My PLN, AI, and Professional Learning #Blog 7
Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash
As technology continues to evolve, building a Personal Learning Network (PLN) has become an important way for educators and students to continue learning outside of traditional classrooms. A PLN is essentially a network of people, tools, and online communities that help support ongoing professional learning. Through social media platforms, online resources, and digital communities, educators can exchange ideas, share experiences, and stay updated with new developments in education.
At the moment, my PLN is still developing, but it mainly includes platforms such as YouTube, LinkedIn, and educational websites. I often use YouTube to watch explanations of difficult concepts or to see examples of how certain topics are taught. This has been especially helpful when I want to hear different perspectives or see how other educators explain ideas. LinkedIn also allows me to follow professionals and organizations related to education and technology, which helps me stay informed about new discussions and trends. As Kennedy (2020) suggests, social media platforms can help educators connect with broader professional communities and learn from others beyond their local environments.
Artificial intelligence is also starting to become part of my PLN. Tools like AI assistants can help summarize research articles, explain complex topics, or generate ideas when I am working on assignments. For example, when reading academic articles, AI can help me identify key points or clarify concepts that I may initially find confusing. However, the reading by Estaitiyeh and Mindzak (2025) highlights that teachers now face a dual responsibility: learning how to use AI as students while also preparing to guide future students in using it responsibly. Although AI can support learning and save time, there are also concerns about misuse, such as plagiarism or relying too heavily on AI instead of developing critical thinking skills.
One strength of my PLN is the accessibility of information. Online platforms allow me to learn from educators and researchers around the world, which helps broaden my perspective. However, one weakness is that not all information online is reliable, and it can sometimes be difficult to evaluate the credibility of sources. In addition, while AI tools can be very helpful, I think it is important to use them as support tools rather than replacements for thinking and learning.
Overall, my PLN is still growing, but it already plays an important role in how I learn and engage with educational ideas. As digital technologies and AI continue to influence education, developing a thoughtful and balanced approach to using these tools will be important for both my own professional learning and my future role as an educator.
References
Estaitiyeh, M., & Mindzak, M. (2025). Building AI literacy in pre-service teacher education in Canada. Journal of Teaching and Learning.
Kennedy, C. (2020). The value of professional learning networks. Chris Kennedy Blog.
Hey Kai, I really enjoyed your blog post- specifically I love that you addressed the importance of creating a balance between learning how to incorporate AI into our learning while not becoming overly reliant on it. This feels to me like it will pose a huge challenge for educators especially in elementary/middle schools were many will not recall growing up without AI and will struggle to differentiate the difference between the two types of content. As well I agree with what you said that we need to continue using critical thinking skills which can be challenging when there is such a convenient option available to think for us however, stopping to reflect on whether the information we’re being given is logical or whether we need to further research seems like it will inadvertently help keep our critical thinking skills honed!
I thought your post was really clear and easy to follow, especially how you broke down what a PLN is before connecting it to your own experience. The way you described using YouTube and LinkedIn showed how your PLN is actually supporting your learning in a practical way. I also found your point about AI really interesting, particularly the idea that we have to learn how to use it ourselves while also thinking about how to guide future students.
Hi there! I really enjoyed reading your post!
I totally agree on your thoughts about using AI as a support mechanism for your work and not solely relying upon it, and also AI cannot substitute for the thought process or learning process of humans and can only be used to enhance them. I think it’s very important, especially as AI begins to play an ever greater role in education, to remember that while technology may have many positive contributions to make, at its core education needs to be human-centered. Your thoughts really got me thinking about the importance of continuing to value those things which make us uniquely human, like critical thinking skills, creative abilities, and communication. It seems like we are faced with the challenge of understanding and cultivating what it means to be uniquely human.