A learner is...

A learner is like a scientist, there is no exact rhyme or reason to it.  Learning (and science) can be messy, you may fail dozens of times, and you need to work with new data and problems as they enter the real world.  There is no exact recipe for success, but we all can achieve it in our own way.  

In George Seimen’s video, he states “I had a dramatically different type of a need for knowledge than what I see learners having when they come into higher education today.”  A student can do more with a computer than they have ever been able to in the past, thanks to the advancements in science and technology.  

In his article about the theory of Connectivism, he states “Learners as little as forty years ago would complete the required schooling and enter a career that would often last a lifetime. Information development was slow. The life of knowledge was measured in decades. Today, these foundational principles have been altered. Knowledge is growing exponentially. In many fields the life of knowledge is now measured in months and years.”

Students need to be prepared for their futures.  Current facts may be refuted by the time they enter the working world.  For example, when I was a student in elementary school, I was taught there were 9 planets orbiting the sun.  Due to new evidence and data, we now know that Pluto is no longer considered a planet, making the planet count 8.  If we capture our students curiosity  and encourage creativity and imagination, they will be more willing to stay current with their knowledge and become a lifelong learner.  What you learn today, may not be the same as what you may learn tomorrow.  We need to be receptive of change and know that this information will only allow us to grow and keep learning.  

Connectivism allows students to use their prior knowledge to create discussions with others.  It draws attention to the role of social contact with technology to enhance learning.  Students are now expected to supplement their learning with outside sources.  Websites that allow for discussion, such as Facebook or Twitter, should be allowed to be used in the classroom.  It allows student to connect with more than just their own classmates and get involved in a conversation on an important topic.  

Pinterest vs Diigo

Social bookmarking is a really cool concept of finding and sharing links found on the Internet so you can access them at a later date.  Websites like Pinterest and Diigo are examples of social bookmarking websites that can benefit everyone.  

After playing around with both social bookmarking websites, I have to say that Pinterest was my favorite.  It's organized, and shows links as a picture instead of just the title.  It also has a more homey feel to it.  Overall, Pinterest was more aesthetically pleasing. Pinterest has the option of linking with your Facebook and twitter accounts to publicize and share what you have been finding on the site, making it more social.  The one thing I didn't like about Pinterest is that the only way users can interact with one another is commenting on other user’s pins or to follow their board creations.

Diigo looks very exciting in the beginning.  It has a very professional vibe.  I really liked having the ability to highlight and add sticky notes to pages.  I had experienced nothing but frustration with Diigo.  The "follow me" feature would not allow me to follow any groups or individuals.  It also wouldn't save half of the links I wanted to bookmark.  

Both of these bookmarking sites are powerful tools in the classroom, it depends on teaching area, students and projects as to which is to be considered to use

Whose to say what is the best?

←Would you rather be in this classroom?









          Or this one? →

I recently watched the video Educational Change Challenge and it presents a lot of different educational perspectives.  One quote that stuck out to me was "If you put a doctor of 100 years ago in today's operating room, she would be lost, yet if you placed a teacher of 100 years ago into one of today's classrooms she wouldn't skip a beat."  We as teachers should be adapting with the times and education our students to better prepare them for their future endeavors.  Basing our lessons around a lecture with a chalkboard is an ineffective way to educate students.  This archaic version of education is boring, does not accommodate the many learners in the class, and does not create life long learners.  The video ended by asking the question, "Am I preparing my students for my age or theirs?"

Education is all about adapting to the ever changing world.  We are preparing our students for jobs that don't exist yet.  In New Brunswick, Canada  teachers are making learning student centered and personalized.  They are creating projects that help them learn and providing them with opportunities to apply their newly found knowledge.  This shift in education needs to be happening all around the world.  If the world's teachers can adapt to the ever advancing world, then maybe we can change the world for the better.  If we can teach our students to communicate effectively and appropriately, maybe we can create a more positive world, one without so much hatred.  We teach our students to collaborate and learn from one another, why can't that continue outside of the classroom and between different countries?  

Attention Students: You are now entering the Bloggosphere

Blogging has many qualities that are beneficial to the educational world.  The endless possibilities allow students and teachers to create, communicate and share information while improving their technology skills.  As an elementary educator, I can see blogs being integrated into the classroom as early as third grade.  At this age, students are able to use blogs to create and share their wonderful projects.  Teachers can expand students' access to relevant materials by incorporating links to their class blog. Under the ISTE Standards, students can be a Creative Communicator.  Through their individual blogging, students can publish or present a piece of writing or artwork that conveys a certain meaning.  They have the ability to use multimodality in their presentation which will enhance the message they are trying to make.  

6c - Students communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations.

6d - Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.

A second way students could use blogging in a language classroom is by having them practice their written language.  Once students’ are fluent with their typing skills, they are able to get their ideas down faster than with pencil and paper.  This allows them to develop and use important communicating skills.  Whether they are reflecting on a passage they read or sharing the data they collected, students are practicing their oral and writing skills.  Under the standard for Language for Information and Understanding, students will listen, speak, read, and write in English for information and understanding.  Blogging can help students surpass this standard.

Key Idea - ESL.E.PK-1.1.1: Language for Information and Understanding

Students learning English as a second language will use English to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information for content area learning and personal use. They will develop and use skills and strategies appropriate to their level of English proficiency to collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts.