Nebraska Change Agent
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Jun
15
It Really Isn’t That Simple
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by Beth Still on 15-06-2010
I had a conversation with someone today about Twitter habits and the differences between our two networks. I follow over 500 people and he follows less than 30. He and I both agree that for Twitter to have value you must follow people who add to your learning. We have both been using Twitter for two years, but I have bought into Twitter hook, line, and sinker while he is still very much a lurker. He was explaining that he does not like to follow people who talk about anything personal.
The more I thought about this difference between us the more I realized this line of thinking sort of defeats the social networking aspect of Twitter. I also came to the realization that the time I invest interacting with people is what makes my network so incredibly powerful and special. I think I knew this, but I never really thought about it until today when I listened to my colleague talk about how he doesn’t get anything from listening to peoples personal tweets. I guess it would be safe to say that he and I are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to what we are looking for from our network. This difference is evident when it comes to how we view the individuals who comprise our personal learning networks. I guess what I am trying to say is that I used to think that if a person was following the “right” people that things would just fall into place. It isn’t that simple.
I have very close ties to many of the people from my PLN. It is rare when a day goes by that I do not have a conversation with someone from my PLN in a place besides Twitter. It might be an email or Skype call. Sometimes these conversations even take place on the phone, but my point is that many of the people in my PLN are my friends. I am so close to some of my PLN that some days I forget that I don’t really work down the hall from them. Most of the time we discuss educational issues, but we also talk about our families, pets, what we are making for dinner, our hopes, our dreams, and our fears.
My PLN did not just fall into place overnight. It took me two years to get what I have built in to place. I have invested so much of my time establishing friendships with the people in my PLN just as I would if I were working in the same building as them. Has it been worth it? What do you think?
In exactly one week I will start my ISTE 10 journey. I will get to spend several days enjoying the company of some of my best friends face-to-face for a change. This post will resonate with those of you who have bonded with people in your PLN. If you have not quite established those friendships then this post may fall a little flat and leave you wondering if it is really possible to be friends with people you only know online. Maybe you are like my colleague and you just aren’t interested in getting to know some of your PLN on a personal level, but I would not have it any other way. When we get to know each other we tend to begin to care. Isn’t that what teaching and learning is all about? I won’t apologize for sharing the passing of my beloved dog a year ago or for the picture of the scalloped potatoes that I posted late one night when I just HAD to have them. I won’t say I am sorry for sharing some of the funny things my five year old has said over the last two years. I also won’t take back the enthusiastic tweets I share when my other daughter makes an amazing play during a softball game. This is my life and I want to share it with those of you who care because it is who I am.
12 Responses to “It Really Isn’t That Simple”
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June 16th, 2010 at 4:18 p
Great post Beth! I agree with you. Having a PLN has opened so many doors to knowing and working with people I might not have had access to in the past. The ideas and talents that are available are so invigorating to my professional work! The personal information just humanizes it all. I have had the same reaction to the sharing of information from some colleagues, but since they choose to leave school the minute the bell rings, I choose to work with the global PLN that’s online 24/7! I am glad we are im the same PLN!
June 16th, 2010 at 10:59 p
I work with three incredible teachers, but all of us are so busy that we really don’t have time to collaborate and bounce ideas off of each other. Since there is just one of us in each of the core areas, I have turned to Twitter to make connections to other social studies teachers. Thank you for being part of my PLN.
June 16th, 2010 at 7:38 p
Great post. I couldn’t agree with you more. Have a great time next week!
June 16th, 2010 at 10:20 p
You have a great time next week, too! I really wish you could be there with us, but I think we can forgive you for ditching us for such a special event. I want to see pictures….lots of them!
June 16th, 2010 at 9:23 p
Excellent post! I’ve only been on Twitter for a year or so, and while I do love the resources and thought-provoking conversations, it is the camaraderie and the personal aspect of my PLN that I enjoy the most. I LOVE hearing news about my friends –about their newborns, the funny anecdotes about their kids, their daily work frustrations, even the pictures of pets and last night’s dinner! And I love sharing the same aspects of my life with them — I think that’s what the “social” part of social networking is all about.
I get that we all have our different personalities and viewpoints of PLNs, but I think we learn more from one another when we equally give and take of ourselves
June 16th, 2010 at 10:27 p
I think both you and I have such a richer experience because we are so in tune with the people in our PLN. I certainly cannot keep up with the lives of the 500+ people that I follow, but I certainly enjoy keeping up with many of the people in my PLN. When they share things about their life it helps me make a connection to them which is important to me. I realize that not everyone needs to feel like their PLN are their colleagues, but for me it makes my experience so much deeper and meaningful.
June 16th, 2010 at 4:14 p
Great post Beth! I too find it amazing to feel like I know people so well that I have met on twitter. It’s great to hear about the great resources they have, but it’s more inspiring to hear about their successes (and sometimes failures) in the classroom. And like with all friends, I love to know that things going on in their lives. I’m glad you don’t apologize for the social aspect of social networking. I’m with you, the social is my favorite part.
June 17th, 2010 at 7:23 p
I love your article. I’m excited to be a new person that is now in your world via Facebook. Yes I like Twitter too but get so many tabs open on my Chrome that I never get a chance to look at them all so I mostly just view Twitter off and on. Facebook has opened up so much with all of the connections we can make there that I feel it’s a great tool for personal and professional as I’m sure you as well. Hope to meet you in person at ISTE!
June 18th, 2010 at 8:59 p
I was thrilled to see you were from another ESU in Nebraska. It is always nice to make new friends in the state. Have you ever tried to run a application like Tweetdeck? You can keep track of Twitter and Facebook along with several other apps all at one time on one screen. I am just getting into the habit of using it.
June 18th, 2010 at 9:12 p
So do you work for an ESU or a school? I have used TweetDeck and I use Yoono but since i changed to Google Chrome I hadn’t had it for a while. It’s out for Chrome now so I just need t activate it. I know I’ll be tweeting up a storm at ISTE Always great to make new connections especially in NE!
June 18th, 2010 at 5:24 p
Going on my 5th year with ESU13. I teach social studies in our alternative education program. I teach both face-to-face and online. What do you do at ESU8?
June 29th, 2010 at 3:31 p
Hey Mrs. Still,
I really enjoy your post on the PLN because I really don’t know that much about it. I know that I want to teach so I need to really start working on my PLN. I would like to know your opinion on where should I look for good people to add to my PLN? I have a Skype account but I really haven’t used it yet. How helpful is it to you? I think you have really good knowledge about PLNs and I would love to add you to my PLN. Let me know what you think.
Stephen