Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Networked Student
This is a true story about a networked learning project that took place in Wendy Drexler's high school Contemporary Issues class. Each student built a personal learning environment focused on a specific contemporary issue. This is also the culmination of her professional learning as part of the CCK08 Connectivism course offered by George Siemens and Stephen Downes in the fall of 2008. She is planning to continue to experiment with networked learning in the middle grades in the coming school year. While the video offers a social studies example, this format is applicable to all subject areas.
Do you think you might adapt any or all of the connected learning strategies and opportunities that Wendy Drexler used?
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92 comments:
This network learning project is a wonderful way for children to take control of their own learning. I like the fact that students research their own topic and navigate the internet to obtain other information regarding their topic. I would implement this project into my classroom. I do believe students must understand the difference between actual research information and opinions that people post. A classroom blog would be a great way for students to exchange information with one another, as well. Although the teacher is not actually teaching a lesson, much guidance and supervision is required to make sure students are on task and using valid information. I would not use this activity with students who have learning disabilities. I believe there is too much navigation and instruction is not concrete. Students with disabilities often require concrete instruction. I would try to modify this project as much as possible to expose the student to it. Instruction has certainly come a long way since I have been in school!
~Maryann
As a math teacher, I am constantly criticized by social studies teachers and English teachers that I don't do enough "project based learning" or I'm not "teaching the skills of the 21st century". While in some areas I agree with them, I still live with the reality that the standards I am being held up to are standards that have nothing to do with 21st century skills. I am forced to adapt a very rigid curriculum to technology that the curriculum was not designed to work with. I also don't always have the technology available which would be necessary to implement the new methods of teaching shown in the video. I am all for using more technology in my classroom but without more guidance, access and support for me and my students, I'm not sure how I can ever create the type of learning environment shown in the video for my math students.
- Marissa Evangelista
I absolutely agree with Maryann, there is a lot of navigation involved in the "connected" classroom. I work with a lot of CTT students who would very quickly be overwhelmed by the amount of information thrown at them. Projects like the one shown in the video would need to be modified a lot before I could use them with my students.
- Marissa
I think that in a high school classroom this would be an effective model of learning. Children with special needs most likely will have a difficult time to use this connected model. I am going to be an elementary teacher so this teaching model would not be appropriate for that age level.
-Jackie R.
I agree with Maryann that children would benefit from exhanging information with one another. I thought that the beginning of this model was extremely useful for pre-college students. They learned how to find real researched based articles and also had the opportunity to listen to lectures given by professors around the country.
-Jackie R.
As a prospective math teacher, it would be fun to have the students research a career related to mathematics and use this type of networking approach. They would be able to research blogs as well as podcasts to find information while also networking with other math students. This would provide real world examples related to the topics being taught making it more appealing for the students. It would also be a great way for students to connect with one another as they learn the importance of having a math background in the "real world" AND ultimately answer their question, "Why do we have to know this?"! ~Kristen Ford
While I absolutely love this idea, I do not think it would be practical for an elementary classroom, even in the higher grades.
Since I will be an elementary teacher, I cannot imagine employing this strategy of learning in my classroom. Perhaps, fifth graders that require academic enrichment may benefit from a modified version of this model. Also, the gifted and talented at the higher grades of elementary school may be able to participate in an activity such as this. However, in general this networking learning project would not apply to my classroom, as it requires a higher level of thinking than that of an elementary school student. I believe that it would encompass entirely too much teacher/parent monitoring in order to be a practical mode of learning.
I agree with Maryann that a classroom blog would be an excellent way for students to exchange information, but again, this would have to occur at a higher grade than I would be teaching. Specifically, I think this strategy is perfect for high school students.
Students with disabilities would most likely not benefit from this activity; it would have to be greatly modified to provide the structure that these students often need.
-Kelly M.
I agree with Marissa. To implement technology into a lesson, the classroom needs to have proper equipment. Many school districts are lucky if they have computers. It is unfortunate that all students cannot be exposed to and engage in various technology based projects.
~Maryann R.
This is a great way for students to take responsibility of their own learning. I really enjoyed the video and agree with Maryann when she said that these students would benefit greatly from exchanging information with other students. Howvever, I feel students in a self-contained classroom might not understand all the information without guidance from a teacher.
Denise
I thought the video/article was very informative. Having children being able to navigate the internet in order to gather information on any topic is fantastic. I think students should know how to research while having an opinion of their own.
Donna W.
I believe that this is a great way for children to participate in "hands on" learning.
Not only will the students become more knowledgeable about the subject area, but can also grow to be more technologically advanced at the same time.
I also agree with Kelly as to how this type of learning should be used more in a higher level of education such as with high school students. Although many younger children are being brought up into the technology age, I feel that some of the main concepts would be hard for them to understand.
I would eventually like to benefit this type of learning with my students.
