Scholarly Assignment: The Power of Connection:
Scholarly Assignment: The Power of Connection:
Forwardthinking educators have begun purposefully building online social networks, known as
Personal Learning Networks (PLN)s, of colleagues and experts in the field. Rather than see social
networks as an annoyance or way of wasting time, these educators have made them an invaluable
means of personal and professional growth. Business professionals can benefit from following their
lead. Creating a PLN often is a guide for professionals and committed lifelong learners to help build
relationships with others from all over the world. With careful work and commitment to building and
maintaining a PLN, the possibilities for connection are endless.
To prepare for this Assignment, review the materials in the Learning Resources and consider novel
ways in which you might use technology to foster new connections and seek information and advice.
By Day 7
Submit a 3 to 5page paper in which you create the plan for your PLN. Your paper should include
the following:
A description of what networks and tools you will use to create your PLN, including a brief rationale
for each
Information you will present in your professional profile (which may be placed on one or more social
media platforms), including specific text you will use to identify yourself and your interests for those
who might be interested in following you or joining your PLN
A categorized, annotated list of at least 5 people or groups that you might add to your PLN (through
their Twitter feed, blog, LinkedIn page, etc.), including the following for each person or group:
A brief (1–2 paragraphs) rationale for why you would include the person or group in your PLN
A brief (1 paragraph) description of the process by which you found the person or group you added
to your PLN, e.g., by browsing a group’s Twitter feed and then deciding to add it to your own PLN,
by locating another person the group’s feed follows, by finding a group on Facebook and deciding to
send a friend request to an individual within that group, etc.
Support your work with a minimum of two specific citations per page from this week’s Learning
Resources and/or additional scholarly sources.
Be sure to use the APA Course Paper Template (6th Ed.) to complete this Assignment. Please Note:
For each page of your paper, you must include a minimum of two APAformatted scholarly citations
and paper must have an abstract.
Learning Resources:
Learning Resources
Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings
List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Required Readings
Grantham, N. (2012, January 24). 5 education Twitter profiles you really can learn from [Blog post].
Retrieved from https://www.fractuslearning.com/2012/01/24/educationtwitterprofiles/
Grantham, N. (2012, April 17). 5 tips to building a healthy PLN with Twitter [Blog post]. Retrieved
from https://www.fractuslearning.com/2012/04/17/plntwitter/
Marín, V., Negre, F., & Pérez, A. (2014). Construction of the foundations of the PLE and PLN for
collaborative learning. Comunicar, 21(42), 35–42. doi: 10.3916/C42201403
Olehnovica, E., Bolgzda, I., & KravalePauli?a, M. (2014). Individual potential of doctoral students:
Structure of research competences and selfassessment. ProcediaSocial and Behavioral Sciences,
174(12) 3557–3564. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.1072
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
Riel, M., & Fulton, K. (2001). The role of technology in supporting learning communities. Phi Delta
Kappan, 82(7), 518–523.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
RockinsonSzpakiw, A. J., Spaulding, L. S., & Knight, A. (2015). Protecting the marriage relationship
during the doctoral journey: Strategies for students and partners based on the strong marital house
concept. The Family Journal, 23(2), 141–146. doi:10.1177/1066480714565106
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
Thompson, S. (2012, May 20). Personal learning networks (PLN) 101: Twitter [Blog post]. Retrieved
from https://technologyembedded.wordpress.com/2012/05/20/twitter101/
Thompson, S. (2012, July 19). Deepen your digital footprint: A beginner to intermediate guide to
increasing online traffic and web presence [Blog post]. Retrieved from
https://technologyembedded.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/deepenyourdigitalfootprintabeginnertointermediateguidetoincreasingonlinetrafficandwebpresence/
