WK4AssgnWambuaG.doc - 1 The Power of Connection Building a Personal Learning Network Gideon Wambua Walden University 2 The Power of Connection Building
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1The Power of Connection: Building a Personal Learning NetworkGideon WambuaWalden University
2The Power of Connection: Building a Personal Learning NetworkA personal learning network (PLN) is a powerful tool for bringing like-minded people together to enhance the learning experience and develop professionally. A PLN could consist of alumni, mentors, peers, professors, workmates, and subject matter experts. In today’s interconnected world, a personal learning network could be made up of members spanning the globe. Global networks are possible primarily because of the advent of technological tools such asthe Internet and platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn ( Riel &Fulton, 2001).Networks and Tools for Creating PLNThe key networks I would use in creating my PLN are LinkedIn and Twitter. LinkedIn is aprofessional platform that allows members to create online professional profiles. Members can follow each other, request to connect, post, share other members’ posts, like posts, create groups or request to join existing groups. Organizations can create a page to attract followers. The wholeidea is to create a platform for open-infinite collaboration. Collaborative learning is the essence of PLN (Marin, Negre & Perez, 2014). The beauty of the LinkedIn social network lies in the fact that inputting the right keywords in the search feature would return the ideal candidates for PLN. Searches conducted by profession, location, individual’s name, or even the organization name return relevant results. LinkedIn’s automatic options on blogging activities makes this platform ideal for PLN (Thompson, 2012).