It was interesting to see how some of the technologies (RSS, blogs, etc.) we discussed in previous sessions can be implemented in the classroom. The concept of connectivism, where the student develops his own knowledge base and the role of the teacher is purely as facilitator of that process, is revolutionary. However, in order for this concept to be effective teachers must receive sufficient training in the methodology and there must be some form of consistent assessment to ensure that standards are being met. Connectivism is better suited for secondary students. Elemenatry students may have difficulty discerning between what is fact and what is opinion.
Patricia G.
I agree with Maryann's comments on the limits of connectivism for students with disabilities. Perhaps they would benefit from a more structured form of it where the teacher performs more of the navigating. I also agree with Marissa's comments on the difficulty in applying some of these technologies to mathematics.
Patricia G.
Comments from Elizabeth C.
I loved the video. It was original, simple and creative, and effective in its message. I would use this approach in a class lesson.
To comment on another student's opinion, I would modify this approach according to the students' abilities i.e. students with disabilties.
Josh G says:
The ideas in this video are great and well presented. Even if every aspect of one's class or learning experience does not mirror the networked student as described in the video, aspects of this type of interconnected learning can be implemented.
It is very interesting to me that this video about using the most up to date technology in the classroom is made using a cute and attractive but decidedly low tech approach with paper cutouts.
It did a good job of highlighting educational uses of blogs, RSS and tying them together with social bookmarking and one's own blog. Also noted Googlescholar and school database(of which i am a big fan) as well as iTunes U which i have never heard of.
All in all I am proud of the 21st century student described in the video, i hope the little paper boy will be representative of 21st century students in general, using technology to take responsibility for their own learning.
I agree with Dominique in that this is a great way for children to participate in "hands on" learning. Students will most likely become more knowledgeable about specific subject areas. Students will also be more technologically advanced.
I liked how the video acknowledged the educational uses of blogs, RSS, and social bookmarking.
-Kristina T
I enjoyed this video. I would try and adapt the blogging between students and navigating the internet to research topics of interest. The blogging offers other classmates the opportunity to learn about topics they may not have thought to research on their own. I also love the blogging concept because it allows the students to engage in conversation about said topics.
Another feature that I love about this program is the class lectures available to all students from the best professors in the world right from their ipod or mp3 players. I especially like this idea for the gifted students who need to be challenged. Listening to a college lecture would provide these needed challenges.
The network project is a fantastic way to motivate students to learn by usin the internet. Obviously coupled with allowing students to conduct research via the internet it is important that students know the difference between a valid source and a source of random opinions.
I can only see this being useful in a middle school-high school classroom. I think that young students may get easily confused. I'm sure there are simple programs that younger students can use; however, I think that this type of project should be used for older students.
Melanie W.
I agree with Marissa, as a math teacher it is sometimes hard to do "project based learning." It's extremely hard to complete all of the curriculum as well as create an interesting learning environment for the students.
Jacqueline A.
I found this video to be very informative and interesting. The access to resources students have now by utilizing technology is astounding. I was particularly impressed by the podcasting, and how you can get full lectures from world class professors.
Utilizing all of this technology, could be a great way for motivating many students, although it might be too overwhelming for students with disabilities. Also it would not be age appropriate for primary students.
Rick Wolfsdorf
I think the idea behind the networking project is a good one. However, I must agree with some of my classmates that this idea is not appropriate, obviously, for all age levels. I like the idea of being able to use technology to enhance learning, but it has to be done so that everyone benefits. With classrooms becoming more inclusive, it is important to make sure as teachers we reach everyone. As Ricky said in his blog, some of these ideas can become overwhelming for those students with disabilities.
I enjoyed watching the video and learned a few things at the same time. I feel that the technology is a great way for students to take ownership of their work and at the same time,be up to par with the ever growing world of technology. I agree with Rick when he talks about the difficulties that may arise when students with disabilities are involved. This may be a little too advanced for them, maybe even for students who do not have a disability.
Samantha C
I certainly would have to agree with Maryann that technology has come a long way since I was in school in the classroom and agree that the network learning project is a wonderful way for children to learn.
I also agree with Kelly M. that this might not work well with elementary school students since they would need a lot of assistance and guidance with navigating the internet to find the material for their project.
I enjoyed the video and the presentation in which it was shown. I think that I would try to incorporate this activity in my own teaching style but would have to modified and model the project greatly to accommodate the students with disabilities that I would be teaching. This could be done with the use of a Filamentality type of hotlist or maybe giving the students a more refined type of search to do only.
I agree with Jackie that in high school this would be an effective model of learning but not for younger grades. This is something that I would not implement into my classroom. I use technology as much as I can on a daily basis but it is sometimes difficult to find new technologies that are age appropriate for 6 year olds.
Erin M.
I agree with Kristen, that it would be interesting to have students do research on the relationship between career fields and mathematics. Students often think that they will never use math outside of the classroom,and a project like this would enhance their technology skills while allowing them to see the importance of math.
Erin G.
I found that this network learning project would be best utilized in higher grades and for thase children that are above average or gifted in the middle school level.
This is a project that I wish my daughter's teachers would use to keep my daughter engaged and not bored duing the class room time. She is a highly motivated, slef learner, that finds the regular classwork easy and boring. Because of my experience with her and my experience in these graduate classes, I wonder why her teachers do not use these innovative project. Why are these creative ideas being ignored?
