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Lisa Dawley

Social network knowledge construction: Emerging virtual world pedadogy - 12 views

glorihinck

Welcome to my PLE! - 2 views

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    You have to check out this YouTube video of a 7th grade student giving a tour of her personal learning environment. The project was conducted as part of dissertation research implementing the use of networked learning and construction of personal learning environments in a 7th grade life science class.
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    That is the greatest! How lucky is this student, and class, to have such a forward thinking (and obviously well trained) teacher? I do find it a little bit intimidating that I'm chasing the understanding of a 7th grader. Sigh....
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    Timothy, I had the exact same thought! This is quite some 7th grader.
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    I am quite humbled by this girl. Wow!
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    That was a great example of how good students can become at using new tools to construct and organize learning. I am impressed with both the student and the teacher. The teacher must be very dedicated and organized. The student claims that the class is basically paperless. I have never heard of the note taking program she referenced, and I think that can be helpful for me in this masters program! I also have never seen the digital poster application she used. The best part of this video is that it is proof that educational technology is being used well is some classrooms.
Dennis Lecker

Virtual Englightenment - 2 views

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    This excellent article examined the manner in which students of the 18th century enlightenment constructed a virtual reconstruction of various discussion venues in 18th century London. Having completed such a project allowed the students to gain insight into the manner in which social networking has been with us for quite some time and has been responsible for revolutionary associations. The authors suggest that the current climate of social networks may stimulate a similar dynamism in that the previous coffee shops, chocolate shops, pubs and taverns where great ideas were exchanged are now being replaced by chatrooms, Wikis and social websites, such as Facebook or Twitter.
tsurridge

Want to be a great teacher? Don't go to PD. - 6 views

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    I have led professional development, and shaped a series of professional development classes, to assist teachers in the adoption of one to one laptop programs. Saying that, I couldn't agree with this blog post more. The dynamic change in resource for teachers, and the ever shifting landscape of technology, makes many teachers feel a sense of frustration in attempting to get a handle on what's "out there". This post articulates, and I believe my experience validates, that the answer to engaging these issues does not lie in more and more professional development, but rather, assisting teachers in the creation of their own learning networks for both support and guidance. PLN's are not only more effectual, professional development is expensive. I brought someone in to help our teachers establish personal PLN's, but I don't believe I properly considered how important this was to the process. As I'm quickly learning, PLN creation and engagement may well be at the foundation of any school transformation. ts
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    In 13 years of teaching, I remember only one PD that was worth its salt. The gathering included a presentation pertaining to the use Microsoft Excel to organize various educational particulars. However, on the other hand, that we then acquired GradeQuick, EasyGradePro, and finally another grading program rendered any and all information acquired during the PD moot. I did use Excel, however, to organize data related to my other job, that having been the management a large private club along the lines of a Moose, Elks or Legion. But getting back to the link, I have to admit that I was very amused at the attached video which showed two professionals trapped on an escalator. The situation brought to mind a quote from Robert Pirsig when he wrote: "It is a puzzling thing. The truth knocks on the door and you say, 'Go away, I'm looking for the truth,' and so it goes away." … In summary, that most PDs are constructed from detached administrators who have lost touch with what is actually occuring "on the ground" may be partly responsible with the author's dislike of PDs. ...Regarding assisting teachers in the creation of their own learning networks, I can point to a wonderful article on the benefits of having "exemplary" teachers in a school. http://www.citejournal.org/vol1/iss2/seminal/article1.htm
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    >>As I'm quickly learning, PLN creation and engagement may well be at the foundation of any school transformation. This was one of those "wow" statements for me, and really hit home. I'm currently in Australia finishing up some PD in online curriculum design with a group of really talented teachers at MLC School. While I'm not ready to throw out live PD (we learned and did so much in 3 days!), your sentence caused me to reflect on the importance of teacher education programs and schools helping teachers learn how to establish a successful PLN that meets their needs. Love it...thanks for helping me to refocus with this simple and powerful statement.
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    At first I laughed at the video on the page because I thought it was funny that the people were unwilling to move without the assistance of others until I realized that at one time I was one of the people on the escalator. I believed strongly in learning from PD and did not have many contacts or connections. It was through those PD sessions though, I was able to begin building a PLN. I was able to acquire email addresses and phone numbers from members attending, and they were able to give me access to links, listservs, web blogs, etc. to increase my knowledge. I have access to free PD when available through my PLN. I'm not quite ready to give up my PD, as I still glean useful information and contacts from my sessions to add to my PLN. I believe that PD should be used to enchance your PLN and allow you more opportunities. The PLN should not be the end of PD either. Both should be available to allow users to expand their knowlege.
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    What a great visual of such a helpless attitude that schools and teachers can have! It was interesting for me to read how PD can be a lazy approach to professional knowledge. I had never quite thought of it that way before but it makes sense. It is knowledge that is handed to you rather then knowledge that is discovered. In a lot of my EdTech courses I have learned that learning is done best when there is some form of personal interaction. It makes sense that PLNs are a better way of motivating and learning. I really enjoyed this article and love seeing visuals like this that connect to a bigger concept. Powerful stuff!
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    Timothy, what are your thoughts on the future of PLN's at your workplace? What can you do to help guide the process? Perhaps a final project could be be related to this topic?
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    If I were to be honest (and I guess, why not), I would like to develop professional development that would assist learners toward meaningful understanding and engagement of PLN's. For me, the missing link is the PLE. I'm still grappling with that myself. What should my computer screen look like? I get your dingo's, the elephant head thing, tweetering, et al. I still struggle with a mental picture of how my new computer screen looks. What exactly is going on there? I think that is step one in this. Somehow. I'm going to figure this out. Somehow. And yes, I get the irony of posting a PD is dead reflection-and than wanting to create PD. Kind of not functionally getting it.....still missing something visually.....hmmmmm.....(love the process though:)..... ts
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    Timothy, I am confident that by the end of the term you will have a handle on this brave new world- including your computer screen.
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