George Siemens, author of the Connectivist theory of learning, explains in less than 4 minutes, the how and why of our networked learning environments today…
YouTube link: The Network is the Learning
Archive for November, 2009
The Network “IS” the Learning…
November 17th, 2009
Arabic Fastest Growing Language Users of Net…
November 16th, 2009Always great to get up to date charts and graphs that visually represent unique views of who, what, why, and where on the world wide web 2.0. 
Thanks to Internet World Stats for this graphic representation of language users on the Internet. Great tools for teachers and educators needing to teach critical thinking skills to students. Note the percent rate of growth. This is important when considering future trends.
Top 10 language users on the internet. Note the rate of growth.
What Competencies are Needed Today?
November 15th, 2009What competencies do teachers need today with regard to technology in the classroom?
Community is Not Superficial…
November 5th, 2009Cooperation is working toward a common goal. Collaboration results in collateral material. However, community may or may not be present and/or result from either cooperative or collaborative efforts.
AND COMMUNITY IS THE GOAL!
Which is why teachers should be careful about assigning cooperative and collaborative work without a clear goal in mind of fostering community.
Community cannot exist without a sense of trust and belonging; a sense that each member’s contribution is valued and necessary; and the belief that what the community produces bears significant impact on MORE than the community itself.
I have pondered this phenomenon a great deal recently due to my position with iMMEDIA and have come up with our Mission statement as follows: Shaping communities of impact through professional development targeting technology integration.
My point is that unless we visionize our student groups with the why; then the “what” and the “how” remain irrelevant and dysfunction results. The assignment may get done but not community resulted and in my opinion, we have done nothing more than drive the herd to market. I find this distasteful to the uttermost.
If there is not impact, members feel like they are given busy work. If the only goal is self enlightenment, members grow tired of the monotony of self centered foci.
If we ask them to cooperate, there must be a bigger reason than the subject matter alone. If we ask them to collaborate, the resulting collateral material should impact a wider audience than the group/class itself. It may work for awhile. But eventually everyone will see through the gloss and look elsewhere to satisfy their innate need to pursue the greater good.
Cyborg Learning Theory in Education…
November 2nd, 2009Cyborg Learning Theory (CLT) explains how future generations perceive and experience their universe. CLT contextualizes a human identity that is merging with technology intrinsically; the electro-chemical human merging with the electro-mechanical innovation (think of biomedical, nano-technological developments, etc.).
Implications for teachers in the classroom, whether face-to-face (f2f) or online, are far-reaching. Educators must lead the next generation by » More: Cyborg Learning Theory in Education…