I agree with Kelly M in that I am an elementary teacher and implementing this project would be very difficult for the younger grade levels. Although computers and technology are introduced to children as early as kindergarten and students these days, they only understand and grasp the basics of computers. Also, I agree with Maryann in that even in the older grades students with disabilities would have a significant amount of trouble navigating around and staying on task with this project. Although it may not be of any use to me as a teacher for the younger grades, I thought the network learning project was a very clearly developed program and it was clear that many people put a lot of hard work and dedication into making this project happen.
I think it is a great way to teach students the difference between research and someones opinion. Considering they will be using the internet as the main source of research throughout their academic career I think using this program and allowing students to use a classroom blog or a podcast is an excellent and fun way for students to share research with one another.
Lastly, agreeing with Maryann R, I think that this would be wonderful to use in the classroom, providing you had the time and your school provided the very costly technology that is needed for this project.
The networking way of learning is a good concept. It helps the students find their own answers rather than preach and teach. What I really like about this idea is that the students use each other as learning aids. By this I mean that one student can help another because he or she might understand the topic a little bit better. Another good point is that there can be many different examples of the topic. This is good because it allows students to decide which examples have good relevance to the topic they are researching. This style of teaching incorporates a lot of technology in it as well. It is one reason I believe it would be successful. I say this because it can incorporate devices such as MP3 players which many students can’t live without. In the end it is a good idea that would take a lot of commitment on the behalf of the students in order for it to properly function. That would be the only real down fall.
Kim K.
Wow I was completely blown away! This is amazing. I feel that all students will enjoy this expirience. It gives the students complete freedom and the opportunity to take charge and go out and evaluate whats out there waiting to be discovered.
Danyi T
This video was really remarkable. To think that a student can learn so much through online networking is a truly futuristic notion. It makes me wonder if we'll begin to see more of this type of educating in the next five years or so. It certainly reduces the role of the teacher and puts more responsibility on the shoulders of the student. I think the only way something like this could be instituted in a secondary setting is through some type of internship program for high school seniors. The right type of student could really benefit and grow from an experience like this.
Tom L.
The Network project sounds like an amazing learning opporunity for secondary education students. A project of this nature allows them to experience the technology that is available to them and how to use it effectively. Having the teacher available to help the students sort through the vast information available is extremely important. However I have to agree with Jennifer and Kelly that it could be difficult to do a project like this in an elementary school class. Some younger students could have trouble with the multiple layers of reserch that wood be required. I would be interested in learning more about this project and to see if it could be simplified so that it may be used successfully in the lower grades.
-Bridget
I think this type of learning is really interesting. I love the idea of having students research and then make blogs to post their findings. I don't know how crazy I am about online class 3 days a week though. I feel like the social interaction of school is really important for social and intellectual reasons. One great benefit of this is having access to lectures of professors from all colleges! This is a huge benefit for students. I agree with Bridget that this type of learning seems to be better suited for older secondary aged students. Younger elementary children may find it hard to do all this research on their own. I'd also like to see how elements of this could be brought to the elementary level.
This networking project is a great way for students to explore topics. I feel like it would work best for students in their senior year of high school and for a specific type of assignment in order for them to truly get something valuable out of their work. It is something different for the students to do and I believe they will like the idea.
-Deanna C.
This video was very interesting. I agree with Christine that this can add lots of value to an older child's learning experience, perhaps 4th/5th grade on. It would be difficult for young children to complete an assignment using this methodology. If I was teaching a class of middle or high school students I would definitely add this to my class. I, too, wouldn't be so thrilled with a virtual class set up 3x per week.
Colleen F.
I found it amazing how much the student learned from this project. He probably learned more in this form, then if he would have been in a regular classroom. It teaches students to be independent and take control of their own learning. I agree network learning is more appropriate for secondary level. It could be used in the elementary level, but not so independently. It would have to be used in a classroom setting so it could be monitor by a teacher.
-Saira U.
I found this video presentation very interesting. The network learning project is definitely a great way for students to learn independently which the teacher as the facilitator. I think it would cause students to become more interested in their work - especially since they have the opportunity to blog about their findings and opinions. I agree that this type of project is probably best suited for middle or high school students. At the elementary level it might be able to be used as more of a group/classroom project with more assistance from the teacher. It's really neat that educators are learning to incorporate the most up-to-date technology effectively in the classroom. I think a project like this would be extremely beneficial for students as a way to learn skills for the real world.
This video is interesting because it orientates watchers towards a modernized classroom learning experience. It is amazing how many learning oppurtunites there are in a network learning project.
One important aspect the video promotes is having stuents understand the difference between facts and opinions posted on the internet.
I believe this type of learning project could be beneficial to students at the secondary level since it increases students ownership of thier own learning. From my experience, I believe a project such as this would be difficult at to implement at the elementary level, especially with students with disabilities.
Kristina B.
