Did you know that pinterest.com is a great way to build your PLN (Professional Learning Network)?  In fact, it even has its own category dedicated to Education.  Just like many teachers follow educational blogs and feeds, a teacher can follow other people’s educational pins and boards on Pinterest. After finding an idea or concept that they like, a teacher can “repin” items to their board for future use.

The difference between Pinterest and other Social Networking sites is that Pinterest allows you to follow a “board” instead of a specific person.  This makes it so an individual can stay organized and focused on their specific needs.  When people post on blogs, they seem to be very broad and post anything. Yet, when people pin to boards, each board is organized by a certain category.

There are two basic ways to find items on Pinterest.  The first is by using the search engine.  When typing a topic in the search engine, results will be likely to fit the theme that matches the goal.  Examples of this are searching for iPad Apps for Reading, Civil War Lesson Plans, or Art Projects.

On the other hand, sometimes it can be exciting to see new ideas surrounding a common theme. In this case, it is a good idea to choose a category to look through. For educators, there is an Education category.  The Education category seems to be centered on the elementary grades, but many of the ideas can be adapted to upper grades as well. There are many other categories to look through that can provide ideas for new class projects. Health and Fitness, Technology, Art, History, and Design are just a few of the categories educators might find interesting.

Part of Building a PLN is taking the opportunity to share successes with others.  Pinterest is a fantastic way to do that. It is easy to upload a pin (files) for others to see. It is always exciting to watch other people repin your pins on their boards and celebrate your successes.

How will you Pinterest?


Chandra Martz