Moving in 1 Direction

Personal Learning Networks, PLNs, are a way for students to expand their learning resources beyond the walls of a traditional classroom. Students are becoming experts in fields that interest them through global connections made through the world wide web. They have direct access to mentors and fellow enthusiasts.

Why do we as teachers need to develop our own PLN's? Quite simply because we are 20th century educators teaching 21st century learners. There is a disconnect in how information is being gathered and presented by teachers and how it is absorbed, or not, by students.

In Personal Learning Networks,  Richardson and Mancabelli, effectively and excitedly convey the need for transformation of our classrooms. Their words serve as the catalyst that all educators should embrace so as to be interesting and connected educators of the 21st century. In order to assist in making such a transformation, an argument needs to be made for the transformation schools don't quite recognize they need, YET.

My daughter, Erin, is more than infatuated with the boy band One Direction. Through the learning network she has created, Erin has access to all 1D information. The band is "transparent" and therefore my daughter has a direct link to their day to day activity (Twitter), all concerts (YouTube), clothing and cologne preferences(blogging sites). She knows within minutes when the band's plane has landed, all familial background information and has relationships with fans from around the world lucky enough to score meet and greet tickets. Her learning network far exceeds that of her mother's Tiger Beat resource of the 70's.

The band uses Twitter to answer questions from their Directioner fans during the concert and they video tape concert excerpts with the audiences' Smart phones. These clips are the same ones found on YouTube, uploaded before the stadium has emptied. My daughter is a 21st century learner whose PLN on all things One Direction is vast. There is no fan based question that goes unanswered or without research.

What if we as educators could incorporate that same passion for learning and building personal learning networks into our classrooms? Amazing, yes? I try to be a parent that comes from a place of "yes". Everything is a possibility at least until I have thought it through. I want to be that same kind of teacher.