EdTech 543 - Social Learning Networks - Online Learning Communities

Online communities can be valuable to expand our PLE (Personal Learning Environments). According to Millington (2010), online communities are similar to following large social networks like Facebook and Twitter but do have distinct differences. Some differences include the following:

1. Communities have long-term involvement rather than short-term involvement.
2. Communities focus on engagement rather than growth.
3. Communities have a limited number of members - thus promoting a greater number of interactions between members.

As teaching professionals, learning communities give us the opportunity to learn, reflect and discuss current issues in the educational field - depending on the group’s shared interests. Some advantages of communities may include professional development, the ability to collaborate on an issue and/or create a larger network of learning new pedagogy in a variety of areas in the education field.

Other than the groups within the EdTech 543 - Social Network Learning course - Facebook, Diigo and Twitter - I have now also joined a variety of educational groups or communities on four new platforms. These include Google+, LInkedin, edWeb.net and Edmodo. In all of the groups, I have introduced myself and am currently continuing conversations with the community or group.

The following shows my initial involvement in each of the groups or communities. I have provided screenshots of some conversations.

Google+

Technology in Education - this community is home for discussion, collaboration and sharing of resources on technology in education. It is a public community with over 198,000 members.

Google Apps in Education - this community is for educators who are passionate about Google Apps in education and want to share their ideas and learn more about the use of Google Apps in our classroom. This public community has over 127,000 members.

edWeb.net

Digital Classroom: Teaching with Tech - this community is a place where educators share ideas and best practices around meaningful integration of technology and teaching. Members may participate in lively monthly webinars and community discussions to learn how to transform teaching and instructional design with technology.

Tech Tools for the Classroom - this community is a place where members can find new resources, free technology, and great ideas for integrating technology into the classroom to engage and inspire students. The community hosts free monthly webinars and live chats that are highly engaging and interactive.

Edmodo

Project-Based Learning - this is a community of only 982 people who share an interest in project-based learning and how it can be used in all subject areas.

Linkedin

After watching a webinar on Linkedin, I have a real interest in using Linkedin for my that just another networking site. There is so much more to this platform. I have asked to join three different educational groups in LInkedin but so far I have only been given approval in one.

ISTE - International Society for Technology in Education - this group is way for educators to connect with peers, to gather in a variety of forums to share the challenges and excitement of teaching and to be part of a community. This community has over 100,000 members, mostly education leaders and emerging leaders throughout the world.

I am currently waiting approval to join the following groups - TechinEDU (Technology in Education) and Education Technology and eLearning Professionals. I plan to try these communities as they seen to have a lot to offer.

Reference

Millington, R. (2010, May 5). Clarity-What’s a Community? Retrieved from https://www.feverbee.com/clarity-whats-a-community