I found this video very interesting to watch. This network learning project allows students to build their own knowledge on different topics. I agree that it would be great to use at the secondary level and that it would be more challenging to incorporate at the elementary level.
I thought it was great that students are able to start their own blog and connect with others all over the world and discuss their topic. I also agree with Kristina B in that this process promotes students to distinguish between facts and opinions.
*Jenny C
I thought that this idea could defintely be used in an attempt to provide a differentiated form of instructing. This learning style would accomodate a very different learner than the traditional lecture class. I thought having students search and sift through material to gain awareness and knowledge on their topic is very helpful, as they are almost teaching themselves.
I could see this definetly being used in a social studies, English, or even science class, as there are tons of information on the web. I think it would be harder to to carry out this concept in a math classroom since the topics are much more abstract and often need direct instruction.
While it could be extremely beneficial for older students, I would be a bit wary of using this type of learning in younger grades. It might be difficult for the students to stay on task or to even focus thier research to relavent topics. Network learning can be great if used for specific projects in the classroom, such as research papers or certain projects that require knowledge from various sources.
-Jeff K
I believe this is a great tool for english teachers and students. It is a way to have everyone share their thoughts on a book, poem, short story. While english class consists of spelling, grammar, vocabulary, etc, a big part of the curriculum is reading and creating ideas. Authors create alternate realities; a symbolic way to look at life. It would be interesting to see what the students can learn about literary works and create on their own through webquests, blogs, wikis, etc. It is a great way to share information and see through other peoples eyes.
-MIKE T-
I agree with Patrick that it would be a challenge to incorporate this type of learning in a math class because teaching mathematics usually requires direct instruction from the teacher. It would be interesting to see this type of learning incorporated into mathematics.
*Jenny
I think this is a great idea. As a future high school math teacher I would love to try this. Although it is difficult in math to get away from the curriculum I agree with Marrissa E. that the technology may not be available to me through the school. Also math is sometimes looked at as boring and basic in it's teaching, but I love to create updated examples and forums to teach and keep math alive inside and outside of the classroom. This does sound like a wonderful thing.
The network learning project is amazing! We have been learning about all these different types of technology, and to see them all come together in this project displays just how possible it is. At the end of the video clip I was happy to see the importance of the teacher in the process. Even though students can be independent in their learning, it is imperative that the teacher provides his or her students with the necessary skills.
I agree with Bridget about the appropriateness of this activity in an elementary school. I think it is more realistic in a middle school and high school level.
-Kathy M.-
This method of research presented in this video is a great way of gathering and spreading information. What I found most important is that the student involved in this project was trained and guided in the practice of searching for information on the internet. Therefore, the information gathered can be trusted, and furthermore, his opinions are informed and thoughtful. This technology provides positive places to search information on the internet. The only portion of the video that I did not like was the role of the teacher. It seemed as if the teacher did not exist to dispense information that is content based, but to help the student navigate the internet. In accordance with previous posts, I feel as if these technologies, amazing as they are, should continue to supplement learning, not constitute it.
John G
As an English teacher I think this would be an amazing tool to use in the classroom. It would be a great way for my students to share their work, especially for those who may not like reading in front of the class. I also liked how the teacher is an important guide in using this tool. The technology does not replace the teacher, it simply helps, and makes the lesson more exciting!
-Christine Sommer
This was great. The RSS technology discussed in this video and the way it was utilized would give a student tremendous freedom and ownership to his/her education. Instead of just reading materials from a text and an occasional article the student becomes a part of the information exchange among scholars.
Rob S.
I think this learning strategy is extremely fascinating. However, I don’t know how this would work in the younger grades without a lot of guidance from the teacher, which would lose sight of the point of networked learning. Also a teacher of students with special needs would have to modify the procedures of this learning environment because the student may be overwhelmed with all of the information coming his or her way as well as all of the processes involved in collecting data. I think this would be a great project for high school students.
On another note, I really enjoyed the way the video was made with the pictures of the student and the narration. That could be a fun format for students of all ages to present projects, stories, or other activities. It seems extremely adaptable and simple to do.
Jen S
I agree with Saira in that this student probably learned more in this way than he would have learned in a normal classroom setting. It also depends on students taking control of their own learning which is a good independent skill for students to develop.
Jen S
Like John G, one of the first things I thought about is how much the student would need to be guided and trained to find appropriate and accurate information for his project when searching on the Internet. Since anyone can post something on the internet, people (not just students) sometimes believe anything they read on the Web and develop opinions based on wrong information. It would be key in a project like this for the students to know how to make sure their findings are valid.
Jen S
I thought the video was pretty neat. I have one concern with regard to taking a course on itunes u. For some reason I have a large question mark in my mind about the validity of a course like that or even the idea that it would be considered acceptable practices. I agree that the teacher should be a guide on the side as expressed in the end of the video, however in my case of mathematics I do not believe we can be so liberal with our practices.
