Group items tagged

Ever considered PLN's for students, found this on Twitter. I really like the fishing analogy at the end. Great idea for creating student centered learning.

I like the idea of students creating their own personal learning networks. That is very 21st Century learning focused. It could open up a lot of opportunities for students and even educators. Nice source!

This article focuses on the student PLN and how a global PLN would help students with there search for knowledge. This would also lead students to self directed learning. Students could use their PLN to push their own learning in the direction they want to take it.

A chapter from Carter and Nugent at VSU which has a nice phrase, "Personal learning networks are based on the premise that learning occurs through interaction with multiple people and in multiple contexts through virtual communities." Somehow I like that. It goes into more detail and explores the, 'abstract concept that is learning.' A big read which take more time to go through but has some effective descriptions. Moves on to CoP as well. A chapter to return to.

The article begins by addressing what a PLN is where a learner joins an informal, web-based communities and they create a network so they can learn whenever, wherever they would like. This article describes a PLN in the context of adult education and the role of the adult educator. The article describes what a PLN looks like. Last, it gives ways to help adults to learn in this type of culture and implications for this. As many articles do, this pushes for a change in education and change their model of teaching to fit this digital age.

Here is a book chapter that details the theoretical implications of using PNL for Self-Directed Learners. This chapter talks about the different ways that learners learn within COP/PLN and how this learning takes place formally, informally and incidentally.

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.

This article explores self-directed learning via connectivism and other learning theories.

I appreciated this article for a couple of reasons - research on self-directed learning (Yay!) and one of the conclusions that indicates that this is one of the more challenging environments for students. That means that if we ask students to be more self-directed and use the tools and resources that are "out there" and freely available, we need to provide some strategies and guidance on where to look, how to evaluate the information and how to network for learning.

I think that this is a good resource. It was really interesting to learn about connectivism and personal learning environments from a research study point of view. I believe that this source is a good way to learn about the growing needs of our students in the digital era. The source suggests that students need to be able to take control over their education in order to be truly successful.

This has some quick ideas and directions for creating a voice thread.

Seamon states in this article that there is evidence that social communication (PLN) can strengthen human relationships, particularly for introverts. It may help foster family and business as well. It encompasses learning from feedback, insights, new contacts, and is based in reciprocity and trust. It is needed to increase the chance of higher levels of learning maturity.

The author addresses concerns about the feelings of isolation that can stem from the use of technology (in the sense that it is utilized to the exclusion of in-person connections) but makes sure to point out the benefits of technology as evidenced by Personal Learning Networks.

This very simple slideshow highlights the key points of PLE's that have been researched and presented in many articles and experiences. The author directs your attention to the effectiveness and many facets of PLE's in the future of education, such as sharing, collaboration, reflection and storing information.

I appreciated the different way to learn about a PLN. I like the slideshow idea to interpret what a PLN is. It really grabbed my attention and the images reflected the ideas perfectly. Thank you for sharing it.

I can't say enough how much I appreciate images, they just have a way of really captivating my attention and helping my understanding. This slideshow did a nice job of highlighting key points of personal learning environments and their purpose/results. I loved that first quote by Mark Van Harmalen, such a nice way of articulating PLN's. Thanks for sharing @klauritsen

Learning communities need to be intentional; students must form with each other deeper understandings; gives students more control over their learning environment

The authors point out that today's learners are different from learners previous generations and as such, have different needs. Connectivist theory helps to serve as a roadmap for these learners needs. The authors offer a framework to the reader in which to to help build student's personalized learning environments (PLE). They conclude that it is the role of the educator to select the tools and resources that best enable students to maximize their learning potential.

Research primarily focused on exploring how online learners aggregate, relate, create, and share information. Noting that connections are made with people and/or resources. And that putting learners in charge of directing their own experience is dependent on confidence and competence with the tools at hand. When comfortable navigating the terrain of the internet, there is intrinsic motivation that results from steering your own learning.

Impressive make-your-own paper toys! Simply print the directions from the site and you have an interesting craft project.

The Encyclopedia of Informal Education entry on communities of practice referenced an innovative school in Utah experimenting with CoPs; this article details the researcher's experiences. The article suggests that the CoP approach represents neither the instructor directed or student directed approach to education that most people in Western culture are familiar with, and thus is often met with initial resistance.

This post explains how educators are becoming more sophisticated in their social media use which is leading to more shared information outside of the traditional conference or classroom.

This was an interesting read. I also find that many conferences are hard to attend due to funding. I like how many educational professionals are finding ways to connect using their PLNs through Twitter to participate in edchats. Social media has made the ability to connect with others in your field so much easier and cheaper. It also demonstrates the point how learning and professional development are becoming more self-directed to meet each educator's needs. Thanks for sharing!

At my district professional development day this August, there was a session title Twitter for Teachers. While my district is not prepared to get rid of traditional PD, they can see the value in PLNs that allow for continuous professional growth. I think this article provides a great explanation of the transition from traditional PD and conferences to a digital world. The author also notes, however, that personalized learning could lead to "one-sided" information. I think that is why it may be important for districts to educate their teachers on PLNs to hopefully start them in the right direction.

"Hype Cycle for Education 2010"

This site offers a step by step guide for students learning how to research. It is an interactive website that gives students direct tips for each step of the research process.

Great short clip that explains communities of practice for educators.

This brief but detailed summary of Wegner's 1998 idea of Community of Practice gives a basic understanding of the idea. The videos included can be useful for seeing how the idea can be helpful in education.

This resource explains what CoP is and when the theory was developed. The concept of CoP was developed by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger. The author uses quotes directly from their book to explain CoP. There is a video that illustrates how CoP can be used in a K-12 classroom and another video that shows how CoP can be applied in other fields. The article also differentiates between Communities of Practice and Team members. The categories include objective, membership, organization, termination, value proposition, and management. My take away from the chart was that the major difference between CoP and being a team member is this: what will be the outcome of the participant?

The focus of this article is on how educators can help learners set up and discover value in communities of practice. Through working with adult educators it showed learners how their previous knowledge and experiences have great value to the community. They were able to discover the value of self-directed learning. Finally they realized the networking potential of COPs.

Professional Learning Communities are often times being used to describe any form of meeting within a school community. This misuse of the PLC is causing it to become another reform movement that will pass. In order for them to stay true to what they are, the three big ideas need to remain present in each community. The first big idea is that a PLC needs to ensure that students learn. PLCs develop the teaching practices that don't let a child get left behind when they haven't mastered a skill yet. The second big ideas is that PLCs create a culture of collaboration within a school. It brings together individuals who, with a shared goal and motivation, learn and develop together. The final big idea is to focus on the results. A PLC, when done correctly, should yield results directed to the shared goal. Throughout handwork and commitments, PLCs can become true to what they were originally intended to be. 

This article discusses the power that social media has in adult education. It discusses the ability for knowledge to be shared and discussed worldwide. The article also points out that social media is changing the way society communicates and networks, and that the world has become more interconnected than before. I appreciated the author also bringing up that consumerism, mostly in the form of advertisements, can be a downside of many free social media applications. The author argues that the ads could perpetuate harmful spending habits of users. I think this argument is one to take into account when using social media in primary and secondary education.

Thanks for posting this article, which exposed me to a brand-new term: Pedagogy 2.0. Using social network tools, Pedagogy 2.0's teaching and learning practices advocate learner choice, self-direction, and flexibility in learning activities, which are key components to adult education. I also enjoyed the article's discussion of consumerism and power structures, which are engaging in "social surveillance."