Online+PD

=Online Professional Development=

=Take Aways:= The number of online courses and programs continue to increase.
 * Nearly 3.2 million students were taking at least one online course during the fall 2005 term, a substantial increase over the 2.3 million reported the previous year. ([|Making the Grade: Online Education in the United States, 2006])

[| Blackboard] an online course management system becomes a successful publicly traded stock.

[| Moodle] continues to add users and installations.([|http://moodle.org/stats/)]

These are what we know as the traditional ways of online learning.

In the past two years there has been significant change in the way we learn online.

Professional Development opportunities are becoming free and more abundant.

We are seeing a shift in conference formats that are not only benefiting those in attendance but people around the world.

[|K12online] [| NECC] [| Learning 2.0 Asia]

We are also seeing the formation of online communities that serve as learning platforms for teachers.

[|School 2.0] [| Classroom 2.0] [| Learning 2.0 Asia]

I suggest that you join some of these learning communities as a way to foster your own professional development.

Within the last year we have seen an even greater shift in connected learning. People are moving away from formal courses and joining communities to create Personal Learning Networks (PLN).

Defining communities and networks

Online Community:
A group of people who are brought together around a common topic or idea. As a community member you are part of a community but do not actively get to chose who else is in that community with you. Communities can grow, shrink and change over time and you have no control over them but are part of them. You can be an active community member or a non-active community member. You control only your contribution to your community.

Personal Learning Network (PLN):
A PLN is created by the user. You choose who is in your network. You have ultimate control over who you learn from. You create your network based on your needs and wants at any given time. Members of your PLN may or may not even know they are part of your PLN. You create your own networks and they are personal to you. ([|http://www.aharef.info/static/htmlgraph/)]

How do you build a Personal Learning Network? RSS Reader [| Twitter] [| Skype] Kim Cofino - ISB-Bangkok [| Facebook] [| Instant Messenger (IM)]

You have to take the time to set up your networks. But once you do, it will change your life forever.

Personal Learning Networks are the future. Our students are already creating their networks.

Personal Learning Networks can be broad or narrow. You decide how the network works for you.

In the 21st Century you will be in control of your own learning and we need to help students to create their own personal learning networks as well. Teaching them how to create and learn from their personal networks is a life long skill that they can continue to adapt and change with time.

Ustream Archive of this presentation at the EARCOS Administrators' Conference

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