In the school building I practice in now our job is so scripted that I would find it difficult to implement these ideas. These state exams come too fast and it could be a risk. In theory it is excellent however I don't think it is realistic for the majority of teachers in the public school systems.-David B
The video on the Networked Student displayed the direction education will be heading in the near future. I think this method could be utilized in the middle - high school grade levels. These students are at an age where they can learn independently with some supervision. It will allow them the opportunity to learn from each other. It is also a preparation for being able to do research when they attend college. If I were to use this in an elementary classroom, it would be with grades 3-5. I would allow them to post additional information they find on a topic being taught in class. Also to start a blog to share their opinions on what they're learning. However, it would take a lot more supervision for elementary students to be able to learn how to decide which information come from a credible source and time may not allow for this in the classroom.
Melissa H.
I definitely agree with what Jen said. You would need to basically train your students and make sure they know how to use the internet. There are a lot of different parts to the project and different websites that the children will have to go on. I liked the idea of the blog where the kids can help each other and share ideas.
Jaime
I thought the presentation was very unique and interest9ing. However as a future elementary school teacher this method of educating may be too advanced for be9ingner learners. Although it is a great way of communicating and share ideas with others, it must at all times be monitored. Especially when your students are using blogs, you would need to make sure they stay focused on their topic. If I ever decide to teacher my students in the higher grade levels, I may experiment with a learning process; lilke this. I agree with Jackie R, when she says Children with special needs most likely will have a difficult time to use this connected model. I also agree with Maryann that a classroom blog would be an excellent way for students to exchange information; however it would need to be monitored constantly.
-Megan D
I agree with Megan, in that as a future elementary school teacher these concepts might be too advanced for the elementary level. Maybe using them as a class and individually might be a way to incorporate it into the classroom. Also having a class blog could be effective in helping to share students ideas and views on specific topics. I liked how the video was portrayed, showing that even though technology can help us to find all of this information we still need a teacher there to facilitate our learning.
-Jeanine T.
This video was a great way of showing how older students may take advantage of their own learning. I feel that this network learning project would only be beneficial for older students, but would be a great way to let them explore about a topic that they are interested in. Taking advantage of technology by using wikis or blogs would be awesome for students to see what others have to say about their topic. However, as we have stated in class, it is imperative to weed out appropriate information from opinions that have just been given. Using a clas blog to be updated about what students are doing is a great way to keep the flow of communication and to ensure students progress and success. Again, this would be great for high school students to do a research project in preparation for college because as technology continues to grow, they must be savvy with researching and obtaining accurate information about a topic on the computer.
Theresa Klee
The article on the networked student, is difficult for me to accept. I know online classes are the new craze, but for me I would not be able to handle every aspect of a class on the computer. I know that the course that the student in the video was taking had in-class sessions, but most of the work was to be done on the internet.
I honestly am not a fan of not having face to face contact with professors or other classmates. I need to sit in a classroom to apply myself to fulfill the requirements of the class.
I agree technology can do so much for people it is not even necessary to attend school to get a college degree, but for me I like the classroom experience and the collaboration with other students.
Jaime S.
This is the first time that I have seen something like this in my life. I feel that this way of learning is very innovative and it gives the students the ability to do everything on their own.
I agree with what everyone else said that this way of learning would be better used in a high school setting as opposed to the elementary level. At the younger level, I feel that the students would get confused and not all would have possible access to a computer.
However, at the high school level, I feel that this would be a great project for them. It makes the students accountable for their own work because they are in charge of every part of their assignment which could in turn make it more interesting.
Also, this is a new way for students to learn. The students are not simply going to the library to do research but they are using other electronic sources which will interest the students more in their assignment.
- Jackie C.
I agree with Jamie in that I need the face to face contact with a professor. I think technology is a great thing, but not when it begins to take away the teachers from the students. We are here to guide students.
Theresa Klee
Wow! What an interesting concept...connected learning. For the high school and college level I think this is fabulous. Not for every subject. Even though this video states that it can be used for any subject I feel that certain classes likes math or science require a textbook to fall back on for support. I love that professor from prestigeous college are available with information and comments. At the elementary level, a gifted program might want to explore this and see how the students can handle it. I find it a very interesting concept.In an everyday classroom, I wouldn't attempt this for elementary school. In middle school this might be something the research/computer teacher could explore...the same for high school. For students who aren't extremely computer savey..this could be a huge challenge.
Lisa C.
Connected learning is an interesting concept. I agree with everyone that the idea would be best suited for a high school level opposed to an elementary or even middle school level. I am currently teaching 9th and 10th grade math and I think that allowing my students to indulge into a mathematical concept through a “connected learning” setting would increase their love and understanding of math (a topic they usually hate). However, I do not always have the technology available to implement this “connected learning” into my classroom. For most of the students of today they are very computer literate, however for the students who do not have constant access to a computer or do not have great skills with the computer it will pose many issues both inside and outside the classroom. I also agree with what Jamie said, that I need face to face contact with my teachers. Technology is a great tool, however I do not think that it should ever replace the face to face contact in the learning setting.
