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| Image Credit: Pixabay |
University of Michigan
Over the past year I have come to appreciate the importance of concepts from sociology, psychology, and education theory on my development as a physician and educator. I recently had the pleasure of working with Drs. Felix Ankel, Anand Swaminathan, and Sally Santen on a lecture for the CORD Academic Assembly in Nashville, called Personal Learning Networks. This launched me on a study of personal learning networks and their impact on my own development so far.
A personal learning network refers to a dynamic group of connections that allow individuals to both teach and learn, share ideas and collaborate. Each individual or organization within a network is referred to as a “node.” These networks reflect our values, goals and interests. They include a mixed level of expertise: peers, novices, and experts can all serve as nodes. The most effective personal learning networks include connections outside one’s immediate institution and area of expertise, called “weak ties.”
