Survey research confirms, however, that interest in harnessing social networking for educational purposes is high. As reported in School Principals and Social Networking in Education: Practices, Policies and Realities in 2010, a national survey of 1,200 principals, teachers and librarians found that most agreed that social networking sites can help educators share information and resources, create professional learning communities and improve schoolwide communications with students and staff. Those who had used social networks were more positive about potential benefits than those who had not. In an online discussion with 12 of the principals surveyed, most said, “social networking and online collaboration tools would make a substantive change in students’ educational experience.” They said these tools could improve student motivation and engagement, help students develop a more social/collaborative view of learning and create a connection to real-life learning.
froggy_carma on 04 Sep 16This is a great paper talking about connectivity with "what we learn" "How we learn" and "Where we Learn." The author is from Chile is give a good perspective on this works world wide.
bbridgewater019 on 12 Jun 17Thomas Baker, the author of this work and a TESOL educator, first explores connectivism including the definition and theory in his article and then relates this theory to EFL teaching. Baker connects the tectonic shifts in connectivism to the digital age of learning where learners can become creators instead of just consumers as well as collaborate with anyone, anywhere, at any time due to technology. The article concludes with three examples of teachers and the strategies or tools they utilize in their teaching that makes them "connected" to connectvism.
