Networked Classroom Week 4

While reading through Richardson and Mancabelli (2011), I was able to understand the advantages and disadvantages that a networked type classroom portrays. They illuminate the desire to change the typical type of classroom from a standard lecture style, to a more collaborative and hands-on learning experience. Networked classrooms can open up a new world of understanding, collaboration, and communication. Students can learn problem-solving skills while also having the constant ability to utilize technology and other resources. With this type of classroom, students can become teachers and start making meaningful connections to the curriculum as well as relate their studies to the real-world.

Another advantage of utilizing a networked classroom is the ability to have constant access to coursework. Everything can be shared and accessed online which can eliminate the need to constantly rely on just the teacher. Just tonight for example, I had a student who emailed me at 9:00pm asking what the homework was and I had to email back immediately in order to make sure the student would have the opportunity to have the assignment complete. I would love the possibility to be a little more hands-off in my type of instruction.

Also, a networked classroom can create a more diverse teaching approach that can incorporate various types of learning opportunities in order to motivate and engage students who excel in different learning environments. The ability to help English Language Learners and students with special needs is endless. The resources and tools that would be available at their fingertips would be amazing to help promote learning and creativity. Students would be able to use these extra tools while also being able to complete classroom assignments and activities at their own pace and to the best of their ability. A networked classroom is truly the way of the future!

Twitter Name

@TeachLoveLogic

Twitter Blog

While investigating Twitter and all of the resources available I have never liked a social media outlet more. I had a Twitter account for about a week while I was in my early years of my undergraduate degree and I just thought that it was another resource that gave out too much information and exposed too many personal items. I began by following my friends and many famous people and I just thought it was an area where people would post what was on their minds or their opinions on various subjects, which didn't seem very unique or interesting to me. After much exploration and reading the nine reasons to Twitter in our textbook as well as the extra resources that you posted, I really like Twitter and the educational opportunities that it offers. For this course I created a teacher account where I am following people in the education world that actually offer helpful pieces of information. I also am enjoying following various news outlets in order to stay up-to-date with what is happening in the world. It has been great collaborating with other educators in order to enhance the classroom experience.

While researching Twitter I came across many additional resources that can be used to enhance the Twitter experience. These include:

-Twitonomy: is a free tool that allows you to see an overview of your Twitter account as well as compare it to others.

-Commun.it: This is a relationship management tool that allows you to categorize people by using the following:
Influencer – High number of followers with a high retweet ratio
Supporters – People who often share or retweet your content
Engaged members – People you engage with on a regular basis – they talk to you and you talk to them!

Reflection of Intro, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2

After reading through Richardson and Mancabelli's idea of transforming education and learning, I have never been more concerned for my teaching career. Where do I even begin? The idea of education transforming into this online, collaboration style is exciting and worrisome at the same time. The introduction explores the education of a young boy who excelled and learned through his own means of grasping content. He was able to explore photography through collaboration, communication, and experimentation.  Mark was able to utilize professional learning networks where he could,  "learn anytime, anywhere, with potentially anyone around the world who shares our passion or interests" (pg. 2). This idea enhances the desire to transform education and the ways students are expected to learn.

According to the text, "the most powerful aspect of what's happening right now is this potential for learning that we haven't even begun to appreciate yet" (pg. 15).  Chapter one focused on the need for change in the education world. It emphasized the desire to teach students in the 21st century with 21st century tools and technology. With all of the tools available such as Kindle, Google Docs, Twitter, Evernote, Facebook, etc. the way students interact is ever-changing and the amount of information available at their fingertips is unlimited. Although many of us, especially educators, are not comfortable with this digital world, "there's no doubt the world is moving in that direction, and fast" (pg. 16). Although this sounds very promising and exciting, I do not really see how this switch is going to happen in a timely fashion. There is way to much emphasis on curriculum and student-achievement that being able to incorporate such resources seems far away and unachievable. Many teachers lack the knowledge and ability to properly use such resources while also examining the professional liabilities that go along with incorporating such resources in the classroom.

Chapter two focuses on the idea of how to become a networked learner and how to visualize the new type of learning that is in our new future. This text focuses on how online learning environments should look and what type of instruction should be occurring. Throughout each course I have taken through the MET program I feel as though I have established a great understanding of these concepts and ideas. Many of the resources, tools, and instructional strategies examined are similar to those that I have studied in this program. I feel confident in the tools that I have utilized, but I honestly have not had enough time to master these resources in order to properly implement them into my classroom. This is an area that I am in need of focusing on before changing the way my classroom works.



Resources:
Richardson, W., & Mancabelli, R. (2011). Personal learning networks: Using the power of connections to transform education. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press