Blogpost #7

The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler

Wendy Drexler presents to the viewer, the vision of twenty first century learning and all its demands. While using various tools of technology through connectivism students have the ability to engage in multiple forms of learning, tune-in to podcasts, and search information on multiple sites. The Personal Learning Network is how a students learns information in his or her surrounding environments. The PLN is an informal learning network that consists of the people a learner interacts with and derives knowledge from in a personal learning environment. In a PLN, a person makes a connection with another person with the specific intent that some type of learning will occur because of that connection. Learners create connections and develop a network that contributes to their professional development and knowledge.The learner does not have to know these people personally or ever meet them in person.
This poses a question, Why does the network student even need a teacher? When parents and administration think of adopting the technology to teach students for their futures in the twenty first century, they become frightened. They are so use to books, copies, and teachers standing in front of the classroom, they become threatened at the idea of leaving what they know behind. What would ease their fears is if they had the chance to understand what gains we can achieve through technology, how it would better prepare students, and how there is still just as important for a teacher to be present to share the knowledge, just in a different way.
The twenty first century teacher is still a learning architect, she just displays the information differently. Instead of chalk boards and copies, they have adopted virtual learning with smart boards, podcasts, and blogs. It is the teachers responsibility to maintain a learning network for the future, teach students how to build their own personal networks. This allows students to become much more excited about what they are learning because they are interacted on their own personal level. Teachers and parents need to realize how if we adopted the twenty first century form of learning we would be better preparing our students for their futures in the business world. If they are not equipped with the right knowledge, they will be the ones to fail for our mistakes.

Welcome to my PLE

When watching this video that was created by a seventh grader I am more than impressed. This alone should sway parents, teachers, and administrators to adopt the twenty first century way of learning I dont know what would. She shows her knowledge on technology through her journey on this video. This young girl has been taught well so that she has the ability to navigate and have full use of all that is offered for her on the internet. Her PLE is much like mine however she has a little more knowledge of other educational devices than I do, it makes me happy to know that a teacher has taken the time to enhance these students lives at such a young age. This young girl is prepared for the future, and has been equipped with the basics so when something new is introduced she will have the knowledge to learn the new techniques. It is important to teach our future students, the way this seventh grader has been.



Thomas Saurez’s video is amazing, this is the ultimate proof that technology is taking over. If a twelve year old can recognize the differences among the old way of teaching and teaching with can technology why are grown adults finding the concept so difficult. When asked what did I learn from this video? My response was quick, it is so easy to learn and grasp the fact that a twelve year old boy has shared his knowledge with adults to make them realize that technology is a resource to teachers and they must make good use of it. It is also impressing that this twelve year old is willing to take the money made from the selling of the Apps and give it to Local Education Foundations, this child should be an inspiration to us all, especially teachers. He has paved his way through technology and is willing to share his knowledge with teachers. I think it is fair to say he is well equipped for the twenty first century form of learning.When asked what does this video tell us about how the world of learning is changing? Technology is changing quickly and so is the way children are learning. Children are being exposed to technology so their personal learning enviornment is also changing. Children are no longer reading books and doing puzzles, they are learning through innovation by reading books on Kindles, playing games on Ipads, and following people in Twitter. The quicker teachers and administrators realize this the quicker we can prepare these students for their future. A huge role in learning is teaching, espcially how the informaation is being taught. The styles of learning have already begun to change if teachers dont start teaching differently our jobs will be at stake. How does this video fit in with the others for B.P #7? This video fits in well with the others. All of the videos are proof that technology is taking over quickly and that the age of children learning through technology is starting earlier and earlier. These videos as a whole should make teachers and administrators reevaluate their style of teaching and adopting technology based class rooms.