Personal Learning Network - Part 5

My fifth posting on Personal Learning Networks I would like to take a look at this idea of connections. I did this with the use of a few resources. During the research process I was lead to a website by Stephen Downes. This website was discussing the learner and the diverse learning networks. I felt that this website fit in well with what was discussed so far. Downes (2006) stated, “When we look through the internet, we are creating networks… perception - as an extension of ourselves... - our networks are extensions of ourselves - facets of our identity… when we look at the computer we see ourselves through our contacts, our liaisons, our interactions.” Considering the discussions of networked learning this description by Downes is a great analysis of the components discussed above.
As mentioned before, networked learning is dynamic to the learner and the learning process. Downes description considers the learners (or all of us) and how they view their learning whether in K-12 or adult. Furthermore, Siemens (2006) elaborates on learning of adults in the article. Essentially, it describes the acceptance of personal learning networks and how user can establish a reliable personal learning network to fit their needs and support their development.
Learning in Synch with Life: New Models, New Processes.
Another presentation that I’ll discuss is by Alain Breuleux called Networked Learning communities in Teacher Education. Breuleux discusses this idea of building a knowledge society. From this the author discusses 6 points of interest:

•Meeting the educational needs of a wider range of individual and groups
•Building systems and helping institutions which can provide life-long learning
•Engaging educators as leaders in the use of learning-society tools
•Develop pedagogy and pedagogical design principles for knowledge building
•Produce guidelines for investment learning
•Design and validate telelearning approaches

These approaches are discussed in further detail in an article with the same name as above. Breuleux, Laferriere, and Bracewell (1998) discussed an idea that I am very well am in support of. Breuleux et al (1998) stated that the article was developed “in response to the growing needs for learning and the changing worlds of education…” Education is always being developed for the betterment of our students but however still focused on methods of old.
Personal Learning Networks is just another method of changing the nature of our educational system. Pushing for student-centered learning instead of teacher-centered instruction (sage on the stage), allows for instructional strategies to be developed for the learner. In instructional design it says do not use wasted time on developing the project at the expense of the learner. That is, do not take away the learning of the learner to develop a project.
Personal Learning Networks to me is another way to improve student learning and also incorporate technology into the classroom. In closing I would like to quote a professor of mine (Dr. Leigh Zeitz), whenever he presents to teacher he closes with this, “Live with courage, teach with vision.” Thought it would be a proper way to end this posting.

Breuleux, A., Laferrière, T., & Bracewell, R.J. (1998). Networked learning communities in teacher education. In S. McNeil, J.D. Price, S. Boger-Mehall, B. Robin, & J. Willis (Eds.), Proceedings of SITE ’98, the 9th international conference of the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education. ACCE. Charlottesville, VA. Retrieved March 15, 2002, from: http://www.coe.uh.edu/insite/elec_pub/HTML1998/ts_breu.htm

Breuleux, A. (1998). Networked Learning Communities in Education. Retrieved April 25, 2009, from telelearning.mcgill.ca/ituoslo/NetLearn/NetworkedLearningCommunitie.pdf

Downes, S. (n.d.). Learning Networks and the Personal Learning Environment. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://www.slideshare.net/Downes/learning-networks-and-the-personal-learning-environment.

Siemens, G., (2006). Learning in Synch with Life: New Models, New Processes. Google 2006 Training Summit. Retrieved on July, 17 2009 from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/google_whitepaper.pdf