This website gives a list of technology and tools that will be useful in the world language classroom. These tools, however, can be used in many different classes!
This blog post (linked to the book, Digital Habitats) discusses creating ones "personal technology configuration," which is a topic we'll be covering later in the semester. The author describes the tools in his "PTC" that he uses to "close triangles" (aka- network individuals to one another; Skype, LinkedIn), share information (blogs, Twitter), and curate information (tagging). Personal identity on the web is an important aspect of developing PLNs and CoPs.
This was a good perspective on how we can can individually configure our PLN's to work for us based on using the technology in different ways. The concept of "Closing Triangles" was completely new to me. Thinking of how our own configurations interact with others in our network is definitely something to consider when we go into the practice phase.
I like how he has coined the phrase "network weaving practices", and also shows how he "weaves" in and out of other networks by using three different PLN configurations: closed triangles, sharing information, and curating resources.
I've never heard of this before with that term. I know it because of the general idea. I think it it great to weave our thoughts and information together with other professional. Teachers love to use materials and ideas from other and this would help make it easier to collaborate with them.
This is a chapter from a book. It discusses how technology is just a vehicle to help deliver their knowledge. The authors state that a learner can learn from their technologies if they use those technologies to their greatest ability.
Since my arrival two years ago, one of the main focuses of our district has been to update and upgrade technology within our school district. It is a need that our Board of Education and I have identified as essential to providing the best educational opportunities to our students.
With adaptive and assistive technologies, more students have the ability to better communicate and learn than ever before. So how is technology really shaping education for students with special needs? Good infographic
This article focuses on the role of personal learning environments in higher education. I particularly appreciated the description of the PLE in the article. Pointing out what it offers that Learning Management Systems do not, the PLE is explained as the future of education where the student takes control and responsibility from the reigns of the institution. It also suggests that PLEs have staying power in education due to the fact that they are not wrapped up with a specific technology, rather they have the ability to adapt and change as technology around us continues to do so. The author discusses how students should be given challenging situations rather than ridged assignments. The article finishes with an example where this idea was implemented in an online learning environment.
Väljataga, T. (2010). Learner control and personal learning environment: a challenge for instructional design. Interactive Learning Environments, 18(3), 277-291.
A paper suggesting the need for technology to fully nurture and create an authentic learning process. It advocates for a an equal, four-part learning ecosystem that includes learning content, learning context, learning subjects, and learning technology. In addition to technology having its own dedicated category, the idea of connectivism can be found throughout the other three categories as well.
This journal article discusses how ideas taken from the connectivism learning model are being used in the educational reform process of Vietnam. This paper goes through how using the principles of connectivism can help reform the Vietnam educational system.
A Position of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Question: What is the role of technology in the teaching and learning of mathematics? NCTM Position It is essential that teachers and students have regular access to technologies that support and advance mathematical sense making, reasoning, problem solving, and communication.
This article begins by addressing the changing technological innovations over time but the lack of widespread adoption of particular technologies. For example the acceptance of learning management system but apprehension towards virtual peer-to-peer interactions. Informal rather than formal learning is again highlighted as being a positive move of acceptance. The authors would like to see social media included in learning and life-long learning with a shift from virtual learning systems to personal learning environments
Connectivism is an integration that encompasses social and individual learning, and experience. Connectivism is knowledge and the process of learning, principle of learning, technology, nature of knowledge, and the flow of information.
The article's author briefly touches upon the principles of Connectivism as well as a definition which includes the statement that "Connectivism focuses on the inclusion of technology as part of our distribution of cognition and knowledge."
A great overview of connectivism. This outlined the glossary, principles, introduction, description, and explained in detail the roots of connectivism. I found the Characteristics of Connective Knowledge Networks especially interesting by discussing how diversity, autonomy, interactivity, and openness are all key components to connective knowledge.
People to People seems to use the connectivist learning theory quite a bit. It is all about using other peoples information to help rather than using resources to re-research the same information. This is a pretty neat group.
From the P2P Foundation (what is more Connectivist than that?), this an essential description of Connectivist Learning Theory and how it ties to knowledge networks. It includes a history and glossary of key terms.
Connectivist learning theory, by George Siemens
This is the process of knowledge as well as learning. Connectivism focuses on the inclusion of technology. We must focus on our interactions with one another with connectivism.