Friday, March 9, 2012

Blog Post 7

The Networked Teacher

The Networked Student
The Networked Student is a short video written and directed by Wendy Drexler with artwork by Alex Drexler. It discusses connectivisim, which is the theory that learning happens through having a social network with various connections. This social network is made possible by using the endless tools of technology. However, the tools are nowhere near as important as the connections that are being made. This kind of learning allows students to take their learning experience into their own hands and make connections that will enhance it.

The first thing the 21st century student must do is start to develop their personal learning network. This video uses the topic of the American psyche to demonstrate how this is done. First, the student learns how to find credible websites. Then he post their findings to a social bookmarking site such as delicious, and he also look at what others have bookmarked about the American psyche. Then, he finds blogs about it. However, he realizes that blogs are mostly opinion based, and then based on what he has learned throughout the journey so far, he comments on the blog. He also subscribes to the blog so he can keep up with what is being said. Now, with all of the knowledge he has accumulated, he can create his own blog. This student also realizes the importance of using his mp3 player to listen to things other than music. On his mp3 player, he has audio and video podcasts to enhance his learning experience.

This video, like everything we do in this class, is meant as a starting point. Managing all of the information that is coming at us will be a challenge, but it will be a challenge worth taking on. Now for the question, “Why does the networked student even need a teacher?” The answer is essentially simple. The teacher is needed for guidance. She teaches him how to build his PLN and take advantage of it. She teaches him how to communicate effectively and respectively. She teaches him how to tell good information from bad information. She teaches him how to organize information. She is the start to his learning experience that will continue way after he leaves her class.

PLE vs PLN
In A 7th Grader's PLE, she starts with a picture of her Symbaloo account. I know it is not about how you present your PLN, or PLE in this case, but I am a huge fan of using Symbaloo now. I love being able to organize my PLN so efficiently. However, her PLE seems much more organized and advanced than my PLN, but this is a learning process so I must continue to learn every day. In the video, she mentions how technology gives you freedom, and I agree. It is definitely a change from book work, and a highly desirable one at that, especially to students. Her PLE doesn't really differ too much from our PLN. In both of them, we are using the tools of technology to enhance our learning experience and to connect with like individuals around the world, and I am looking forward to watching my PLN progress.

2 comments:

  1. Teachers also have to create the environment in which learning takes place. that is a challenge a lot of teachers never think about. They just want to follow the plans of others. That often does not work!

    Very thoughtful! Thanks.

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  2. I hadn't given that much thought. However, that is extremely important and something I should have thought of!

    ReplyDelete