To map your PLN, use a tool such as Google Draw, Coggle, Miro, a Teams Whiteboard template or even PowerPoint (see more Visual Organizer Tools in the EdTech Sandbox), to create a visual diagram of the people, organizations, collectives, and others who are in your network. If creating a visual diagram presents a barrier for you, you can map your PLN by creating an audio, video, or written reflection. Whatever the format, be prepared to upload your work or provide a URL to its location in your response to this activity.
To Do:
- Identify a focus of your PLN. It could be your academic discipline or professional area, a topic on which you’ve already done some research or work, or a learning interest that you’re passionate about.
- Place your topic somewhere on your map. (You might put it in the central node, but remember, you are the centre of your learning network!)
- Identify a few people who already belong to your network as it relates to your interest or topic. These will be your nodes. They might be colleagues, influential educators, mentors, or people you’ve met at conferences or events. They could also be members of professional organizations. These are your existing connections.
- Think of a few more nodes that you may not yet know personally but who you would like to include in your network and add those nodes. Who are the noted scholars or experts in your area of interest that you might follow? (Note: you can tap into your Cultivate your PLN activity to use some of your new connections.)
- Map the nodes (names) that you’ve identified onto your diagram. Your diagram should include at least 5 nodes by name (i.e., specific individuals and organizations).
- Add details to each of the nodes in your PLN. Review your map and identify any patterns that emerge. For example, you might categorize the following in the design of your diagram (e.g., by grouping, or by using different colours, symbols, or text labels):
- Their role (e.g., educator, science researcher, blogger).
- Their role in your network (e.g., collaborator, mentor, provocateur, consultant).
- The relative weight of the connection (e.g., strong tie, weak tie).
- The reciprocity of the connection (e.g., one-way, dialogue).
- The technologies you use to connect to your network.
- The relationships between the different nodes (i.e., identify clusters of nodes who may interact).
- Anything else that helps to illustrate your interactions—past, present, or future—with your network.
- Export your diagram (or other) to an image format. Upload it or use a link to the image in your response to the Mapping Your PLN.
- After you make your submission, save the web address to your response (found in the green confirmation box) so you can use it later for your badge submission form.
This activity is part of the Map Your PLN section of the Collaborator Module.
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99 Responses for this Activity
- Mapping my PLN
by Susan (@Susan Wilks)
Again, this was a very useful activity. It helped me to visualize the extensive learning network that I have in place. Sometimes, working remotely at home, it seems like I am working alone, but this activity has provided me with a visual that I can put on the bulletin board to remember the number of more… »
- Mapping my PLN
by Victoria Jackson (@victoriaj)
This was an interesting exercise. I decided to do a different version from the previous exercise; I narrowed it down to my career path in Indigenous education and focused in on individuals I knew through that career or who were otherwise relevant to that field. I started with my current work and the people I more… »
- Mapping PLN Activity
by Mary Chaktsiris (@mchaktsi)
I enjoyed the mapping activities because it helped me identify ways I can continue to build my network, for example by focussing more on teaching innovation, and how I can continue to strengthen relationships with existing connections as well as identifying gaps.
- Building my PLN Map
by Miranda Mckenzie (@mx_mckenzie)
While this activity was similar to a previous one, I appreciate that I can recognize those who have a daily impact on my work while also discovering other possible connections to add to my PLN. And this was fun! I created my mind map with Canva, which is available to view at the following link: more… »
- My Instructional Design PLN Map
by Stephanie Ferguson (@stpark)
This was a fun activity to complete! Although it felt a bit repetitive given my approach to the last activity, it was still helpful and interesting to see how my map so easily expanded. I also REALLY enjoy using Canva for creating these types of things, and I love my finished product. I know that more… »
- PLN Map – Miro (Re-submission)
by Mark Shannelly (@mshannelly)
Sorry, submitted the wrong link for this activity! This is a mindmap of collaborators and stakeholders from my “other” job as a video game sound designer. The project is actually occuring right now, and has several components: inspiration sources, composition and creation software, collaborators and valued opinions.
- PLN Map – Miro
by Mark Shannelly (@mshannelly)
I created a Mind Map, using Miro to represent the groups, organizations and events that contribute to my personal network. As mentioned in other activities, these spaces and events are key to creating relationships with game developers and getting insight for my lessons. In some cases, I have these individuals in as guest speakers!
- MindMup – Jen’s PLN
by Jen Booth (@jen.booth)
I used MindMup for this task, and honestly, I had some fun with it despite the fact that I’ve never been much of a MindMap fan. I like things linear… not … mappy. However, this got pretty detailed pretty fast. When I tried to back track and add in organization and themes, I realized that more… »
- Coggle Graphic Organizer for a PLN
by Adam Langridge (@alangridge)
I used Coggle to create my PLN, and I very much like the app. It’s easy to use and it allows for links and media to be presented directly in the mind map. I’ll certainly use Coggle again in the future.
- Map your PLN
by Ramandeep Kaur (@Raman)
My map of PLN
4 Resources for this Activity
- MindMapping.org
shared by Alan Levine (@cogdogblog@gmail.com)
A comprehensive review site of hundreds of mind-mapping software plus a blog full of related articles.
- PLN Mapping
shared by Lori Strauss (@lstrauss)
I often reflect on the value I add as I enter my winter years in teaching this program. Doing this exercise helped me see the value of the seasoned educator in the connections and quick access to resources to support the students, and their learning. Through the ever building network of friends, colleagues, community of more… »
- Toddler Learning Network
shared by Christopher Rowe (@ChristopherRowe)
While my network is still young… it’s growing and maturing. I’ve now had an opportunity to connect with some more people and to analyze the nature of those connections. I have a lot of work to do here to grow the network and get more engaged… but it’s a start.
- Visual Organizing Tools (Extend Toolkit)
shared by Alan Levine (@cogdogblog@gmail.com)
Find recommended tools for creating mind maps
(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
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Mary Jayne (MJ) Brown
This is a very interesting experience (experiment). It is good to have a visual of our connections and collaborations in our PLN. I am looking forward to adding more!