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This articles provides an important model for understanding the personal learning networks that students can create as part of the learning process. It incorporates Connectivism learning theory as part of the PLN creation.

This article discusses the challenge to translate evidence-based practice, an important and necessary feature in public health, to communities of practice that disseminates and applies the evidence-based practice.

This is the government's take on Communities of Practice, and I included it because like it or not, it impacts many of us on so many levels. The National Education Technology Plan asserts that we need PLC's, and if you have never read this document, it is worth the read. It definitely furthered my knowledge when I read it in EDTECH 501. The bottom line is that because so many students have access to mobile technology, they are able to be a part of social networks. The goal is to harness this power and cultivate collaboration and engaging learning experiences. Its premise is student-centered learning where students are able to make decisions and choices that form their own pathway to learning.

Thanks for including this document. I was impressed to see the progressive views outlined with many strong and important points for changing our education culture. One of the main areas included the need to leverage technology to empower students and shift learning responsibility from teacher to learners. In essence we want to strive to create master learners, where students understand how to evaluate and gain the information they need as life-long learners. The section "Measure what Matters" I especially applauded, as I feel our extreme emphasis on testing is misplaced if we don't make sure the tests and measures are appropriate for what students need to know to be life-long learners. Do standardized tests even have a section about locating information and assessing its validity? This report started out with a short list of recommendations that included, "Be clear in outcomes we seek". I think this is an important point as we strive to embrace and utilize the growing potential of connectivness.

I thought some of you might find this blog post interesting as it explores how Hatfield has "disrupted" education as we know it ... all because of his approach to learning. In her view he has taught the author seven important concepts, such as the authentic use of social media, the importance of self-directed learning, and the need for curiosity to advance learning. He inspired her because she made him part of her PLN.

This is a very interesting article! Thanks for sharing! I didn't see this one in my own search, as it seems I found the same ones as most everyone else! :)

Discussing important steps in implementing social media in the classroom such as assess the learning environment, research platforms, create a policy, educate community and evaluate the progress. Social media was linked to reviving stale classrooms.

Student blogging changes the classroom environment. It gives students a voice, and can give them the opportunity to share things that are important to them in a way that's authentic to them.

This article was accessed bia Boise State Library login. This article reveiws a survey of students in a case study where facebook was used as an LMS. The findings are that it can be used to supplement, or substitute an LMS; and that it is most appropriate for younger students. Privacy was an important concern.

Authors discuss advantages of personal learning environments in facilitating collaboration and fostering learner control. PLEs are facilitated by technology, networking, and self-regulation by learners. Open network learning environments from instructors allow PLEs to form. Focus of PLE is not information consumption, but information creation and participation. Authors relate PLE and ONLE to the theory of connectivism and discuss various applications and limitations.

Fantastic quote: "Educators perceive the instructional value of integrating Web 2.0 tools include autonomy, diversity, openness, and connectedness (van Harmelen, 2006); yet, they find multiple technologies daunting, which may affect their attitudes toward online learning. The integration of multiple Web 2.0 tools has created frustration among educators and students because they lack knowledge of the tools (Lee, Miller, & Newnham, 2008), difficulty learn- ing different tools (Weller, 2007), conducting multiple authentications (Suess & Morooney, 2009), visiting multiple sites for different tools, etc. This phenomenon results from a lack of understanding of the social networking learning paradigm and inappropriate integration." This article describes the role of Personalized Learning Environments (PLEs) and how Open Network Learning Environments (ONLEs) are instrumental for creating a PLE. The authors indicate that connectivism is a key underlying principle for developing such a PLE--seeking connections to learners and sources of information. They cite Siemens ("the pipe is more important than the content in the pipe"), which surprised me, as I read that comment from Siemens as hyperbolic. Practical advice for creating your own PLE are also incorporated, as well as examples of how to work and learn within a PLE. The authors suggest that PLEs (operating through ONLEs) disrupt LMSs in the same way that technology disrupts learning in general. Interesting analogy.

This article focused on the theory and gives good if not great detail on the reasonings for the theory of connectivism. It stresses the importance of the individual driving the learning, the digital ages importance, and the idea of interaction for learning.

