Fusion Finds

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Will Richardson recently wrote a guest column for i.e.’s Summer 2007 edition about the use of online networking in school. Here are some of my take aways:

• Today’s world is digitally networked. Examples: 2008 US presidential election “YouTube Campaign,” USA Today’s newly renovate website to allow users’ participation.
• Will says,”…we are nomadic in our learning, meaning we find what we need when we need it.”
• When formulating our own ideas, we use the experiences and reflections of others in our network, interact, and use literacy skills, including recognizing trusted sources of information.
• “We learn to take responsibility for our own learning.”
• Our students need the ability to build and participate in these networks to be successful.
• We need to teach our students how to network, create an online presence, practice on-line safety and ethics, and participate in global collaboration.
• In order to successfully add these tools to our drawer of strategies, we must use the tools ourselves.

I agree with Mr. Richardson’s thoughts. It is important for our students to have these networking experiences in school. It has been my experience as a Tech Curr Dir that teachers proceed through various levels when learning new technologies, one of the first being to use the new tool themselves before using it with their students. This past year I’ve experienced digital networking through the blogosphere, podcasting, and on-line conferences. I don’t have a myspace account, but I am a member of the many other networks including: School2.0, del.icio.us, WOW2.0, and flickr. It has been an amazing year, during which I have learned more than the past 5 years combined. There was a progression as I became a part of an existing network of edtech bloggers. First, I subscribed to blogs and podcasts. Then I started my own blog. Next, I began to comment on other blogs. The most recent new members of my network are teachers from New Zealand. I’ve so enjoyed learning from them via the Time4 Online Conference. This week, I plan to use some of the tips from the post, How to Be an Incredible Blogger by Vicki Davis to build my network.

Download: Posted by bionicteaching at TeacherTube.com.

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