Network+Literacy

=Session III: Network Literacy=


 * What does your personal learning network look like? Teachers, students, blogs, wikis, websites, parents...**


 * About Networks**
 * Today people create groups (online) around shared interests; connect around good and bad things
 * Networks are all around us – Local and Global; Real and Virtual
 * Reliable networks are: Diverse (diversity of opinion), Autonomous, Open (people must be able to freely join), Connected - Stephen Downes
 * Online near and far; “Near” is constructed; “Farness” is exclusion
 * The scale of our networks is changing
 * Knowledge resides in networks
 * Knowledge is distributed…
 * Learning network for entire life
 * Learning in networks (assuming a connection) is an ongoing process, not an event.
 * The Network is always learning
 * And, the idea of literacy is much more difficult to address.
 * Is literacy more than reading and writing?
 * Goal for Your District: “The ability to create, grow and navigate personal learning networks in safe, ethical and effective ways.”
 * Key objective for the 21st century: Network Literacy


 * Consideration 2: What skills do students need to create a network?**
 * Help them identify their passions and pursue them in personal learning networks.

Discussion: Say a student expresses a passion for ocean kayaking. How might you help that student create a learning network around that interest?
 * Blog, RSS etc.
 * Create “Thinwall” classrooms. – Clarence Fisher
 * Help the students become “clickable.” – have a presence online and teach them how to be responsible.
 * Finding “Trusted” voices: Technorati and reputation
 * Google “link.”
 * Frequency of contribution
 * Frequency of comments
 * Help students achieve “Balance”
 * Help students organize information (it is a different skill online).
 * Ethical Uses of information - Copyright, IP, Plagiarism
 * Assessing Network Literacy - how about assessments that are “open” and collaborative; Assessments that allow (require?) students to tap into their networks and reflect on the process; Assessments that go across disciplines.
 * How do we do this? – Re-envision K-12 curriculum; Make them a part of our practice.
 * Don’t introduce Blogs and Wikis to your classroom if you have never used a Blog or Wiki.