Personal Learning Network Plan

As I continue my growth in the instructional design realm, it is important to expand my PLNs to include design centered networks. Creating online trainings that promote empathy and social interaction is a key focus in order to not lose those valuable skills when learning online and not in person (Ní Shé et al., 2022). My education background and teaching experiences provide the base of my knowledge, but it is important to continuously grow, incorporate new strategies, gather new perspectives, and keep up with changes in technology. This is the goal of expanding my PLN to maintain a commitment to lifelong learning, where I can expand my knowledge by learning from and with others (Kennedy, 2018).

I just joined LinkedIn as a way to advance my social learning in new fields. I have found two specific groups to join which will aid in my development of eLearning and design skills. The first group is called eLearning Industry (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/110953/). There is a plethora of information about eLearning, software products, and new developments that seem to appear every day. Belonging to this group will help keep me up to date on new ideas and inspire me to try out new software in my current job as a Spanish teacher and for future reference as an instructional designer. Many people are part of this active group which will enhance and nurture new ideas. To stay current, I will subscribe to the newsletter, read articles, save resources, and visit this group page bi-monthly.

The second LinkedIn group that I have joined is called Instructional Designers (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/58371/). As a member of this group, I will be actively engaged in the latest ideas and techniques in the instructional design field. This is important to me as I get closer to finishing this master’s program, to continue fostering my education and skills as an instructional designer. This group will aid in keeping me current in this field and encourage my continual development. Spending time engaging in these two groups, reading posts, and interacting with others will become a bi-monthly routine.

A third expansion of my PLN is adding blogs to amplify my instructional design and eLearning proficiency. I have favorited and subscribed to a few of the numerous wonderful blogs I went through on my way to finding two I will highlight. Experiencing Elearning (http://christytuckerlearning.com) and Ashley Chiasson’s website and blog (http://ashleychiasson.com/blog/) are my top choices. Both of these blogs provide interesting posts with information and idea sharing. There are numerous tutorials and short videos with tips and tricks for eLearning and instructional design. Both have a newsletter which is beneficial for me as it serves not only as information sent right to me, but also as a reminder to stay involved in their blogs to see what else has be posted and commented on. Being an active member of discussion posts plays a vital role in cultivating incorporating current ideas into practice.

Interacting with others promotes deeper retainment of information and the creation of new thoughts. Socialization within learning creates a fun and engaging environment, leading to diverse ways of thinking and development. It bridges the gap between the unknown and unfamiliar, guiding us toward excitement and the creation of something new and improved. I look forward to actively participating in these new PLNs for perpetual personal progress.

References

Chiasson, A. (2025). Home. Ashley Chiasson Instructional Designer & Consultant. http://ashleychiasson.com/blog/

eLearning Industry. (n.d.). Home [LinkedIn page]. LinkedIn. Retrieved June 7, 2025, from https://www.linkedin.com/groups/110953/

Instructional Designers. (n.d.). Home [LinkedIn page]. LinkedIn. Retrieved June 7, 2025, from https://www.linkedin.com/groups/58371/

Kennedy, J. (2018). Towards a model of connectedness in personal learning networks. Journal of Interactive Online Learning, 16(1), 21–40.

Ní Shé, C., Farrell, O., Brunton, J., & Costello, E. (2022). Integrating design thinking into instructional design: The #OpenTeach case study. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 38(1), 33–52. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.6667

Tucker, C. (2025). Home. Experiencing eLearning. http://christytuckerlearning.com