ISTE Journal Blog #1: "Grow Your Personal Learning Network"

Warlick, D. (2009). Grow your personal learning network: New technologies can keep you connected and help you manage information overload. Learning & Leading with Technology, 36(6), 12-16. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.csusm.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/61798426?accountid=10363

In the article, “Grow your Personal Learning Network: New Technologies Can Keep you Connected and Help you Manage Information Overload,” author, David Warlick (2009) argues that educators need to embrace online personal networks in order to “supplement our knowledge about the world” (p. 13). The “world” Warlick describes is the world that our students live in. Educators need to be aware of the support system of professional colleagues beyond their own families, friends and school walls.

Warlick recommends following a small amount of blogs at first, in order to focus on each and to maintain sanity. Next, he recommends organizing the blogs by topic or frequency. In terms of new content, Warlick recommends finding what is needed and then “severing the line” (p. 14). Warlick explores the different types of PLNs to let educators know which type they might relate to most, such as social bookmarking, personally maintained semi synchronous connections and dynamically maintained asynchronous connections (pp. 13-14). Lastly, Warlick invites the conversation of “cultivating your network.” I was impressed by the tone of growth as a theme throughout the article. I agree wholeheartedly that educators must use personal networks to constantly desire personal growth and improvement.

Personally, I connect with Warlick’s idea about starting small. When I look at other educator’s blogs, all I can think is, “holy cow, where do you find the time?” It is much more manageable to subscribe to one or two valuable sites in order to soak up the benefits. I am absolutely interested in growing my Personal Learning Network, so this was a valuable tool to get started.

This article aligns with the NETS Standard V: “Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership.” By encouraging growth of Professional Networks, Warlick is inspiring educators to spread their roots far and deep.