Now that I have your attention… let’s talk about PLNs!
As 2013 comes to a close, I’ve been thinking a lot about my PLN (Mom, I know you’re reading, that stands for Personal Learning Network). Since I spent over half of the year on the couch, it gave me a great opportunity to connect virtually with people from around the world. In fact, I had the same view for iPad Summit Atlanta, ISTE, iPadPalooza, ADE, and at dozen EdCamps.
Yet despite the time that I’ve spent interacting on Twitter, and posting to LinkedIn Groups, my PLN is relatively tiny. I don’t have thousands of Twitter followers, LinkedIn Connections, or Facebook friends, but in the real world, I don’t have hundreds of real friends, either. I have a a core group of incredibly close friends, many of whom I’ve known my entire life.
This is why I was incredibly shocked, and totally honored, last week when eSchool News included me on a list with ed-tech rockstars Eric Scheninger (@NMHS_Principal), Erin Klein (@KleinErin), real-life friend Shawn McCusker (@ShawnMcCusker), and Shannon Miller (@shannonmmiller) as one of the Top 5 ed-tech Twitter accounts we follow. Honestly, I didn’t even think eSchoolNews knew that I existed!
I started writing this post with the new AT&T commercial in mind, and I have to disagree. Sometimes, bigger isn’t better. I’d like to think that my small pool has piranhas AND a dinosaur robot who can karate-chop like a ninja!
http://youtu.be/tZ4c1CYAQpk
I’m writing this post on Christmas Eve morning, so for all of you who have followed me, connected to me, or even picked up the phone and called, thank you and have a Merry Christmas (yes, I said it. It’s December 24th. Seems appropriate).
For those of you who may choose to join my PLN for 2014, we may be small in numbers, but we pack a punch. Here’s what I can promise.
- I will answer your questions if you direct them my way. If my answer can’t fit in 140 characters, I will write a blog post and tweet a link. If I can’t answer your questions, I’ll just keep asking other people until I can help you find an answer.
- I will retweet and promote your brilliance. If you write an amazing blog post, I will share it with the world. I might even write about you or reference you, and I will definitely link back to your original and give you credit.
- I will talk about you to anyone who might listen and always ask for permission first. If you don’t believe me, ask Kristen Wideen (@MrsWideen), Todd Curtis (@toddacurtis), Rhonda Mitchell (@rgmteach), Ben Schersten (@benschersten), Shaelynn Farnsworth (@shfarnsworth), Brendan Leonard (@semi_rad), Suzy Brooks (@SimplySuzy), Fitz Cahall (@dirtbagdiaries), and others.
- I will be helpful, positive, entertaining, prolific, and occasionally off-color – just to keep you on your toes.
So, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and get ready for 2014!