- Bethany Hahl
I like that this approach allows the student to control what they are learning and can learn about something that they are interested in. I would use blogs and podcasts. Students can post their own views about the topic being studied and podcasts give the students ways to learn more about a topic or listen to lectures. Video conferencing would aslo be very cool to use in the classroom. To have an "expert" conference in with the class would be great experience for the students. The tools that were discussed in the video would be very useful for high school age students.
Lauren G.
I do believe that children can gain control of their own learning through this network learning. I also believe that this particularly worked because the student is in high school. I do not know if the lower grades would be able to use this, especially in so much depth. I do like it because it helps students learn how to navigate through the internet, and choose websites.
Christina A
I agree with many other peoples comments and think that the video about the networked student is more appropriate for students in highschool and college levels, and maybe eighth graders. I think that the level of research and communication is more advanced and complicated, and does not suit the needs of general and special elementary classes. However, I do think that this kind of program would be effective in an enrichment program for advanced students in elementary school.
Diana M.
I think this connectivism approach has a great theory behind it. Having students learn from each other can benefit the learning process. Also, research-based learning on the Internet can broaden the horizons of the classroom as well as the students' minds. However, I would not strictly use this approach on its own. I do believe in things like textbooks and lecture, when they are appropriate. Many of the ideas presented in the video should be used, but should not be the core of learning. They should be used as fun activities that enhance a lesson or topic.
-Michelle A.
I agree with Michelle's comment about using connectivism as a way to enhance a lesson or topic but shouldnt be used as an only approach. The use of social bookmarking sites and blogs could be helpful and engaging when learning in school and could benefit students. Like other people said, I as well could only vision this being used in higher grade levels, certainly college.
I agree with Maryann that children would benefit from exhanging information with ones peers.Although the teacher is not actually teaching a lesson, much guidance and supervision is required to make sure students are on task and using valid information. I would not use this activity with students who have learning disabilities. I believe there is too much navigation and instruction is not concrete. An educator can use this site for research, however the instructions have to be percise for the students understanding.
I agree with Maryann that children would benefit from exhanging information with ones peers.Although the teacher is not actually teaching a lesson, much guidance and supervision is required to make sure students are on task and using valid information. I would not use this activity with students who have learning disabilities. I believe there is too much navigation and instruction is not concrete. An educator can use this site for research, however the instructions have to be percise for the students understanding for the subject areas.
Jennifer Sandoval
I think this connected learning is a wonderful strategy for students to build a community of learning with their peers. It gives the students the ability to control their own learning, but at the same time, the teacher is there to guide, and supervise them. It is important that the students know what true information compared to opinion based information. I would used this system in my classroom only if I am in a higher grade like fifth or sixth grade, and maybe fourth grade depending on the students in the class. I would not use this system for younger grades. I might have a class blog, and give the students the ability to write their response in class during writing time or during a learning center activity. I do agree with Jennifer that educators can use this site for research and make sure the instructions are clear for each student.
K.Francis
I thought this video was extremely interesting and fun. It definitely brought to light a few ideas of activities I could do with my students that I may not have thought about before. However, this video was a great way of showing how older students may take advantage of their own learning and I feel that this network learning project would only be beneficial for older students. I do feel that it would be a great way to let them explore about a topic that they are interested in, and it is definitely an awesome project for older students to do individually and then present to the class. It's giving them that independence and almost a good feel for college, and how we obtain and analyze information and make it into an informative project or presentation based on information searching. It is imperative however to make sure we are teaching students how to correctly search and weed out appropriate information from opinions that have just been given. I am also a big believer, and am in agreeance with Jaime S, that to me it is important to have a teacher there to guide and teach students each step of the way. Although it is wonderfully beneficial, we can't use technology for every single aspect of teaching and learning. I still think some things need to be done the old fashioned way. But this video was definitely interesting and informative and gave me a great deal to think about.
-Angela Tornincaso
I thought this video was very interesting. I think this is a great technique for a more student centered classroom. Students are able to control the direction of their own learning. They can develop their own ideas through working with a community outside of their classroom. This is a great method; however, it is so important that the students are trained to understand the difference between knowledgeable and opinion based websites. It is essential that students are getting their information from websites that are legitimate. I do agree with the rest of my classmates when they say that it is important that the teachers are supervising the students and guiding them in the right direction. Without it, students can get lost and sidetracked.
I think this is a great method for students; however, I hope teachers still believe in teaching with some old fashioned methods. The future of education will not be the same if they are relying solely on research through the internet.
I think this a terrific project for any group of students. As a special educator, my students need to be engaged, as do any, but they are always ready to use technology. This would be a fantastic motivator for students because it would seem like a treat. In addition, they will learn a great deal about creditable material and information, proper communication, writing skills, and technology. I am also very excited because it can be created about almost anything. This will also keep the students intrigued. The only concern I have is that the curriculum does not allow time for a self contained English class to step out of the box this much because it takes so long to cover a unit to begin with. However, I am not about to abandon this idea completely though. I plan to alter it slightly by having the students work together on a topic of their choice after school. Of course a guideline would have to be created, but once the kids get into it they may enjoy it.
