Personal Learning Networks: Using the Power of Connections to Transform Education

Bronze Medal Award Winner--ForeWord Review's 2011 Book of the Year in Education

The Internet connects us in unprecedented ways. To prepare students to flourish in this new learning world, schools will need to transform themselves in important ways. This book is a road map for any educator thinking about using the web for learning. Build your own learning network, and use learning networks in the classroom and schoolwide to improve student outcomes.

Benefits:

• Learn the importance of exploring Internet tools in your own life before bringing them into your classroom.
• Understand tools such as Twitter, social bookmarking, RSS feeds, blogs, and Facebook.
• Read real-world stories from teachers who have created PLNs.
• Utilize a three-step plan to build a learning network throughout your school or district.
• Identify four common hurdles most schools face when implementing learning networks.

Contents:
Introduction: The Power of Networked Learning
Chapter 1: Understanding the Power of PLNs
Chapter 2: Becoming a Networked Learner
Chapter 3: Implementing a Networked Classroom
Chapter 4: Becoming a Networked School
Chapter 5: Ensuring Success of Learning Network Adoption
Epilogue: The Future of Schooling

Will Richardson is known internationally for his work with educators and students to understand and implement instructional technologies and, more specifically, the tools of the Read/Write Web into their schools, classrooms, and communities. A former public school educator for 22 years, Will's own Weblog (willrichardson.com) is a leading resource for the creation and implementation of web 2.0 technologies on the K-12 level. He is a leading voice for school reform in the context of the fundamental changes these new technologies are bringing to all aspects of life.

His critically acclaimed, best-selling book Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Tools for Classrooms, now in its third edition, is used by tens of thousands of teachers to reinvent their practice, and his presentations and workshops for audiences around the world communicate a fresh and inspiring vision of what schools can and must become.

He is a national advisory board member for the George Lucas Education Foundation, a monthly columnist for District Administration Magazine, and a frequent contributor to magazines and journals such as Educational Leadership and Edutopia. Will is a founding partner of the Connective Learning Group, which is dedicated to helping educators contextualize and implement Read/Write Web tools into their schools and classrooms. He is cofounder of Powerful Learning Practice, which provides long-term, job embedded professional development around social online networking tools to educators around the world.

Rob Mancabelli has nearly 20 years of experience in educational leadership, technology, and planning. He partners with schools, universities, and corporations to develop 21st century learning organizations. Since 2003, Rob has inspired audiences around the world with insights into the change process, strategies for engaging stakeholders, and methods for transforming organizations to meet the rapidly evolving demands of a globally connected world.

A former CIO and certified PMP, he writes for numerous publications and at mancabelli.com. Rob serves on K-12 advisory boards for Dell Computer and Acer Corporation. He is pursuing an MBA at MIT.