Here is a great link with 5 tips for creating your PLN (personal learning network).  The suggestions were written for Twitter, but would also help with Plurk.

I love the idea of using technology in my classes…..but when things do not work properly it is SO FRUSTRATING! I have only limited access to certain tools (Smartboard) and not enough time to play around and learn the ins and outs of all the different programs and features available on-line and here in our own building.

This year my students will be taking a virtual field trip to Plimoth Plantation to learn about the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Native Americans.Our students will be dressing up and reenacting the First Thanksgiving. They will be sharing what they have learned and we will have a celebration with food and games. My plan is to record highlights of the day with my new FLIP camcorder and put the videos on my website.

Two second grade classes participated in the Fairy Tale Ball last week. Mine was one of them. I took many pictures and used the voice recorders to record reader’s theater and oral report presentations to add to my website. I was also given many pictures from parents, but for the first time ever a parent put some of the pictures to music on YouTube. I showed the kids and they loved it! Should I be concerned about confidentiality issues or school policies that the creator did not look into (since he/she is not a school employee)? If not, are teachers free to integrate the use of this tool into the classroom?

One of the people I am following just posted this link for finding other teachers on Twitter.  I found it very helpful and thought I would share.  Have already gotten some helpful information from the new teachers I’m following.

I have been having a hard time deciding how to integrate technology into my classroom since I work with many small groups throughout the day. I came across this article called Technology Intergration Made Easy.  I think it is important to integrate technology in the curriculum as a regular part of the day.  This article gave me some ideas for making that possible.  I hope you’ll check it out and see if there is an idea you could use too.

I was introduced to Plurk in April but couldn’t understand what the interest was.  I began by looking at the friends of cfox2 and then lorim and dawne.  I would look at what they posted and if I found them interesting I became a fan.  Slowly as I’d start to respond to something they said and they would ask to be my friend.  I also searched some keywords that I was interested in.  One was “geocaching“. It would show all the plurks that had that word it in. I then either became a friend or fan of those people. It started slowly but I love the PLN I have now and am continuing to find new people that I want to add to it.  I find myself spending more time on Plurk than Facebook!  I still check out Twitter because I have some contacts on there that are not on Plurk.  I have learned so many new things through my PLN’s comments and links.  I’ve gotten some good ideas to use in the classroom too.  So I would encourage those that are unsure or wondering about Plurk to read what others have written and don’t be afraid to befriend a “stranger”.

I am very excited to be starting a blog with my students.  It is all ready up and running.  They will be blogging about the book Rules.  The students have started the book and are really excited to blog.  I’m a little nervous but also excited.  I feel it is important to use technology in the classroom and that the students will benefit from commenting on the blog.  They look forward to answering the questions I post and being able to communicate online.  If you would like to visit our blog and comment I’m sure the students would love that.  Also if you have any suggestions of ways to make the blog “work” for students I would be happy to have them.  My blog is
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Last year when I began to use Twitter and Plurk, I had some of the same thoughts and feelings as many of you are currently experiencing.  After giving both a try, I decided to focus my time on Plurk (lorim), but will still check in with Twitter (lmmiller).  At the beginning it was slow, but I started looking at the friends of the few people I was following and then started requesting their “friendship”.  It also helped when someone I knew introduced me to their followers on Plurk – I’d be glad to do so.  If you haven’t done so, be sure to create a profile.  I also did not set my timeline to “private” until I had established a network of friends.  A year later, I have many “friends” on Plurk and some I really feel like I know even though I’ve never met them face to face. 

Why did I eventually choose Plurk over Twitter?  I only had so much time to devote to social networking and I liked the format better so Plurk eventually won out.  The resources I’ve gained from “plurking” have been well worth the time I’ve spent.

It sounds like many of you are having a hard time building a PLN on Plurk and/or Twitter. Please remember, it takes time!

I suggest you check out the following video and links to help you get started.

How 2(.0) – Your Guide to web 2.0 and How it Can Work for You

Building a PLN One Tweet at a Time

Twittering, Not Frittering: Professional Development in 140 Characters

Building a PLN: Not Just Another Acronym

Good luck building your PLN!

– Jamie

As I sit here on November 2nd and have been staring at the plurk site for about 20 minutes now…I just don’t get the draw of this.. It seems really confusing and the tools to find friends and locate groups takes way to much time. Maybe I havn’t given it long enough…but plurking and twittering are not for me..I’ll stick to facebook!