Wendy Drexler: The Networked Student
The Networked Student is a video created by Wendy Drexler's high school students. In the video it shows how students can gain valuable knowledge through sources on the internet. Learning how to find these tools and use them is why they still need a teacher. I think students will always need a teacher. Kids need guidance and direction. Think about it like this, if you locked students in a room with books, paper, and pencils would they learn? No, they need direction and motivation. That is why we have teachers to inspire, guide, and motivate.
Networked learning allows the student to take more control of their learning process. The teacher is needed to guide the student and show them how to build the network. With the help of the teacher, students learn how to find and organize the material. Students need the help of a teacher for guidance in communicating with others on the internet and proper etiquette.
Teachers must be familiar with technology to help students develop these valuable skills. Colleges spend a lot of time trying to educate teachers, but are they educated with technology? Teachers have valuable tools at their fingertips. If they don't know how to use them, then what good are they? Thanks to Dr. Strange, I am now learning how to use some of these tools.
This video was made by a 7th grade student who is learning about science using the web. The student commented on how she has freedom and choices she can make. This is really a neat way to allow kids to focus more on what they are interested in, but still stay focused on an objective. They are not forced to learn the exact same way at the exact same rate. Human nature even tells us this is not right. I am sure this 7th grade student did not learn how to use all that technology overnight. Her teacher would gradually introduce her to new resources with instructions on how to use them. This 7th grade student is not only learning science, but how to gain valuable knowledge on her own. I have created a personal learning network through EDM310. This network will allow me to connect with other teachers and collaborate and discover new ways to teach.
I think you made some very good points here! Concepts such as network learning are great ways to expose students to unlimited amounts of tools for effective learning. I love the example you gave of locking students inside a classroom with all of the resources they need, but without a teacher. Along with technology, students are in desperate need of educators who are fully capable of using it effectively. What good is it to train children to use these tools now if we cannot set the example ourselves? You had a lot of truth in your comment about using PLN's. Nature has proven to us that humans cannot and will not learn in the same way, form, or at the same rate. I, too, feel that this is a great way to connect with other teachers. As far as I could tell, I did not see any grammatical errors or anything that I would change about this post. Great job!
ReplyDeleteKim, Great post. I also believe that students will not learn if they are locked in a room with books, pen, and paper. Like you said we must inspire, guide, and motivate. I am looking forward to the day when I can inspire my student. If we are gonna be that inspiration and guide we must know technology like you said. We should focus as much on it as we would other subjects. I think PLN's are great for students. I wish i had something like that when I was growing up. As you talked about in your post everyone learns at different rates. I know I did. It gives each student the toold at their fingertips to learn and be motivated. Great post once again
ReplyDeleteYes, connectivism requires teachers - but teachers who do very different things than teachers in the past. Baldwin County is now ephasizing the use of challenge based, project-based and problem-based learning strategies at all grade levels. These efforts are similar to the networked student's approach to learning except the approaches vary according to grade. If you are not prepared or are not willing to be a networked teacher you can cross Baldwin County off your list of potential employers. So get ready to be a Networked Teacher!
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