Communities of Practice,

Professional Learning Networks

and Connectivism
Creative Expression
Natalie Burr
EdTech 543
Summer 2017
 Connectivism

Decisions are based on a rapidly changing

foundations.

Nurturing and maintaining connections is needed

to facilitate continual learning

Learning occurs within a network

Davis, et. al.

 Connectivism and Knowledge

Rests in a diversity of opinions

Process of connecting specialized information

sources

Capacity to know is greater than what we

already know
Marquis
 Connectivism and Knowledge

Ability to see connections between sources is a

core skill

Being current is the intent of all activities

Marquis
Communities of Practice

Groups of people who share a concern or a passion for

something they do and learn how to do it better as they
interact regularly
Must haves:
Domain
Community
Practice

Wenger-Trayner and Communities of Practice

 Professional Learning Network

A PLN is a system of interpersonal connections and

resources that sup- port informal learning
Teacher-driven, global support networks that decrease
isolation and promote independence

Trust
 Professional Learning Network

Personalized training
High degree of symbiotic relationships that personal
development depends on
Not merely absorbing information from other, we are
sharing
Developed primarily through social networks

Catapano
Resources

Catapano, J. (2017) What is a PLN? Why Do I need one? Retreived 12 June 2017 from http://www.teachhub.com/what-pln-why-do-i-need-one

Communities of Practice. (n.d.) Retrieved 12 June 2017 from http://www.kstoolkit.org/Communities+of+Practice

Davis, C, Edmunds, E, & Kelly-Bateman, V. (2008). Connectivism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology.
Retrieved 12 June 2017, from http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/

Marquis, Justin. (2012). What Does Connectivism Mean for Education?. Retrieved 12 June 2017, from
http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2012/01/what-does-connectivism-mean-for-education/

Trust, T. (2012). Professional Learning Networks Designed for Teacher Learning. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, 28. Retrieved from
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ972454.pdf.

Wenger-Trayner, E and B. (2015). Communities of Practice a Brief Introduction. Retrieved 10 June 2017 from http://wenger-trayner.com/wp-
content/uploads/2015/04/07-Brief-introduction-to-communities-of-practice.pdf