Blog Post #7

The Network Student: Creating a Personal Learning Network

This video shares the advantages of a "Networked Student." A networked student carries no textbooks, but instead has taken control of his/her own learning through methods of "connectivism." Connectivism is a "scaffold" system of  digital learning sources such as blogs, podcasts, skype,  and many other online learning sites. This system allows students and educators to collaborate and learn from each other in a creative environment.
In the video A 7th Graders PLE  we see how beneficial this system can be. What a fantastic guide to introduce this seemingly complicated structure. I want to be able to teach like her teacher taught her. Her teacher's job wasn't to control or to dominate her learning. Instead Wendy Drexler, with guidance and encouragement, used her knowledge and expertise to model appropriate interaction and sources to allow creativity in an effective and efficient way. When I was first introduced to the PLN/PLE idea I was completely over whelmed, but now seeing this 7th grader do it so gracefully, I see that all it takes is a great guide! Wow, AMAZING JOB!!
At this point I can not truthfully say that I am prepared to be a teacher of a "networked student." I am just learning the basics but I do plan to incorporate as much as possible in my curriculum that encourages  interactive learning styles. I believe that the best way to learn is to do, and each student should be taught in a thought inducing environment. I love that the 7th grader is given freedom for her own creativity to flourish and she is able to understand this in turn teaches responsibility. This is the ultimate goal of educators, in my opinion, creating responsible creative go-getters who are confident and well prepared to handle a multitude of obstacles at any given time. A PLN can be the foundation of such ability, giving students a better chance for success in their future endeavors.
I look forward to the challenge now of learning how to create my own PLN. This technique appears to be extremely beneficial for someone such as myself who isn't the greatest with organization. This tool places everything that you are working on in one convenient place. Once set up I feel confident it will ultimately save time and energy that can be much better spent on solving the "world's problems" one student at a time.