Journal #7 - Professional Learning Network

I've joined or subscribed several professional learning network such as digg.com, My Big Campus, Edmodo and OTAN.

Edmodo and OTAN (Outreach and Technology Assistance Network) are my favorite ones.

Edmodo https://www.edmodo.com is easy to sign up and use.  Besides a lot of my co-workers are already using Edmodo so I can quickly add them to my group.  We exchanges teaching ideas and resources, it's kind like Facebook for teachers and students.  Here are 20 ways to use Edmodo as a teacher: https://support.edmodo.com/hc/en-us/articles/205007974-20-Ways-to-Use-Edmodo-Teacher-

OTAN (Outreach and Technology Assistance Network) http://www.otan.us/
is a non-profit organization which provides teaching and technology assistance for adult educators. They're offer free online or face-to-face training (http://www.caadultedtraining.org/) on varies technology topics.  I had taken OTAN's online training/classes in the past and had exchanged teaching strategies with other teachers.  Every March, they host a technology symposium to the adult educators to cover the latest technology trends.  I enjoy attending the symposium not only I get to learn new teaching technologies also I get to network with other teachers from other schools.

I started subscribing to digg.com a few months ago.  To be honest, I have never heard of digg.com (http://digg.com/)before and do not know the purpose of this website.  My current subscriptions are web design, typography, Adobe programs and TED.  I am not very impress with digg.com because there are too many posts/feeds that I have to filter in order to find a very useful post.  Maybe it's because I am new to this news feed website but it really doesn't do much for me.

I know the trend for educators today is to be connected with other educators through professional learning networks.  I do see the benefit of connecting with other educators from different part of world or in the U.S. but it is very time consuming.  If I can get answers or lesson plans ideas from my co-workers (teachers), I would preferred to that first.  Our school district is pushing us to use professional learning networks such as My Big Campus and Edmodo.  I will keep on using them and making it a habit of log on to these sites as part of my daily routines...............