Jamie D
As many people, I agree with Maryanne because she makes the point that this is not the kind of assignment you can give to students with special needs because it can seem overwhelming. Rather, what I would do is only assign small parts at a time and make sure everyone is on the same page before continuing on to the next step. Once the project is complete I would show them what they created. I think that by doing it this way both you and your students will be surprised at what they are able to accomplish.
Jamie D
The Network project is a great way for students to learn how to navigate and use the web while interacting and learning new things. I agree with many other peoples statements that it may be difficult with special needs children. However the teacher could make changes to the project so that every student can partake in it. One change would be for the teacher to become more involved. Overrall I think its a great way to show students how to research topics and learn new material.
-Thomas Mehldau
Although the video made for an interesting glimpse into another method of teaching, I do not believe I could utilize this method myself. I'm sure it would take some training on both sides to to teach and learn this way, but as a future elementary school teacher, I do not see myself able to execute this level of teaching. It seems advanced and would also take a great deal of technology in the classroom for students to learn this way.
-Cynthia Q-B.
I think that this network technology has the potential to be a very beneficial breakthrough for today's modern technological classroom. I believe that it would be difficult to implement in my classroom but with a little training I think that I might be able to eventually use it.
Nicholas Hablenko
I agree with those who have previously posted that this is a great project for older students, particularly those who are able to engage in independent learning activities. It may even be appropriate to use with older elementary school students who are gifted. However, I feel that this is something that would be difficult to implement in an elementary school classroom. Perhaps it could be modified as a class project, with the teacher taking a more participatory role. The abundance of information on the web is mind-boggling. As we have discussed in class, teachers have a responsibility to show students how to access safe, appropriate, relevant and genuine information on the web. I think the teacher’s role in the elementary school classroom is vital. Though we strive to develop independent thinkers and problem-solvers, I still feel that a teacher must provide more than technology guidance, especially at the younger grade levels. This type of project is exciting and cutting edge and I would love to be part of such a learning experience. I just feel that in elementary school classrooms the opportunities might be limited.
~Cindy A.
Nicole K
I believe the Network Learning Project is a great idea and a good way to get students involved in the classroom by using the technologies in which they are already aware of and accustomed to.
I would definitely try to use this in a classroom of my own, but due to the fact that this was a college course and I will be teaching high school, much more supervision as well as guidelines will have to be used. If I was to use this in my future social studies classroom, I would make it into a bigger project in which students would have to regularly hand in their research and posts.
I thought that "The Networked Student" video posed some fantastic ideas about students taking control of their own learning by creating their own personal learning environment focused on a specific topic. However, like Kelly pointed out, I find this to be a difficult concept for students at the Elementary level to understand and complete at a high success rate. However, with that being said there were some wonderful ideas within this video that would have a great impact within the elementary classroom. One idea that sticks out in my mind is the idea that students are able to go online and receive actual lectures from college professors on the topic that they are searching for. Again, I know that a college professors lecture would be very difficult for an elementary student to understand but this opens the opportunity for students to listen to other audio clips in the classroom that would make the lesson more exciting and motivating for the students to learn. Another, awesome idea was having an expert “Skype” to the class about their area of expertise. This is a fantastic way to get students excited about their learning and I believe that they would love to hear from an expert in the subject area in which is focused on. I think that having the student researching and finding these learning tools and organizing it on the web is a fabulous idea and I would love to part of a classroom that was participating in this project. However, for an elementary classroom I believe that this would be too difficult but instead of the students finding these resources I think that the teacher should share these tools and make the students more motivated to learn!
-MaryBeth V.
I think this is a great idea but it does depend on the age level of the children you wish to teach. I plan on teaching 4th and 5th grade so I think they would be mature enough. I feel like I would use this in my classroom.
steph s
The network project discussed in this video seems like a great way for students to discover new ideas on their own. I would definitely consider trying something like this in my classroom if I had the time and resources to do so. However, I am a math teacher so I do not think the project could be completed exactly like it was explained. I would have to really think about how to alter this project for my students.
Jamie F
I believe this is a great idea for students to be able to learn, research and even be able to teach all on their own. As long as the teacher still stays involved in this project I believe it can be utlized well. However I agree with steph, that age would probably have an effect on that older students probably 8th grade and up would be most effective
-Tom G
I found this video very interesting and informational. Though I consider myself tech-savvy, I never considered using social media like blogs and readers as research for students to use and build their knowledge base. I think it's a great idea for students to use this research and new found knowledge as a base for a new blog.
Personally, my new blog is fun, interesting, and I have learned a tremendous amount from the research and googling I have done to build it and write my posts. This does help students differentiate between good material and bad, think about the content and organize (high-order thinking), and finally, it helps students become mini experts on a particular topic - they also learn how to utilize certain technologies and maintain a blog (organize content, images, interesting reads, similarly interesting blogs, etc.)
As far as the teachers role, I think the video makes a valid point in its claim that teachers are vital to the students development of these skills. They are there as a "guide on the side" answering questions, demonstrating, and helping each student to reach their full technological potential.
