Digital Learning Communities

This post is covering two subjects: Social Bookmarking and Digital Learning Communities (DLC)

  

 Social Bookmarking is basically a way to store and share resources! I prefer to use Pearl Tree. Using a curator site allows you to organize and file the sites that you find beneficial as well as see who looks at your folders and shares them too. Most sites, like Pearl Tree, allow you to create a shortcut up beside your omnibox - that way when you are on the site you can just press the button and save the site into your resources.
The photo to the right is my dashboard on Pearl Tree, my social bookmarking site.

The second thing I want to address is Digital Learning Communities (DLC). I LOVE my DLC's! My top 5 are:
 1.Instructional Technology Integrator and Coaches.
2. Google Art Project
3. Connected Classrooms
4. Makers, Hackers, Artists, and Engineers
5. Photoshop and Lightroom users

Basically with a DLC you are making connections with other people - usually professionals in the same industry or with the same interests. The five I listed above are my favorites because the help me professionally and personally. As an art educator and technology lead teacher I need to stay up on current things - thats just one way these DLC help me. Another things I love is that if something isn't going right or not working in my class - I can post in one of these communities and almost immediately I have advice or fixes that have worked for them. It's so amazing to know that someone possibly on the otherside of the world  has experienced the same thing I am going through and wants to help me be successful! How amazingly awesome!
The best way to get involved in a DLC is to research ones that you like - once you select one make sure to create a post introducing yourself and a little bit about yourself. Then review some of the most recent posts and offer comments, thoughts, suggestions. The more you interact the more successful and beneficial your DLC's will be!