The human network is the connection of different sources of information. The networked students' goal is to navigate this network for the most relevant and most useful information to their education. Digital literacy is important because the skills emphasized by digital learning- navigating Internet searches, distinguishing between reliable and non-reliable information, communicating across many different mediums, and more- are extremely important in receiving quality education within the network.
Network learning transforms the teacher from distributor of knowledge to overseer of knowledge. The teacher doesn’t teach information as much as skills needed to traverse the digital network. The teacher teaches skills like how to find good information online, how to build a network for communication, and other appropriate digital behaviors.
I think this model of instruction is commendable for its ability to bring resources together for the student to access more easily. Special software and new networking tools have helped greatly in this process. However, I am not totally convinced that the information received is necessarily better nor that the quality of learning is any better. Essentially, we are implementing a great number of changes that may not have any necessary benefit. I also think some of the skills needed in digital literacy are being taught outside of digital literacy, like distinguishing between reliable and non-reliable sources.
I cannot envision myself in the role of networked teacher. I’m still having difficultly grasping the idea of being the networked student (networked = overworked) and I don’t think I have the skill to be the networked teacher.
My blog/resource is the New York Times “Learning Network” blog. This blog is kind of small network all included into one blog, focused on education. Students can be given material, assessment, and other resources all from the New York Times, all included into one blog.
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I completely agree with your sentiment of networked=overworked. I don't feel that the structure of education is conducive to the intensive energy required by network learning. The teacher must also relinquish control of content but maintain responsibility- something I feel is unrealistic to expect of a teacher. I like the the New York Times has a "learning network" blog. The newspaper does always seem to the at the forefront of advances.
ReplyDelete