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It seeks to determine how a teacher can scaffold a networked learning approach while providing a foundation on which students take more control of the learning process.

Emerging web applications offer unique opportunities to customise the learning environment for individual learners

In the past, learning environments were immediately associated with a physical location

however, the concept is increasingly expanded to include online learning, virtual schools, and blended opportunities that combine traditional with digital options

Traditional, lecture-based classrooms are designed as passive learning environments in which the teacher conveys knowledge and the student responds (Chen, 2009). Imagine the potential frustration that self-regulated learning holds for students who are quite comfortably accustomed to specific teacher directions with finite expectations.

learner motivation

Personal learning suggests learner autonomy and increased self regulation

self-directed.

they are also required to take an active role in the learning process by making decisions

Teachers, on the other hand, are challenged to provide an appropriate balance between structure and learner autonomy in order to facilitate self-directed, personalised learning

Such a scenario further presents challenges to traditional forms of assessment

The role of a teacher within a student-centered approach to instruction is that of a facilitator or coach

He or she supports the students in their search and supply of relevant material, coordinates the students' presentations of individual milestones of their projects, moderates discussions, consults in all kinds of problem-solving and seeking for solutions, lectures on topics that are selected in plenary discussions with the students and conforms to the curriculum"

The purpose of this test case is to introduce a model for the student construction of personal learning environments that balances teacher control with increased student autonomy

a level of structure is required to scaffold the learning process

Networked learning refers specifically to "learning in which information communication technology is used to promote connections: between one learner and other learners, between learners and tutors, between a learning community and its learning resources"

Networked learning is manifested in personal learning environments (PLEs), or "systems that help learners take control of and manage their own learning"

a model of the networked teacher that represents an educator's professional personal learning environment (PLE)

Figure 1: The Networked Teacher (Couros, 2008) It is a model through which teachers begin to build professional connections to support teaching practice

The Networked Student Model adapts Couros' vision for teacher professional development in a format that is applicable to the K-12 student. It includes four primary categories, each with many components evident in the networked teacher version (Figure 2).

he networked student follows a constructivist approach to learning. He or she constructs knowledge based on experiences and social interactions

Constructivism encourages "greater participation by students in their appropriation of scholarly knowledge"

Technology supports this appropriation as a collection of tools that promote knowledge construction,

Networked Student Model.

Students use RSS and social bookmarking to organise information and build upon prior knowledge with the goal of completing a task or meeting a learning objective. Social media, or web-based applications designed for the purpose of interacting with others online, promote conversations. Blogs are an example of a vehicle through which students can reflect on the learning process. The sub-parts coexist to support a constructive learning experience. The student's personal learning environment pulls them all together.

Siemens (2008) associates the concept of connectivism with networked learning

in the networked learning environment, blogging is a key component of the personal learning environment through which students respond to and collect the opinions of others. Students identify blogs that target a specific unit of study, and they have the option to respond with opinions of their own.

In a traditional classroom setting, the teacher has primary control over the content.

Networked learning gives students the ability and the control to connect with subject matter experts in virtually any field.

The skill to identify valid content and expertise,

The connection to humans is an essential part of the learning process. That connection expands to include access to resources and creative artifacts.

design of the teacher-facilitated, student-created personal learning environment

The teacher was a facilitator in the process helping the student scaffold network learning and manage the content as it became more complex.

Construction of a personal learning environment does not necessarily facilitate comprehension or deep understanding

The networked student model is one of inquiry, or the process of "exploring problems, asking questions, making discoveries, achieving new understanding and fulfilling personal curiosity"

In guided inquiry, the teacher provides the problem and directs the students to the materials for investigation

The teacher is necessary to help the students navigate the breadth of content, apply the tools properly, and offer support in the form of digital literacy skills and subject matter expertise. Yet the teacher may not be the only expert in the learning process.

The test case for this model took place at a K-12 independent school in the southeastern United States. Fifteen students participated during a nine-week term as part of a contemporary issues research project. The contemporary issues course was unique to the school in its delivery. It was the first time a blended format had been offered. Students attended class three days face to face and two days online. Course assignments and discussions were organised using Moodle,

For the networked student project, each student selected a contemporary issue or topic for which he or she had a strong interest

Passion for a topic was one means of motivation

assessment of each student's ability to synthesise the research

The networked student test

It addresses the problem of determining the level of structure needed to facilitate networked learning while providing a foundation for greater student control over a personal learning environment

to collect student perceptions of the learning experience relative to their autonomy and comfort with the networked learning format

two key considerations when introducing the Networked Student Model. The first was student familiarity with web applications used to build the personal learning environment.

Second, considerably more structure was required since this was the first time each student embarked on the Networked Student Model.

The teacher gauged the level of structure depending upon the student's motivation, comfort with technology, and interest in the topic.

Patterns for networked learning

The learning environment slowly shifted from the classroom to online.

Google is used repeatedly because signing up for one account gave students access to a number of useful learning tools.

The level of structure is adjusted based on the prior experience of individual students.

Student activitylevel of structure

Personal learning environment toolset

a new tool was introduced each day over two weeks.

personal web page aggregators

iGoogle, PageFlakes, NetVibes, and Symbaloo

Personal web page compiles learning tools

There were four components of the assessment process for this test case of the Networked Student Model: (1) Ongoing performance assessment in the form of weekly assignments to facilitate the construction and maintenance of the personal learning environment, (2) rubric-based assessment of the personal learning environment at the end of the project, (3) written essay, and (4) multimedia synthesis of topic content.

