What is a PLN??

That acronym was something I was completely unfamiliar with.  As I was with many other things out here in cyberspace.  Don't get me wrong...I'm very up with the technology.  As a pre-service teacher in Kentucky, especially at Murray State I was lucky to be in a very "tech" enabled building.  We had tools like you wouldn't believe in every classroom.  Smart boards, doc cameras, air liners, etc....etc...
Also MSU housed the KATE office, or Kentucky Academy of Technology Education.  Can't get any better than that right?

So as I began trying to figure out how I would teach 650 4th-8th graders technology, with little to no guidelines left for me from the previous teacher.  I'm lucky enough to see my students every day (unlike most elective teachers at an elementary level) but only for 6 weeks at a time...once a year.  So I knew I needed an intense 6 week schedule that could cram in as much as possible with each grade level. Of course I have to collaborate with other teachers, fight with the resources I have, and complete my first year of Kentucky teaching known as the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program (a more complicated form of student teaching).  FUN!

SO, last week I sat searching for collaborative classroom tools that I could use with all grade levels.  Things that would keep my student's information private and yet allow them to connect with one another and myself in the classroom. Somehow I came upon Steven Anderson's Web 2.0 blog which is literally loaded with resources.  Check it out here: Web 2.0 Classroom

I was entranced!  There were so many things that I wanted to read, so many sites to check out, and how on earth would I sort through all of this madness I was finding?  At this point my Twitter account was almost non-existent.  I followed maybe 5 people, and had 2 friends that were followers.  Not too exciting.  But Steven's blog got me a little more excited about Twitter so I thought I would improve my following and started to follow a few tech educators.  That was Thursday.  By Friday I was listening and participating in an online conference about technology education #rscon10 or check it here: Reform Symposium.  And now I'm following a whole crew of amazing educators, constantly watching my Twitter feed for new ideas, sites, and other people who can help me out!

Most importantly I learned what a PLN was...and am learning how to use it to my absolute advantage.  The few tools I had found for my classroom are now being replaced by ones that are far more interactive and exciting for students...and I'm coming up with even better ideas for how to get my students exciting and learning about technology.

So....here are some of the links/sites that I have checked out in the past few days.  Only a sampling.  I hope to continue to use this blog to share my adventure as well as my trials with different tools in my classroom.  If you find some exciting stuff you would like to share or want to share your feedback and advice, trust that it will be taken with the utmost appreciation from me.  I'm looking for every resource I can get!!!

Already mentioned but Steven Anderson's blog is wonderful!! Web 2.0 Classroom
Inspirational PLE video by a 7th grader: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEls3tq5wIY
Great collection of tools: http://newtoolsworkshop.wikispaces.com/
A great way to find educators to begin your PLN: People To Meet PLN - Educators

Really Cool Sites (I just found out about!!!)

Edmodo
Stixy
Symbaloo
Twiducate
GoAnimate
Glogster
Evernote

(Just type any of those into Google and explore!)

Thanks for reading...look for a post shortly where I'll show off my brand new classroom and maybe give some ideas!!