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In my network confession . . .On being PLNtrenchedApril 11, 2009 (With apologies to the Grass Roots.)I want all my colleagues to have them. I speak about them with awe and admiration at conferences. And I probably browbeat those who are without them into being with them. But lately, when I wake up in the middle of the night, I find that I am thinking about my PLN (that is, my professional--or personal--learning network). I confess. I am hyperconnected. And being hyperconnected is both a blessing and a curse. Though I have accounts EVERYWHERE, I spend most of my PLN time on Twitter, or scanning my blog aggregator, or checking a variety of Nings, or visiting the online meetings on EdTechTalk (Women of the Web, for instance) or popping in on any other amazing Elluminate session my PLN is currently talking about, or visiting links my Diigo groups suggest. What is it exactly that keeps me up? Largely, what keeps me up is not keeping up. My PLN is largely composed of people like me. Although I don't like to admit it, I am kinda type-A. Sometimes I feel like I am back in school and everyone in my class is working with the very same level of intensity and passion. They are all type-As. They are all achievers and I cannot keep up with the things they discover and create. Because my class is global, my classmates raise their hands 24/7. While most days I am PLNthused and often PLNraptured, I admit to a degree of PLNvy. I am a little bit jealous of those who can accomplish more than I can, more creatively. I worry that I've missed the best conference--even that I've missed backchanneling a conference. (How is it that some of my buddies seem to be EVERYWHERE?) Because of my position as a librarian, I worry that I need to introduce all the best new stuff and all the best new practices to the people in my neighborhood learning community--my school. Because I am a librarian, I cannot choose a specialty. When an achieving math teacher on my PLN shares, I must learn about that strategy to share with our own math teachers. The same is true about English, and German, and Guidance, and Art, and, and PE, and US History, and the principal stuff. . . (You get the idea.) And then I must share the library stuff in my blog. I feel guilty when I lurk. I feel an obligation to those who choose to follow me to be worthy of their votes of confidence. I feel guilty about not migrating to the next greatest new tool as quickly as everyone else. I feel guilty about not better managing and better growing the Nings and wikis I create. I don't keep a Delicious account because I choose to organize my life and links in wikis. Nevertheless, my network expects Delicious of me. I live in fear that I will be embarrassed once again, sitting in a conference audience when a presenter buddy suggests, Let's take a look at Joyce's Delicious links. Okay, I've confessed. The pace of growth and change can be stimulating, and stunning, and staggering. That doesn't mean I don't believe. That doesn't mean I will change my approach to networking. I cannot remember a two-year period of my professional life in which I have learned or shared more. Opting out of this chaos is not an option. Posted by Joyce Valenza Ph.D on April 11, 2009 | Comments (9)
April 11, 2009
In response to: In my network confession . . .On being PLNtrenched Dennis Richards commented: Hi Joyce, saw your Tweet about this post, and although I'm supposed to be working on other "assignments," I couldn't resist. Glad I did. Your landscape is familiar territory. Wonderful story with a lot of energy and passion for the learning and sharing you do. Regards.
April 11, 2009
In response to: In my network confession . . .On being PLNtrenched Vicki in IL commented: Joyce,
April 11, 2009
In response to: In my network confession . . .On being PLNtrenched Karen C. commented: Joyce,
April 11, 2009
In response to: In my network confession . . .On being PLNtrenched alicebarr commented: "I am a little bit jealous of those who can accomplish more than I can, more creatively. I worry that I've missed the best conference--even that I've missed backchanneling a conference."
April 11, 2009
In response to: In my network confession . . .On being PLNtrenched joycevalenza commented: Wow, Dennis, Vicki, Karen, and Alice! I suspected I wasn't alone in this curiously delightful stress. Alice, your perspective truly helps. Sometimes we forget about those quieter ripples that we may never actually see or hear. They are contributions, indeed. Karen, you may be one of those ripples. Thanks for writing.
April 11, 2009
In response to: In my network confession . . .On being PLNtrenched Nancy Keane commented: I am feeling so guilty about not checking twitter this week. Have a 30 page paper due for doctoral course and I know if I call up twitter, it is all over. I have gotten many of my teachers tweeting and now they are hooked! If you feel you are not keeping up, what chance is there for the rest of us!! OK, back to my APA style sheet.
April 11, 2009
In response to: In my network confession . . .On being PLNtrenched CATHERINE NELSON commented: Okay so I have the same confessions. My Delicious account decidedly only has meaning to me. And it is woefully neglected. I too find that sometimes a wiki works better for me for collecting links, particularly for presentations. And I ask how in the world do I keep up. I tell close friends often I don't know anyone like me...maybe we are far more alike than I realized. Confession number 2--I still feel like a "wannabe." I don't think I'm there yet. I am the perpetual learner. Is that I bad thing? I think not. Thanks for sharing.
April 12, 2009
In response to: In my network confession . . .On being PLNtrenched Susan E commented: Joyce, thanks for sharing this. You may not realize, but to me and many other followers of your blog and work, you are the one who makes us jealous. You are the one who makes me think, "How could I ever be like her?" I, too, feel the push-and-pull of being a media specialist, of having to know all subjects at all times, of having to be the book person, the technology person, the info person, the teacher trainer, the tech assistant, curriculum designer, rubric planner, administrator advisor, program seller, parent manger...etc etc etc...all the time. This job is wonderful, but it has its moments where the pull to be all things to all people can be overwhelming. So, I guess I'm saying thanks for sharing that you, struggle, too. Oh, and you didn't even MENTION the time you juggle with your personal life, our most important "network" - we all need to make that network the most important one...ah! the balancing act. :)
June 1, 2009
In response to: In my network confession . . .On being PLNtrenched Anabel_Yhanse commented: Can I download hq (high quality) clips from youTube?
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