy to provide mini-updates throughout the day and post brief homework messages.
As for PLN’s, I need to continue to develop mine. As a relatively new college prof, I can empathize with Bill’s comments. In fact, I’m going to “force” many of my students to build their PLN as part of class this Spring. I’m using Ning for journaling with my field experience class this Spring & blogging with my secondary science methods class, so starting a PLN should fit well.
Thanks for the great posts Kate!