This video funded by the EU explains why it is important for educators to look outside of their local community for their PLN. The video highlights three main reasons that a vast and diverse PLN is important: Availability, knowledge, willingness to share. The video focuses on the PLM for foreign language. The ability to connect with speakers globally has revolutionized how, when, and where we can learn from.

This article states the importance of connectivism in the facilitation of self-directed and self-regulated components of education. Details of a study on introducing learners to this type of learning report the necessity of student support and scaffolding when planning to implement self-directed learning into a course.

By Dr. Etienne Wenger tthis is a stong definition oa community of practice with some thought given to implementation.

I especially liked how the CoP was referred to as a joint enterprise that is continually being renegotiated. Isn't that what learning is supposed to be all about? The table listing the relationships between CoP and businesses was interesting. The bootleg relationship does not surprise me at all. This one frustrates me greatly since it only applies to a select group of people who keep many things to themselves. Just think if they were to share some of their knowledge what an impact it could have on the organization. It was good to see the seven different styles of leadership defined, however I believe a good leader would exhibit a bit of each one of these characteristics. Being a leader is not a simple task but it is important to be well rounded.

I like the graphic organizers that are included with the information on communities of practice. The first is almost like a life cycle of a community of practice. Nothing that I read in my research acknowledged that a community of practice may have a timeline on it, so even though it may be implied, it was nice to actually see it in print. The second, the table, defined certain types of categories that CoPs may fit into. I was drawn to the third column, the challenges of each group, because it shows that working in a CoP and sharing beyond the community itself may not always be free of issues. Thanks for sharing this resource!

This site describes reasons for using tech in educational settings and provides examples of its use.

Pedagogy in Action tackles spreadsheets and why they are valuable in classrooms. Research and resources linked.

This website explains why spreadsheets are important teaching (and learning) tools. They cite research based studies and give examples of how they can/are being used.

This one was written by M.D. Roblyer and A.H. Doering and talks about why word processing in education is important.

This text is similar to others posted in that it highlights the main features to the communities of practice theory. However, this particular text's focus draws to the readers attention the importance of the commitment factor in order to form a successful community of practice. A community of practice can exist in haphazardly fashion, but when the commitment is to the common purpose and shared experience the success will be more vivid. It also alludes to the seven principles outlined by Etienne Wenger which include: shepherd the evolution, encourage internal leadership, weave private and public space, invite multiple level of participation, find rhythm between familiarity and excitement, build momentum, and develop both communal and personal identity. The author states that the communities of practice platform is the perfect place for new and unattempted concepts or ideas to be practiced with nurtured care.

A combination of PLN and connectivism that shows why we need this more than ever in education.

This is great. I really like the video format and how Johnson brought all of his ideas together and is really talking about connectivism. He never said the word, but he's talking about connectivity and innovation. He's talking about PLNs and CoPs. The video was very helpful

There is an office space in Fayetteville that I feel is built around this premise. The space is set up to facilitate connections and foster innovation. http://www.fayettevilleflyer.com/2012/01/24/the-iceberg-the-stage-is-set/

This article discusses the importance of Twitter to PLNs. The author points to a variety of benefits of using Twitter in a PLN, including the ability to tap into collective knowledge, to amplify one's own ideas, and to solicit help from the PLN. As an infrequent Twitter user, this article really pushes me to question my lack of use of this powerful tool.

The article takes a look at learning process behind connectivism. It also compares constructivism to connectivism. It describes the features of connectivist learning objects or CLOs and the integration of CLOs together to contribute to learning. It also has some extra information like construction and communication or interchange of CLOs.

In this article, the authors compare constructivism and connectivism and look at how constructivism is moving towards connectivism. One important idea or theory is the use of the web in a more "collaborative framework." For example, individuals will collect, reflect, connect, and publish information from the web.

Interesting to see the point of view from the authors about some shared learning experiences that make possible informal learning from spontaneous connections between open networks. Most of the times it is said that the members of the network choose the other members to get connected but it is also important to pay attention to the unplanned connections.