Personalized Network Learning is a way of informal learning from each other.  From the ONL class Kay Oddone  explains the features of PLN in these two youtube videos below in the references.  There are multiple layers of PLN, it does not have to be on social platforms (such as linkedin, facebook, twitter, etc) , it could be also via personal interactions.

Is it personal because you turn to your network to gain/achieve the knowledge. In my field, in science, it is very common to learn from each other or from our network. For instance, during our masters or PhD we learn from our senior colleagues in the same lab who are more experienced. That’s how it works in myfield, seniors train juniors in the laboratory.  It is beneficial for the juniors and also it is beneficial for the laboratory. In this way of learning and looking over the juniors’ shoulders, laboratory saves consumables,

 minimizes the mistakes and save resources (such as expensive chemicals)…

On the other hand collaborative learning is also very common in my field. We have to collaborate in order to do research, and we learn and answer the question as a team with other colleagues. We cannot know everything in our field, and it is inevitable to collaborate. It is also true for science students. They have to learn to collaborate very early, through science projects etc… The problem is sometimes some students are overactive, some students do not involve as they should be. If their roles are established from the beginning, responsibilities of the collaboration might be clear for the students.

In the summary we are living in a very interesting time of the history, digital revolution. I think the terms Personalized Network Learning (PLN) and Collaborative Learning will be redefined in the future after digital revolution.

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