First, create an account using a simple username. Upload a photo and create a profile for others to see. Twitter has worldwide users so the resources are endless. Next. start to follow people that interest you (some ideas are found on the "My Connections" page). Once you follow a few people, check out who they are following in order to grow your connections. Check out your stream of tweets and contribute to the conversations that you find interesting. You can access Twitter on any electronic device so it's accesible from anywhere. And remember, Twitter is about connecting with like-minded people, not necessarily just people you know. You can further your connections by taking part in a Twitter chat where a group of people use a common hashtag to talk about a specific issue. Twitter is best for people who are trying to make connections with a wide range of people. For a more personal take on using Twitter for a PLN, check out this teacher's blog.
Blogging also gives you an opportunity to contribute to others' ideas by reading posts and commenting to give feedback and start a conversation. By subscribing to comments, you will be alerted when someone responds to you. Additionally, you can use a RSS feed to keep all of your unread blog posts in one place. If you start your own blog you can use it for your PLN or open to the public. I personally think blogs are best for people to connect with a smaller group of people. You can share resources with others on a specific topic or subject. To get an idea of what this might look like, check out my Tumblr blog.
Blogging
How do I create my own PLN?
So you like the idea of a PLN, but you're not quite sure how to create one of your own. Use this page to help guide you through the process!
Find a Webinar
Webinars are an online meet-up that is set at a specific date and time. People that are interested all join in at the same time and are able to chat with each other on a common topic. Some webinars are more open than others as far as contributing goes. Webinars also allow for you to meet other educators to add to your Twitter feed. So not only does it provide you with valuable content, it allows you to build your professional network as well. I like using EdWeb as a resource because they use a calender to list webinars. Webinars are best for people who want to gain knowledge on a specific topic and immediately be connected with people who are also interested in the same topic.
Diigo and Symbaloo are both platforms that allow you to bookmark resources and share them. So once you've found people to network with, you can share your Diigo or Symbaloo page with them as an easier way to share resources based around a common interest. This is best once you've set up a network of people to work with.