Blog Assignment #7

The Networked Student

The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler is a very thought provoking video about connectivism. This video replicates our EDM 310 class to a T. We learn by exploring and connecting through technology on our own. Using connectivism in the classroom, we learn more than we would from textbooks. The Internet is full of articles and websites with endless learning material. Blogs, podcasts, Wikis, and Skype are just a few of the learning tools we can access through technology.

I personally like the idea of network learning, however, I have some inquiries. For one, is network learning suitable for elementary students? I can see ways to use this method of teaching in the classroom, but there will have to be some revisions to the original idea. In the video, we learn that the students are learning on their own with little or no help from the teacher. They aren't going to class everyday either. I feel that this age group would need to, or actually, have to attend class every day. They could still focus on network learning but with more assistance than it says in the video. In fact, this concept is probably more suitable for high school and college aged students. Another concern of mine is whether elementary aged students are capable of this type of learning. I suppose with enough training and guidance this age group could master the technique of connectivism, or enough to successfully use for future reference. Overall, I do like this approach for it will offer endless sources of knowledge and it will train students to be "networked students."

"Why does the networked student even need a teacher?", that is the question. Well, it depends, first, on the age group of the students. For elementary students, yes, I believe the networked student needs a teacher. I feel like this age group would show more success with a teacher overseeing the work, but the students trying to learn on their own. This way, the students are being trained to learn independently but with a teacher showing them the ropes and getting them familiar with technology. For high school and college students, the answer to the question is debatable. I believe that these students are absolutely capable of learning on their own without a teacher. Of course, they need a teacher to check their work, if needed, and answer any questions they may have. The ultimate goal would be to rely less and less on a teacher and be able to find the answers through other sources. Any teacher can stand up and lecture in front of a class, it's up to the students to actually want to learn and grasp new material. That's why networked learning is becoming increasingly popular and very successful.

Welcome To My PLE!

This 7th grader did an excellent job on her PLE,or personal learning environment. Her video, Welcome to my PLE! is so organized and engaging. I plan on using some of her tools for my PLN. I will definitely return to her presentation for reference when I do my PLN. I wish network learning was around when I was in middle and high school. I feel so far behind compared to this 7th grader. Overall, she did an excellent job and she has really inspired me to learn more about network learning.