Blog Assignment #7

The Networked Student

The video, "The Networked Student" , is very informing for me as a future educator. I do believe students need to take control of their own learning. However, some student’s would like to use this type of learning, but I also believe other students have not yet come to the realization that 21st Century learning is where education is heading. Not all students are taught some of the 21st Century learning skills in the classroom. Not all teachers are ready to commit to this type of teaching. We, as 21st Century teachers, have a greater advantage than veteran teachers do. We learn new skills everyday when some teachers do not even know the basic skills for 21st century learning. It will be up to us to implement a learning network for our students from day one in the classroom.

This video also gives us a direction to follow. Teaching us how to build a learning network by using certain websites and blogs is educating in itself. Blogs are mostly opinion based, but can provide opportunity for student to voice his or her informed opinions. I know from personal experience that comments about one’s blog posts can keep the student “on his or her toes.” These blogs can be seen by virtually anyone anywhere in the world. Hard work on creating these blogs can help someone else learn important information. That is what we, as future educators, should strive to do. Subscribing to audio and video podcasts to support the 21st century learner is great advice. Having access to the some of the best professors in the world is probably one the greatest teaching and learning tools one can possess.

The question is asked, “Why does the networked student even need a teacher?” I do not believe the teacher will ever be replaced by technology. The students will always need guidance. Everyone is stuck sometimes, and teachers will need to be able to show students how to differentiate between good information and bad information. I also believe 21st century teachers should never expect technology to replace the experience a student’s receives in the classroom. The networked learning is necessary, but not at the expense of other valuable lessons learned from a teacher and other classmates through verbal skills and communication. 21st century teachers and learners have to adapt to emerging technology and it is relevant in our classroom. I think the difference between a good teacher and a great teacher is how well the teacher can adapt to the ever-changing technology, without giving up the personal guidance that is necessary for the success of a student.

A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment

After watching "A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment" , this Personal Learning Environment, PLE, is very detailed for a seventh grader. The digital organizational skill this student maintains is quite impressive. My Personal Learning Network, PLN, is not at efficient as it should be. I must use these ideas and others to create a more organized and effective learning network. This student’s science class is completely paperless, and this is foreign to me. I still like to hold on to hard copies of some of my work. I guess because not all teachers are completely “sold out” to network learning, and hard copies are still required. I have not given up totally on some of my traditional learning methods, but I am learning to adapt to network learning more and more. My paper trail is getting smaller might I add!