Creating a Professional Learning Network

First, what is a professional learning network and how (and why should) you create one? 

According to David Warlick, a professional learning network: "involves an individual’s topic oriented goal, a set of practices or techniques aimed at attracting or organizing a variety of relevant content sources, selected for their value, to help the owner accomplish a professional goal or personal interest."

Watch this slideshare by David Warlick to learn how to build your own PLN:

Here's another presentation by Jennifer Dorman:

So, where do you start?  I would start by selecting a blog/RSS reader (e.g. Google Reader or Bloglines), signing up for a free account, and then start reading and following blogs to see what people 'in the real world' are talking about.  Here are some bloggers you can add to your reader immediately:

• Doug Johnson’s Blue Skunk Blog
• Will Richardson’s Webblogg’d Blog
• David Warlick’s 2 Cents Worth Blog
• Joyce Valenza’s Neverending Search Blog
• Stephen Abram’s Stephen’s Lighthouse Blog
• Lee Kolbert’s Geeky Momma’s Blog
• Buffy Hamilton’s The Uniquiet Librarian Blog

I would also recommend signing up for twitter (www.twitter.com) and joining in the conversations there.  You can start your foray into twitter by following these people:

• Will Richardson (@willrich45)
• David Warlick (@dwarlick)
• Joyce Valenza @(joycevalenza)
• Stephen Abram (@sabram)
• Dean Shareski (@shareski)
• Alec Couros (@courosa)
• Ross Todd (@RossJTodd)
• Miguel Guhlin (@mguhlin)
• Steve Hargadon (@shargadon)
• Scott McLeod (@mcleod)
• Judy O’Connell (@heyjudeonline)
• danah boyd (@zephoria)
• Buffy Hamilton/The Unquiet Library (@buffyjhamilton)
• Joanne de Groot (@joannedegroot)
• Beth Friese (@librarybeth)

Now start reading, listening to, participating in the conversations...post comments to a blog, ask a question on twitter, respond to a twitter query, or re-tweet something that is particularly interesting to you!  You are now well on your way to creating your very own professional learning network!