We share evidence and practitioner-based learning strategies that empower you to improve K-12 education. http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration

http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/viewArticle/523/1103

Article argues that connectivism should not be considered a learning theory. Possibly a developmental theory at best. The author believes that connectivism contributes to emerging pedagogies, which is shifting towards autonomous learning from teacher directed learning.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connectivism

Information on connectivism and historical orgins of the theory. I also was intrigued to read interesting criticisms of the theory. Some view the theory as a pedagogical view, like Verhagen while others view that existing learning theories are sufficient, according to Kerr.


http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/02/which-radical-discontinuity.html

List of PLN's for educators. I did request to sign up for The Educator's PLN. These listed PLN's are a great place to begin building your personalized learning networks.

http://www.teachhub.com/what-pln-why-do-i-need-one

Another article explaining the value and reasons for developing a PLN. PLN's offers two additional benefits beyond what traditional personal development can do. For one, educators can personalize their training and networking with other practitioners. Educators are able to share knowledge which helps to build relationships.

In the education world, PLN stands for Personal Learning Network. What it means is that an individual has developed their own personalized "network" of fellow educators and resources who are designed to make them a better teacher. This network exists both in their real-life relationships and online through their social media connections.

Implementing an Open Approach #GoOpen District Launch Packet Across the country, districts are choosing to #GoOpen and transitioning to the use of openly licensed educational resources to improve student learning in their schools. This resource is designed for districts that have decided to implement a systematic approach to incorporating openly licensed educational resources into their curriculum by becoming a #GoOpen District.

Implementing an Open Approach #GoOpen District Launch Packet Across the country, districts are choosing to #GoOpen and transitioning to the use of openly licensed educational resources to improve student learning in their schools. This resource is designed for districts that have decided to implement a systematic approach to incorporating openly licensed educational resources into their curriculum by becoming a #GoOpen District. http://tech.ed.gov/

http://www.scaledagileframework.com/communities-of-practice/

COP's have a natural life cycle that begins with the COP being formed and ends when group members believe that they have successfully solved the problems identified within the community or the group members believe their community of practice no longer holds value to the organization. Also, there are multiple levels of participation for communities of practice to include; core team, active, occasional, peripheral, and transactional.

https://hbr.org/2000/01/communities-of-practice-the-organizational-frontier

I found this article and I was intrigued because it is an article explaining COP's and the use of them in an organization. The concept has been around for centuries but is still new to the business world and has only recently been adopted by a few forward thinking companies.
The article does ask why communities of practice are not as prevalent as they should be? There are three reasons for this; the term has just entered the business world, few companies have taken the opportunity to cultivate or installing communities of practice, and finally, it is not easy to sustain and cultivate communities of practice within an organization. Members volunteer or select themselves to form a COP.

https://www.learning-theories.com/communities-of-practice-lave-and-wenger.html

Great article explaining what COP's are and what is required to be considered a COP's.There are three required components of COP's; domain, community, and a practice. COP's must have members who are practitioners. A COP does not exist just because members share an interest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx5VHpaW8sQ

A video of Dr. George Siemens. I forgot how much learning takes place biologically. Dr. Siemens talks about three different levels of connectivism. Dr. Siemens states, "In a networked world, learning is a network forming process."

1. Network forming process (Biology)
2. Networked learning consists of taking concepts and forming conceptual connections
3. Networked learning through external social spaces

http://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/news/educational-social-media-use/

Article discusses the benefits of social media, the negatives for using social media, and gives advice on what not to do. It is important to keep separate personal and professional profiles when using social media in the classroom. The article also discusses potential consequences for not maintaining professionalism while using social media.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/making-case-social-media-in-schools-jim-asher

Another example of how Jim Asher, a principal, has embraced the use of social media in the classroom and expects his teachers to use it.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/social-media-valuable-tool-teachers/

I wanted to take an opportunity to read another point of view regarding the use of social network use in the classroom. This article had two teachers with opposing views on using social media in the classroom. One was all for it and believes that his students are more engaged in his classroom. The other has only dabbled using social media and wants to preserve the classroom as a safe haven away from technology. I believe that this article demonstrates current viewpoints regarding social network learning. We are either progressive with social network learning or we remain reserved and uncommitted to fully using social media in the classroom.

http://tech.ed.gov/

Here is one of my favorite websites.

http://ussc.edu.au/ussc/assets/media/docs/other/communities_of_practice.pdf

A good explanation of communities of practice. Communities of practice consist of a group of individuals engaged in a process of collective learning in a shared domain.

http://anitacrawley.net/Articles/DabbaughPLE.pdf

A scholarly article discussing personal learning environments, formal learning, informal learning, social media, and self-regulated learning, as a pedagogical approach in higher education to implement both formal and informal learning with social media.

http://lpd.nau.edu/connectivism-learning-as-a-community/

I found this article today. The theory of connectivism is emerging, however the theory suggests what is most important is the ability of a learner to make "connections" between clear ideas utilizing social resources and the possibilities of digital networks. Connectivism believes that learners should be able to analyze problems and understand how to problem solve because of their experiences in learning, rather than memorizing facts and information. It is interesting to read about opposing viewpoints regarding how learners should learn. Memorizing information or making "connections" to real world situations and social networking?

http://tech.ed.gov/teachers/

The Office of Educational Technology has useful information for educators!