The Age of Connection and

the Connected Learner

presented by:Anne Bartlett-Bragg

Learning in the Information Age

Learning dominated by: Access Information – masses of it Google Delivery Distribution

Focused on learning as an end product or acquisition model

Some great examples – remember Froguts?? Brilliant use for hard to teach or hard to test abstract

concepts Practice skills Interact or examine concepts, models or theories

Renovating learning with technology

Adding technology to existing subjects / courses

Converting materials to digital formats

Adding computers to classrooms

Enhancing learning processes with technology

Learner Management Systems (LMS) Enrolments, timetabling, student records Student / lecturer communication Asynchronous discussion boards Lectures notes, PowerPoint slides

Do these processes really enhance the learning experience?

Learning in the Age of Connection

Learning dominated by:

Always on – continuous computing

Laptops, handhelds, mobile phones

Invisible, portable information fields

Wireless networks

Constant connectivity

Increased levels of collaboration – beyond the classroom

Social Software

Software that supports group interaction

Software that lets people rendezvous, connect or collaborate…results in the creation of shared interactive spaces.

Includes 1 or more of the following: Support for conversational interaction between

individuals or groups (eg. IM or asynchronous discussion forums)

Support for the development of personalised social networks –new connections –knowledge sharing - RSS

Social Software Applications

IM

Chat

Weblogs Wikis

RSS & aggregation – eg. Bloglines

Social bookmarking - eg. Del.ici.ious

Social sharing services – eg. Flickr

Let’s go exploring…..

Wiki – wikispaces.org

Social sharing services – eg. Flickr

LTUG weblog Skype

RSS & aggregation – eg. Bloglines

Social bookmarking - eg. Del.icio.us

ELGG – Digital Dialogues

Social Software: Implications for Learning

New learning theories:

Connectivism: Learning is a process of connecting Maintaining connections Ability to see connections between ideas &

concepts Managing information

George Siemens (2005)

Social Software: Implications for Institutions

Radically re-conceptualise the learning culture

Changes the essence of what it means to communicate and learn

Customisable Learning LandscapesEg. ELGG – hybrid web-logging, e-Portfolios, and

social networking

Social Software: Implications for Educators

Opportunity to enrich the learning experience

Landscape Architects or Designers

Trusted source: guiding, advising on technology options, facilitating network contacts,

Empowering learners to identify & customise their personal landscape

Social Software: The Challenges & Issues

Connectivity / access

Critical literacy

Digital literacy

Institutional IT policies

Our (as educators) perceptions of teaching & learning

The future:

If you don’t know where you are going, then it doesn’t matter which road you take,

does it?

Cheshire Cat Alice in Wonderland