This video talks about using iTunes U as a possible resource. This is a resource that the teacher can recommend for the student to use to find academic podcasts and vodcasts. Information is just at his fingertips. Who knew that an mp3 player could enrich a student’s life so much? It helps him expand his knowledge and improve upon his academics. As the video points out, he can access lectures from prestigious universities and listen to them on his mp3 player. I bet many students do not even know that they can access these lectures and podcasts online. These students need to be taught how to access the information that can be found online, which is where the teacher will help the students.
One part of the video that really stuck out to me was where the video mentions the important point that it never hurts to ask! I was impressed with how the student was able to set up a skype conference for his whole class with a film director who created a documentary on the American Psyche. He was able to do this simply by contacting the director and asking! It is important for the teacher to remind their students the importance of asking. The worst that can happen is that they do not receive a reply or the person they asked answers with a "no" for their request. Since the student asked, he was able to provide his entire class with an enriching skype conference with the director.
The teacher's role in networked learning is to be a guide. The teacher should teach the students how to differentiate from reliable and unreliable information, inform the students how to ask for something correctly, and actively support the students when they achieve great finds through their networking. The teacher provides the students with skills that are relevant and will continue to help them further on in their lives. I am ready to help guide my future students make connections. I will encourage my students to learn for themselves, but I will be ready to help them if they face any difficulty while trying to create their connections.
A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment (or PLN)
In this video, a 7th grade student introduces her Personal Learning Environment(PLE) that she has created for her science class. The student in the video uses Symbaloo, which is a website that allows her to bookmark the sites that she frequently uses. The student puts the bookmarks that are not school related at the top of her symbaloo bookmarks and the bookmarks that are school related can be located on the bottom row. The student is very clear and concise when she speaks, which makes it easy to follow her PLE. I like how she mentions that her PLE allows her the freedom to pick how and when she wants to complete an assignment. I believe that letting students pick how they want to use their tools to complete their assignment will provide them with a unique learning experience . In our EDM 310 class we have been asked to download Delicious. This is a site like Symbaloo that allows the student to collect bookmarks. I cannot count the amount of times I have found a website with great information, only to have forgotten where to find that website at a later date. Using a site like Symbaloo or Delicious will help me keep track of the resources that may come in handy for a project later on down the road. This way I won’t be frustrated with myself for not being able to find a great website that I once stumbled upon. I will definitely use Symbaloo or Delicious to help with my PLN. It will help me collect data and remain organized.
Hey Brittany, I think you wrote a great post. I think you hit the nail on the head about teachers being a guide. Teachers are no longer the only source of knowledge, so it is important to re-examine our position in today's classroom. Not to mention this approach to learning makes the student become an active participant in the learning process.
ReplyDeletePLN's are a great way to keep your favorite sites organized. I am really forgetful about all the sites I want to look at too. This student not only showed how to use Symbaloo effectively, but she was very precise and organized with her presentation. It makes me want to make better use of my PLN, and not just bookmark recreational sites all of the time. Hope to read more from you soon.
You guys both make great points! The point of the PLN is that the student takes the iniative to figure out what works for them, puts in the time to actually use it, and has to think about whether their PLN is working for them or if there might be a better way. Everyone works differently! Still, all students need a guide to encourage them and to set an example to follow! I'm not suggesting that students play 'follow the leader' or anything, but a teacher who follows Connectivism by using her PLN regularly shows the effectiveness it can have.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Carly