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The Power of Connection: Building a Personal Learning Network
Gideon Wambua
Walden University
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The Power of Connection: Building a Personal Learning Network
A 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 as
the Internet and platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn ( Riel &Fulton, 2001).
Networks and Tools for Creating PLN
The key networks I would use in creating my PLN are LinkedIn and Twitter. LinkedIn is a
professional 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 whole
idea 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).
