Blog Post #7

"The Networked Student" By Wendy Drexler

For decades, we have been taught that school is a place where students come together and listen to a teacher lecture in front of the class. However now in the 21st century education is taking a whole new level.The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler is a short informative video about the preparation for online learning. The teaching method discussed in this video are similar to what we are learning in Dr. Strange's class. The teacher is a simple guidance for the students that are willing to explore their own way of learning within networking. This video by describing connectivism, which is a theory of learning based on the premise that knowledge exists in the world rather than in the head of an individual. These students gain tools to utilize by making connections within their classmates. With this teaching method the student becomes more self-reliant and more interactive with their peers.

One important question was raised in this video. "Would a networked student even need a teacher?" Accoriding to the narrator, the student needs a teacher for many different reasons. A teacher is more than a lecturer. These students need the teacher for a various amount of varieties. Among these reasonings are instructions on how to build the student's personal learning network. The creation of a network of learning is extremely larger than a classroom and easier to connect with students.

Teachers are a important part of student's life. Students need to be encouraged,motivated, and guided through the learning process. The teacher is a resource that a student can ask questions and recieve help through networking. This allows students to be pointed on the right path if they are taught the correct direction. I feel like this method would be very beneficel to use in a middle or high school level. This approach to learning seems so much more exciting and interesting than a normal lecture style classroom. However, with freedom defiently comes responsiblity, and that is a outstanding skill to teach students especially helping the students out for college.

Personal Learning Enviroment
After watching this video, Welcome to my PLE, I must say I was very impressed! This video walks you through the tools used in a 7th grade science class. She created a social bookmarking account for example: collect information onto special note taking tools, posting reports, reflection of the classroom, and utlized this PLE in several different ways all in one day! These students are learning in a way very similiar to EDM310. Students are expected to conduct a research and present the information in a project. Like our class, she has a checklist to let them know when everything is due.This is a skill that they will have to use not only in college, but in life as well. I believe this is the future of our education system.