Becoming a Network Learner

Becoming a Network Learner: Towards a Practice of Freedom Scott Leslie, BCcampus December 2008 Colombia

Why I became a Network Learner

I’ve been online a LONG time

I wanted to understand the Present in terms of the Past

But came to accept that the Network changes things

This Change represents both Challenge and Opportunity

Today’s learner can expect to hold at least 10 different jobs in their lifetime

… may have jobs that didn’t exist when they were born

… live in a world where information grows exponentially

But the network means old constraints are lessened

…it enables “groups of affinity” (or networks) to form

…and enables Network Effects & Virtuous Cycles

Social software is helping us connect

… in ways that scale and better cope with complexity

Finally I stopped worrying & started (network) learning

What is a Network Learner?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwM4ieFOotA

Learning Out in the Open

Authentic / Real World Engagement

Active Production of Learning Content

Truly Lifelong Learning Environment/Network

Learner’s Own Choice of Tools, Connections & Content

And if we want to be able to teach these learners… From http://www.scribd.com/doc/3363/Dissertation-Couros-FINAL-06-WebVersion

Becoming a Network Learner – The PLE

What is a PLE? “… an overall approach or a set of capacities (rather than a single application or technology). Unlike the current LMS-based institution-centric approach which typically require the learner to enter a single 'location' online to take an online course, PLEs are environments focused on giving learners more control over where and how they learn” – Scott Leslie

“ Personal Learning Environments are systems that help learners take control of and manage their own learning. This includes providing support for learners to

set their own learning goals

manage their learning; managing both content and process

communicate with others in the process of learning and thereby achieve learning goals.” – Wikipedia

Attempts to create a single PLE tool…

…but it is best understood as NOT a monolith

Where did PLEs come from

Perceived shortcomings in current (LMS-focused) approach to online learning

Opportunities offered by new breed of socially networked tools (user-centric design and loosely coupled interoperation)

Increased availability of free, high-quality open educational resources

Emerging understanding of the different opportunities that networks afford lifelong learning and learners

But they also came out of actual practice

http://edtechpost.wikispaces.com/PLE+Diagrams

From http://tesl-ej.org/ej34/m1.html

From http://halfanhour.blogspot.com/2006/10/ple-diagram.html

From http://www.microbiologybytes.com/tutorials/ple/ple5.html

From http://nogoodreason.typepad.co.uk/no_good_reason/2007/12/my-personal-wor.html

From http://www.flickr.com/photos/92632631@N00/2530138127/

Common Attributes – Syndication, Aggregation, Profiles

But what does MY PLE look like?

From a tool perspective it looks similar to many others

But in how I conceive/depict it, I wanted to reflect PEOPLE in my learning network as well

I learn with/from different people, often depending on the amount of shared context/trust relationships

ME Friends & Trusted Acquaintances Edubloggersphere / Friends of Friends Circles of Trust Blogosphere / Trustworthy Sources BLOGS SOCIAL BOOKMARKING MICROBLOGS / PRESENCE TOOLS SEARCH SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICES WIKIS Read each other faithfully Comment on each others blogs Strong conversational ties Follow each other on twitter In each other’s IM clients Read some but not all Find new folks through trusted ones, comments, links The Web Browser The basis for my ‘ lijit’ searches Technorati / Other Blog-based search My friend’s lijit lenses Good source for Google Coop engines Part of my del.icio.us network Use “for:” links to share with each other Given them access to personal wiki The Almighty Google GReader search Don’t interact with them in this medium Some will use my wiki Will subscribe to each other’s feeds & channels Desktop Browser Email client Personal web server Personalized Toolbars, Extensions Bookmarklets Personal Media Production Tools Web-based Office Suites Wikipedia edutechwiki The serendipity of tags Some will see my links through feed or blog syndication Public social bookmarking effects googlerank, can establish online reputation Referrer logs & the power of positive narcissism The serendipity of tags wikieducator I use and contribute to others’ teachertube Creative commons search engines Flock ‘social’ browser Me.dium extension Trailfire extension OER recommender Create new connections/ build reputation by using external hosting services for rich media PMOG

Blogging

Blogging Strong conversational ties; Read each other faithfully; Comment on each others blogs Read some but not all; Find new folks through trusted ones, comments, links Referrer logs & the power of positive narcissism Friends FOAF & edubloggers General Blogosphere/Trustworthy sources

Social Bookmarking

Social Bookmarking Part of my del.icio.us ‘network’; Use “for:” links to share with each other Some will see my links through feed or blog syndication The serendipity of tags Public social bookmarking effects googlerank, can help establish online reputation Friends FOAF & edubloggers General Blogosphere/Trustworthy sources

Microblogging & Presence Tools

Microblogging & Presence Tools In each other’s IM clients Follow each other on Twitter Re-tweets, Crowdsourcing Twitter search; #hashtags Friends FOAF & edubloggers General Blogosphere/Trustworthy sources

Wiki / Web-based Office Tools

Wiki / Web-based Office Tools Given them access to personal wiki; collaborate on Google docs I use and contribute to others’; they use mine Wikipedia cf. wikieducator, edutech wiki Friends FOAF & edubloggers General Blogosphere/Trustworthy sources

Social Media

Social Media Will subscribe to each other’s feeds & channels Create new connections / build reputation by using external hosting services for rich media teachertube The serendipity of tags Friends FOAF & edubloggers General Blogosphere/Trustworthy sources

Search

Search The basis for my ‘lijit’ social searches My GReader search My friend’s lijit lenses Good source for Google Coop engines Creative commons search engines The Almighty Google Friends FOAF & edubloggers General Blogosphere/Trustworthy sources

The Browser Itself

The Browser Itself Flock ‘social’ browser OER recommender extensions Trailfire extension StumbleUpon Zemanta (semantic recommender) Me.dium extension Friends FOAF & edubloggers General Blogosphere/Trustworthy sources

The Effects and Benefits of Networked Learning

Tags and Surfing

Crowdsourcing and Collective Intelligence