Identify ten reliable resources and post to social bookmarking account. At least three new resources should be added each week. Subscribe and respond to at least 3 new blogs each week. Follow these blogs and news alerts using the reader. Subscribe to and listen to at least two podcasts (if available). Respectfully contact and request a video conference from a subject matter expert recognised in the field. Maintain daily notes and highlight resources as needed in digital notebook. Post at least a one-paragraph reflection in personal blog each day.

At the end of the project, the personal learning environment was assessed with a rubric that encompassed each of the items listed above.

The student's ability to synthesise the research was further evaluated with a reflective essay.

The personal blog provided an opportunity for regular reflection during the course of the project.

Students were instructed to articulate what was learned about the selected topic and why others should care or be concerned.

As part of a final exam, the students were required to access the final projects of their classmates and reflect on what they learned from this exposure

to give the students an additional opportunity to share and learn from each other.

Creativity is considered a key 21st century skil

A number of emerging web applications support the academic creative process

Students in this project used web tools to combine text, video, audio, and photographs to teach the research topics to others. The final multimedia project was posted or embedded on the student's personal wiki page.

The student-selected topics of study included

Video conferences were conducted with

All students participated in the video conferences and identified subject matter expertise as a key element of a personal learning environment.

Four key areas were targeted to assess the success of the project and determine whether an effective balance between teacher control and student autonomy was achieved:

Creation of the personal learning environment as a replacement for a traditional textbook

Student use of technology to complete projects was identified as important because the students had little prior exposure to technology as a learning tool.

Time management and workload were tangible measures of comparison from the student's perspective and indicated his or her ability to self regulate the learning process.

Student perception of whether he or she felt equipped to study other topics in this format with less teacher intervention provided some indication as to whether greater student autonomy was achieved

students "gain ownership of their learning" when they are asked to solve a problem collaboratively

were designed specifically to support collaborative learning.

tablets

Groups of older students often collaborate on a wiki, journal, or blog using laptops connected to the same document through Google Apps, he says.

To help teachers become more comfortable with collaborative learning, all teacher professional development in Jefferson County takes place online, and teachers take part in online collaborative work groups.

"No one person can cover nearly as much information or get as many views and opinions as a group working together to develop a common understanding,

using mini-projectors

to promote collaborative learning

The idea is to have four or five students, already equipped with netbooks, collaborating on an assignment, with all of them able to view projected images

the projector will be useful for teacher collaboration,

Plano’s curriculum stresses multitasking in classrooms, which means some students might be working in groups, while others are working individually or listening to the teacher. "To get the most personalized learning," Hirsch said, "everyone shouldn’t be working on the same thing at the same time." He believes mini-projectors could be a "key component of multitasking in the classroom."

ultraportable projectors "have the potential of making a real impact" on teaching 21st-century skills, particularly collaboration.

In a traditional classroom arrangement—with the teacher lecturing at the front of the class—"the group becomes homogenized,

ignoring the passive,

and the more advanced students

The teacher might ask two to four students to come to the front of the room to solve a problem, but the rest are "educational voyeurs,

But when groups of students collaborate together on a project simultaneously, in different parts of the room, "the level of interactivity goes up exponentially,"

on a classroom wall without having to disrupt the rest of the class

when their work is displayed on a projector and the whole group can see it easily, he says, "they are truly working as a group."

each group have a student identified as a facilitator, recorder, and possibly, reflector, with those positions changing from project to project. After a group completes its work, the students can use the projector to share what they’ve learned with the whole class.

"It’s harder for a student to be silent; there is more pressure to participate."

Collaborative projects not only help teach content, but also can help students develop 21st-century skills such as communication, time management, teamwork, and facilitation

With this approach, "the teacher is seen less like an evaluator and more as a coach, facilitator, and mentor. Teachers today need to know how to mix and match those different roles to maximize learning."

Communication and collaboration are among the key skills necessary for succeeding in school and life, as identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, along with such skills as critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, flexibility, and media literacy.

The partnership defines collaboration as the ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams, the willingness to compromise to accomplish a common goal, and the ability to share responsibility for collaborative work and to value the individual contributions made by each team member.

"students who work together cooperatively show dramatic increases in academic achievement, self-esteem, and positive social skills."

benefits of collaborative learning

assume ownership of a process and its results

along with their retention of information and interest in the subject matter.

Students’ critical thinking skills improve

allows the assignment of more challenging tasks without making the workload unreasonable.

It provides weaker students with extensive one-on-one tutoring, while stronger students gain the deeper understanding that comes only from teaching others.

Students are less likely to consider teachers the sole sources of knowledge and understanding.

’s essential "to know how to collaborate across a digital learning environment," as well as face to face,

"To be an effective engineer, you have to work collaboratively with engineers in different countries, different time zones, and probably different cultures. That was quite a shock to some of our parents who thought it was enough to be a good student."

using desktop videoconferencing to collaborate globally

Collaboration is "authentic learning," Hobson said, and it is "transformational in that kids see their work is valued beyond the teacher.

Encourage group work … in the classroom through collaborative group work that supports individual activities. Use games as teaching and learning tools,” he added. “Yes, review quizzes can be engaging, but consider using games and simulations as a way to teach concepts through hands-on learning, not just as a way to review concepts taught in a traditional sense.”

One problem with today’s multitasking iGeners “is that they spend more time gathering information in breadth rather than depth,” Rosen acknowledged, “and I think this is an issue for educators.” Teachers must teach media literacy and the difference between superficial gathering of information and deeper understanding, he said.