Many of the strategies mentioned in the video are ones I’m still learning myself, so I can see how vital some of them are. Information management alone could become quite daunting and even overwhelming. I also still see value in more traditional strategies and opportunities, so finding a balance that will keep technology savvy students interested will also be near the top of the list.
The following strategies I can certainly see using:
• Teaching students to assess sites (for example, do they still really believe they are going to get that free plasma screen TV just by answering that pop-up ad?; might they stumble upon a Holocaust denial site when researching World War II?).
• Netiquette. There are subtle differences between electronic versus face-to-face communication, even via video.
• Posting reflections. I think this would be an excellent tool for determining student comprehension at all levels of Bloom’s taxonomy, especially for quieter students or students who did not get a chance to contribute to a lively class discussion.
• Wikis. There are some who feel a wiki is more likely to be objective because its contributors do not get paid and there is input from all sides of a topic or issue. While I don’t believe this is always the case, wikis can be an excellent starting place for research, especially in a well-referenced article.
• Finding legitimate experts who can contribute to a student’s project or presentation.
The video discusses the role of teachers as facilitators in information gathering. This is a vital and high stakes role given the plethora of not only good information, but propaganda and advertising, not to mention misinformation and distortion. A democracy functions best with a well-informed citizenry. A misinformed citizenry is prey to any number of poor or even dangerous government.
Still, I would never want to lose a hands-on, face-to-face approach. It’s possible that a networked generation would not feel as isolated and would not feel less invested in an online course as I would, but perhaps because they do so much electronically, face-to-face interaction might exactly what this generation would also need .
Natalie J.
The network project discussed in this video looks like an amazing project for student to do. The way students know so much about the internet and finding information, I think it would be something they would enjoy doing. Being a special education teacher I would have to adapt it according to the abilities of each student, depending on their disabilty.
Jackie A
I feel that the Network Student will be too advanced for the students I will be teaching. However, there are some pieces that are helpful. Learning how to learn to determine useful information from websites and journals. Using blogs to connect with classmates about the information that was researched. I agree with Elizabeth C. , I would also modify according to students abilities.
Kate M.
I found this video and its content to be very interesting and informative. Being an early childhood educator, I do not believe I could implement this type of project into my classroom, however I believe students in older grades would enjoy this type of learning project and would benefit from its structure.
I believe this assignment would allow older students to own thier own work and be proud of their final accomplishment and all they have learned. Agreeing with Maryann, I believe that it is necessary for teachers to ensure students are on task throughout this type of lesson and should create some sort assessment to test whether or not learning has occured.
-Christina D.
The network learning project is a very modern way for children to learn and take control of what they want to learn. Students research what they want to research and try and gather as much information about the topic. Technology is a great way to guide students in learning and it can be a positive outlet, especially with children for special needs.
If i were to implement this project in my own classroom, I would try and modify it as much as I can, making sure the students are not wasting their time.
-Katie C.
This was an interesting piece on the 21st century student. I am still up in the air about the idea, although i am a fan of parts of it. I think that even though we say lectures are bad we do need some direct instruction on material so we can have a good base level of information and background. The teacher in this role is most how to network and find things on their own on the internet, but they need a more structured role too. It is great that anyone can have access to the best college professors in the world and learn from specialists but as I've stated sometimes students need a physical body in front of them to work. I agree with Maryann, that there needs to be more technology in the classroom but this work seems like it can mostly be done outside of the room, but this networking should only be a few lessons inside the classroom and more of a project to discover something on their own and present it to the class over the year. By making the students the teacher they take ownership of the material and become true masters of it.
James S.
i like the idea of student controlled research projects and continued learning outside of the classroom. Many students these days don't fully grasp the correct way to research a topic or understand the correct sites to use for these projects. Alot of students love wikipedia and things of that nature but there is alot of false information out there. It is good that students can access information about their topic from others around the world or within the class that have similar topics and have found useful websites. Since I am trying to become a High school social studies teacher I feel this technological advantage should be used in that level of education. It is not only a great way for them to learn but to prepare them for future educational endeavors at the collegiate level.
Justin B.
To a certain extent, I like the idea that students take control of their own education. So much of school is based on a curriclum that all students have to learn. It's about time students can come up with a topic that interests them and do a project on it. Just because the subject matter is not part of the general curriclum it doesn't mean the student isn't learning anything valuable. Learning how to navigate the web to that extent is a necessary tool to have. It is also important that students learn to comunicate through the computer, sharing sites, blogs, and videos. The first response to this blog (maryann) made an interestin g point that with such vague instructions some students might be confused with what is expected of them. I think modifying this project is an excellent idea.
-Danielle Cavallo
Learning sure has changed. I don't know if I could have ever dreamed up the techniques that are displayed in this video. Furthermore, I send many kudos to the way of the students of today who are working on network learning projects and benefiting. How impressive!
I agree with both Maryann and Marissa in that there is a lot of navigation involved in the connected classroom. Unfortunately, being an early childhood teacher, I can't see my students being able to benefit from this. While I am indeed awed by their ipad abilities, there is simply too much independence in this type of learning.
Jackie D.
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