Hello!

I've decided to gear this week's post more towards teachers than students because I think it's important that we use technology ourselves to better our teaching and lesson planning. I recently started using Google Keep for saving resources and websites I find through my use of my PLN (Personal Learning Network). You can pin websites and notes, much like Pinterest, but you can install a button, if you use Google Chrome, which makes adding links very easy. Then all your resources are saved to one place. This can be resources like blogs or lesson plan sites you have found to be useful and might want to visit again to find more resources. Another tool called Pocket has many of the same features and could be used to do that same thing. You could also use Symbaloo for a more visual representation, but it limits the number of links.

Through my technology class I am taking currently, I have learned about the importance of a teachers PLN in order to expand your connections with other teachers who can be instrumental in your growth as a teacher. You can do this by following people or groups on twitter. you can also learn a lot through hashtags such as #MTBoS, which stands for Math Twitter Blogosphere and involves many helpful math lessons and blogs. Through my PLN I have found countless resources that help me expand my teaching and pedagogical content knowledge. While it may seem like you don't have time for this, you will find that the time spent looking though your PLN will be worth it based on the resources you gain from it.

If you have any questions on how to start your PLN or advice on how to grow it, I would be happy to help! Just comment below!

Ashley