Exploring PLNs Week 1

To start off this MOOC called Exploring PLNs (personal learning networks), I chose to do a mind map, using the Simple Mind software on both my Android and laptop. My initial goal was to get a better, more detailed look at what my networks are. After completing the mindmap, though, I realized how much overlap there is. I also realized how some opportunities for networking aren't being met.

But, first here's the mind map, first as a whole and then in sections because as you'll see, my mindmap is quite large:

So, I see my existing PLNs as blogs, twitter, google plus, facebook, internet favorites, subscriptions, linkedin, and other. When I made this mindmap, I provided more detail on my facebook, twitter, and linkedin than anywhere else.

Starting from the top and going clockwise, you'll see my current blog following is quite small! So, perhaps lesson two is, add more blogs! I could make LinkedIn more useful for me if I actually utilized it! I receive notifications daily of my endorsements, and I've built a substantial network through my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree connections. I also found useful groups which update me about weekly with different discussion topics. Again, I need to make more use of LinkedIn.

I hadn't initially thought of subscriptions as networks, but I do learn through these subscriptions. As I've mentioned most recently in my blogs, open access peer review journals are amazing. So, I've subscribed to both PLOS and MDPI. While, I'm new to Google Plus, I have seen its advantages. Of course, I have to thank my blog connection - Learning Snippets for bringing me to the Google Plus connection of the MOOC, but before finding out about MOOCs, I found out about the communities, and I enjoy reading the posts.

I'm not sure if anyone else would classify internet favorites as networks, but it was after I realized that some of the people I'd most like to network with aren't active in networks. As an example, the associations I find closest to my intended field of work tend to provide more information on their website than on twitter. Likewise, Judy Willis's webpage "RADteach" gives me more information about her background and cummulative research than she provides on her twitter account.

 Yes, I typically use Facebook for games, but I've also found the groups function as very useful. I didn't include it, but I belong to two different genealogy groups on FB which help in my hobby of searching my lineage, and people post there all the time! I especially like when groups post events because they're easy to find on facebook. Unless I write down an event tweeted on twitter, I won't be able to find that date unless I remember who tweeted it or I scroll through thousands of tweets!

Speaking of twitter... Aside from the events issue, I find twitter to be my most valuable network, specifically for its list function. Everyone I follow is in at least one list, and most are in two. I follow almost 200 tweeters, divided initially into friends, acquaintances, and mentors.  From there, I have music/entertainment, neuro/education, and news. Because lists are a priority for me, I struggled to find a decent Android twitter app. Right now, I'm using Carbon, and it works really well. Finally, my others section are areas that I haven't quite decided as networks. I do use all of them currently except for reddit, but are they truly learning networks.