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Doris Stockton

AJET 26(3) Drexler (2010) - The networked student model for construction of personal le... - 0 views

  • Personal learning suggests learner autonomy and increased self regulation (Atwell, 2007; Aviram et al., 2008). However, increased responsibility and control on the part of the learner do not necessarily equate to learner motivation (Dede, 1996). Students engaging in networked learning research must be more self-directed. Not only are they navigating a number of web-based applications for the first time, they are also required to take an active role in the learning process by making decisions about how to search, where to search, and why certain content meets a learning objective.
  • Teachers, on the other hand, are challenged to provide an appropriate balance between structure and learner autonomy in order to facilitate self-directed, personalised learning (Beaudoin, 1990; McLoughlin & Lee, 2010).
  • The role of a teacher within a student-centered approach to instruction is that of a facilitator or coach (Wang, 2006). "He or she supports the students in their search and supply of relevant material, coordinates the students' presentations of individual milestones of their projects, moderates discussions, consults in all kinds of problem-solving and seeking for solutions, lectures on topics that are selected in plenary discussions with the students and conforms to the curriculum" (Motschnig-Pitrik & Holzinger, 2002, p. 166).
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  • Figure 1: The Networked Teacher (Couros, 2008)
  • ouros (2008) developed a model of the networked teacher that represents an educator's professional personal learning environment (PLE). A teacher is better equipped to facilitate networked learning if he or she has experienced the construction of such a model first hand. The significant connections in Couros' view of the network include colleagues, popular media, print and digital resources, the local community, blogs, wikis, video conferencing, chat/IRC, social networking services, online communities, social bookmarking, digital photo sharing, and content development communities (Couros, 2008).
  • Networked teacher model
  • Developing a model of the networked student The Networked Student Model adapts Couros' vision for teacher professional development in a format that is applicable to the K-12 student. It includes four primary categories, each with many components evident in the networked teacher version (Figure 2).
  • Figure 2: The Networked Student
  • The networked student follows a constructivist approach to learning. He or she constructs knowledge based on experiences and social interactions (Jonassen et al., 2003). Constructivism encourages "greater participation by students in their appropriation of scholarly knowledge" (Larochelle et al., 1998).
  • Technology supports this appropriation as a collection of tools that promote knowledge construction, an information vehicle for exploring knowledge, an active learning tool, a social medium to promote conversing, and an intellectual partner to facilitate reflection (Jonassen et al., 2003)
  • In a traditional classroom setting, the teacher has primary control over the content. He or she selects or designs the curriculum. Networked learning gives students the ability and the control to connect with subject matter experts in virtually any field.
  • That connection expands to include access to resources and creative artifacts. Computers and mobile devices continue to broaden access to all types of information and learning sources. As quickly as content becomes available, web applications are released to assist in the management of that content
  • The networked student constructs a personal learning environment one node at a time. Once these connections are formed, they must be revisited and built upon to facilitate further learning. The personal learning environment lives beyond time spent in a classroom
  • With so much information to manage, it is increasingly difficult to stay abreast of changes in a given field, much less track implications arising from related fields. Really Simple Syndication (RSS) allows learners to subscribe to changing content and makes tracking changes easier.
  • Ultimately, meaningful learning occurs with knowledge construction, not reproduction; conversation, not reception; articulation, not repetition; collaboration, not competition; and reflection, not prescription (Jonassen et al., 2003).
  • Construction of a personal learning environment does not necessarily facilitate comprehension or deep understanding. Learning potential exists in what the student does with the compilation of content and how it is synthesised. The networked student model is one of inquiry, or the process of "exploring problems, asking questions, making discoveries, achieving new understanding and fulfilling personal curiosity" (National Science Foundation, as quoted by Chang & Wang, 2009, p. 169).
  • Principles of connectivism equate to fundamentals of learning in a networked world. The design of the teacher-facilitated, student-created personal learning environment in this study adheres to constructivist and connectivist principles with the goal of developing a networked student who will take more responsibility for his or her learning while navigating an increasingly complex content base.
  • Nine out of 15 students indicated that time management was the most difficult aspect of the course. Yet, of the fifteen students participating in the project, thirteen were able to manage weekly assignments per the schedule. Two students fell behind and expressed frustration at the amount of work required to catch up. Teacher intervention was required to facilitate their successful completion of the course. They were given a daily list of tasks designed to scaffold the time management aspects of the project. Time management issues were less associated with construction of the personal learning environment and more concerned with the blended format of the delivery. It was an adjustment for students to manage work outside of class even though they enjoyed the freedom of attending a formal class meeting only 3 out of 5 days a week.
  • Achieving the delicate balance between teacher control and student autonomy is an ongoing challenge when facilitating student use of new technologies for self-regulated learning (McLoughlin & Lee, 2010). Motivation, self direction, and technical aptitude are key considerations for implementing a networked student design. The students constructing personal learning environments in this test case were successful in the contemporary issues course.
  • spite of the challenges highlighted above, the Networked Student Model offers a design and framework through which teachers can explore a student-centered, 21st century approach to learning. It further provides a foundation for constructing a personal learning environment with potential to expand as new learning avenues emerge. The student is challenged to synthesise diverse and extensive digital materials, connect to others interacting in respectful and meaningful ways, self-regulate an active approach to learning, and develop an option for life long learning that applies to virtually any curricular area. Once a student has learned how to construct a personal learning environment, he or she is left with a model of learning that extends beyond the classroom walls, one in which the learner assumes full control. Regardless of teacher control, the students' success will depend on how well they have been prepared in the processes that support learning in an ever changing, increasingly networked world.
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    I have highlighted many sections that pertain to student centered online learning.
Diane Gusa

