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A Multimedia Tour of the Solar System: one star, eight planets, and more This website is an overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of the planets, moons and other objects in our solar system. Each page has our text and NASA's images, some have sounds and movies, most provide references to additional related information.

A very easy to read and follow article written by Mark van Harmelen. Great overview of what Personal Learning Environments are and how they may impact learning theories.

This article attempts to define personal learning environments by offering multiple definitions and distinguishing PLE's from related terms. Three PLE system examples are provided.

School system working with ACLU on social media and what a student may or may not say online.

This article shows how to engage students and improve learning and comprehension of subject material, without the traditional lecture.  I will need a little latitude with this article and the assignment of social media in the classroom. This article does not focus on the use of social media but explains how systems can be used to prime students prior to coming to class and at the same time inform the instructor what areas students are having difficulties with at the time.  This is great because instructors and students do not have to go over information that has already been learned. Social media can be the vehicles used for this type of communication. 

This article focuses on the future of the learning management system in online education. It argues that the closed LMS is incapable of offering the interactivity of web 2.0 technologies to students. It stresses the need for greater connectivity and environments that can be personalized.

I had never heard of start pages until reading this article. Are these used? I didn't recognize any of the products listed.

As the person in charge of the LMS at the School of Nursing, I find this article to be completely valid. We have some younger faculty that want to do more than our LMS will allow, even with some of the widgets that have been added. The main problem that we have is that our current faculty simply use our LMS as a place to provide information instead of encouraging students to use it more like a PLE.

In this scholarly article, Bessenyei discusses the current desire in education to decrease the alienation of traditional schools. He looks at connectivism and network theories as a way to decentralize learning into self-organizing networks. These networks allow information sharing to become more significant as students information sources are varied to include experts as well as other students from multiple institutions.

In this article the author discusses the importance of connectivism that is dependent upon learning in a web 2.0 platform. As the influence of the web has spread so to has the importance the ability to share and distribute information to people all over the world. The premise of this article is that as costs continue to soar in education the connectivism platform offers an alternative way to disseminate learning. The web is now no longer a medium for learning, it is the platform and center for personal learning. One final point that is made is the importance in educating students how to use the available online resources to construct learning for future use because as online resources and CoP's continue to be the primary sources for information it is important to understand how to use and identify these resources for continued learning.

Bessenyei takes an interesting look at the history of elearning as it relates to student learning requirements, societal norms and Connectivism today. The authors perspective on Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 and the policital development of elearning provides the reader with a new lens to look at the variety of social media that is used today.

This article discusses the evolving use of technology in the classroom and the fact that digital inequality between educator and student is beginning to be a huge problem in today's education system. It explores issues in new literacy practices and new learning theories as they relate to Web 2.0 and the importance of changing our education systems to keep up with these continuously changing technologies.

The authors offer a brief look at connectivism in relation to distance and blended learning in higher education. They point out the the landscape is changing from a knowledge transmission to a knowledge acquisition system and that connectivist theory is a guide to help in this transition. They also offer a counterpoint in that the way a good number of online courses are conducted is in a knowledge delivery system that dissociates the learner. They point out the instructor interaction is mandatory to counteract the dissociation that can occur.

A mostly visual representation to explore connectivism as it occurs through an open learning system. Points brought up include learners making meaningful choices while exploring their personal interest in order to guide learning. And as participants engage in making connections, a natural result will be content development and eventually those more experienced students becoming mentors.

Great video that has a section about how our students are "different" than when we were in school. "They [Students] expect to learn from technology because that is what they are used to." As soon as ALL teachers realize and accept this fact, then we as teachers can be one step closer to helping our students achieve their FULL potential!

I like the idea of learners making meaningful choices. Anything that can guide students to make effective and relevant connections is a great resource. I also think teachers have a lot to learn about the way our students learn these days. The idea that students actually need to be a force in their own learning and that they expect instant gratification are concepts I have been seeing more frequently in my own classroom. Great resource!

Wenger argues that the success of communities of practice are directly related to the organization of those communities as learning environments. The interaction of the participants relates to the perceived success of these social learning systems.

Another phenomenal  science website for middle school to high school. Includes activities on building an electric motor, circulatory system, habitat overcrowding, etc. Check it out!

Virtual Nerd's patent-pending tutorial system provides in-context information, hints, and links to supporting tutorials, synchronized with videos, each 3 to 7 minutes long. In this non-linear system, users are free to take whatever path through the material best serves their needs. These unique features make Virtual Nerd a viable alternative to private tutoring.

This resource I came across provides resources for all types of social media. Within this specific page, the topic addresses the best practices for Twitter used in the classroom. It provides information on the use of Twitter within primary and secondary schools as well as higher education. Statistics are presented to show usage within the school amongst scholars and faculty. This site is also an interactive social media network system for questions and comments.

I chose this page because it shows how various schools have used Schoology's Learning Management System for organizing their classroom needs including discussions and cloud-based collaborations.

PBworks looks like a Learning Management System that can be used for free, however the collaborative parts require a subscription. For $99/ year you get security, control over who sees your pages, storage space, and the collaborative perks.

Graphic and description of the Framework for 21st Century Learning. Downloads include student outcomes and support systems. Great resource for Technology Integration Specialists.

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.

How three theories have shaped distance learning over the years. Connectivist theory shows how learning is about forming connections with others through human and digital interaction. Developed in the digital age and assumes access to social networking technologies.

This is a March 2011 journal article that highlights the shifts in technology and theory for distance learning. First, there was the cognitive-behaviorist with it's focus on read, watch, and recall. As the web developed, we saw constructivism shift the teachers duties from content creator to a guide through the content as students synthesized. Connectivism promotes the teacher as a "co-traveler" helping students to explore, connect, and create.