Blog Post Assignment # 7

The Network Student by Wendy Drexler 

The Network Student by Wendy Drexler explains what it means to be a network student. It also identifies the role of the teacher in the “classroom” of the network student.  To know and understand the meaning of a network student, you must first know the definition of network.  Let’s look at some of the definitions of network from dictionary.com.

- to distribute widely

- an interconnected group or system

- computing

- to form business contracts through informal social meetings

- to cultivate people who can be helpful to one professionally

These are just a few of the definitions I pulled from dictionary.com. Now apply these to students who are activity using socialnetworking tools, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, search engines, Pinterest, etc. There you go; you have your networking student.

I think both, students and teachers have always used some form of networking through the learning process. Their PLN (personal learning network) consisted of family, friends, classmates, and other teachers. Only now, with technology their PLN becomes much larger and includes a great number of resources. They are not limited to those in “arms length” in their community.

Teachers are able to use technology and social networking tools to network with other teachers to get lesson plans from master teachers, feedback, ideas, resources, and even the lastest news on technology and how to integrate it into their teaching.  Students are still able to network with teachers and other students, except the teachers and students can be from all over the world. They are still using their community to learn and develop; only now it is a global community.

I think having such a diverse PLN is extremely beneficial to the learning process.  It provides meaningful and useful information, it provides support, motivation, and allows connections to be made. A PLN is not just about technology and websites. It is about people; people who use technology to help others learn. If it were not for the people, the information would not be available. If you think about it, the people become the teachers. However, it is still important to have a teacher; a professional instructor.  They teach students how to assess the information and evaluate the information for its creditability. They show how to model, organize, and respectfully as questions. They provide emotional support and provide encouragement to build confidence.

Throughout the time, I have spent studying to become a professional educator, I think the focus has been to create lifelong learners out of our students. I think both students and teachers need to be lifelong learners. A PLN helps create lifelong learners of both students and teachers.   

A 7^th Grader’s Personal Learning Environment (or PLN)

Her PLE is not much different from the one I created. I created my PLN using Symbaloo. I have tiles that I use for school and tiles that I do not use for school. The sites and blogs I frequent the most are grouped together and are on the top left. It is more organized  and easier to access than standard “bookmarking” or “adding to favorites”. I have organized my tiles based on categories; teaching tools, blog pages, social networking tiles, etc. I know my PLN will always be changing and never be complete as long as I am learning.  

Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life. -Henry L. Doherty

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