Nine Ways to Reduce Cognitive Load in Multimedia Learning - 1 views

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    First, we propose a theory of multimedia learning based on the assumptions that humans possess separate systems for processing pictorial and verbal material (dual-channel assumption), each channel is limited in the amount of material that can be processed at one time (limited-capacity assumption), and meaningful learning involves cognitive processing including building connections between pictorial and verbal representations (active-processing assumption). Second, based on the cognitive theory of multimedia learning, we examine the concept of cognitive overload in which the learner's intended cognitive processing exceeds the learner's available cognitive capacity. Third, we examine five overload scenarios. For each overload scenario, we offer one or two theory-based suggestions for reducing cognitive load, and we summarize our research results aimed at testing the effectiveness of each suggestion. Overall, our analysis shows that cognitive load is a central consideration in the design of multimedia instruction.
Nicole Frescura

Gagne's 9 Events of Instructional Design - YouTube - 0 views

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    A demonstration (learning to make tea) of the sequential steps involved for meaningful learning to happen.
Tiffany King

EBSCOhost: Online Collaborative Learning: Relating Theory to Practice - 0 views

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    Abstract: Educational institutions have rushed to provide online courses; however, too often schools have discovered the difficulty in transferring effective teaching strategies in the classroom to an online environment. A unique aspect of quality online courses is how they rely heavily on effective collaboration to create a meaningful learning environment. Unfortunately, online instruction is not as simple as replicating the community atmosphere that is found in the traditional brick and mortar classroom. New strategies are demanded for the successful transfer of knowledge utilizing the Web. Investigating the pedagogical strategies of a program that promotes dialogue and collective intellect in a community model could benefit faculty designing courses. We will present a detailed case study using a mixture of quantitative and qualitative methods (including observation, focus groups, transcripts from synchronous and asynchronous discussions, surveys, and interviews) collected over a two-year span to identify perceptions of effective online collaboration and performance. Community formation, support, and sustainability are also explored. Examples are included that not only describe what participants perceive as enabling aspects of the support system but also ways in which educators can enhance program development by learning from other pioneers in this area.
Tiffany King

Facilitator - 0 views

  • It refers to the process of helping learners achieve self-growth through self-evaluation and cooperation with others.
  • adults learn best when a facilitator can see that the following six conditions are met: They feel the need to learn and have input into what, why, and how they will learn. Learning's content and processes bear a perceived and meaningful relationship to past experience and experience is effectively utilized as a resource for learning. What is to be learned relates optimally to the individual's developmental changes and life tasks. The amount of autonomy exercised by the learner is congruent with that required by the mode or method utilized. They learn in a climate that minimizes anxiety and encourages freedom to experiment. Their learning styles are taken into account (pp. 47-49).
Diane Gusa

Bollinger Podcasting.pdf - 0 views

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    "professor ' s explanation translated into more meaningful learning compared to only reading a textbook or discussing the material in discussion boards. These results communicate a powerful message to online instructors who may consider adding additional podcasts or implementing them in their courses. Many participants indicated that the ability to hear their professor ' s voice made them feel more connected to him or her. "
Diane Gusa

If You Build It, They Will Come: Building Learning Communities Through Threaded Discuss... - 1 views

  • Assessing Effectiveness of Student Participation in Online Discussions Student Name _______________________________________________________________ Unit _____
  • Promptness and Initiative
  • Delivery of Post
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  • Relevance of Post
  • Expression Within the Post Does not express opinions or ideas clearly; no connection to topic
  • Contribution to the Learning Community
  • TOTAL
  • Does not make effort to participate in learning community as it develops; seems indifferent
  • Does not express opinions or ideas clearly; no connection to topi
  • Posts topics which do not relate to the discussion content; makes short or irrelevant remarks
  • Does not respond to most postings; rarely participates freely
  • Utilizes poor spelling and grammar in most posts; posts appear "hasty"
  • Responds to most postings within a 24 hour period; requires occasional prompting to post
  • Few grammatical or spelling errors are noted in posts
  • Frequently posts topics that are related to discussion content; prompts further discussion of topic
  • Opinions and ideas are stately clearly with occasional lack of connection to topic
  • Frequently attempts to direct the discussion and to present relevant viewpoints for consideration by group; interacts freely
  • Responds to most postings several days after initial discussion; limited initiative
  • Consistently responds to postings in less than 24 hours; demonstrates good self-initiative
  • Errors in spelling and grammar evidenced in several posts
  • Consistently uses grammatically correct posts with rare misspellings
  • Occasionally posts off topic; most posts are short in length and offer no further insight into the topic
  • Consistently posts topics related to discussion topic; cites additional references related to topic
  • Unclear connection to topic evidenced in minimal expression of opinions or ideas
  • Expresses opinions and ideas in a clear and concise manner with obvious connection to topic
  • Aware of needs of community; frequently attempts to motivate the group discussion; presents creative approaches to topic
  • Occasionally makes meaningful reflection on group’s efforts; marginal effort to become involved with group
  • Facilitator’s Comments:
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