Introduction:

Learning in a Networked World is a workshop offered by Thomas Steele-Maley for Wiscasset High School and SVRSU12.

Course Description:

At the heart of this workshop is the the question: how can networked learning best support teaching and learning? We will venture to answer this question through individual and collaborative projects, the exploration, evaluation, and application of software, applications and Web 2.0 technologies, and a close look at the philosophical underpinning of technology and learning along with current practices of technology integration and how people of all ages learn using them. Our central goal is to become fluent thinkers in the realms of networked learning in K-12 environments not just fluent users of networked learning for personal purposes.

We will use a variety of eLearning tools in this workshop to communicate and collaborate on projects. These tools will have a direct impact on your teaching career and are widely accepted and practiced in Maine, regional, state, national and international education contexts.

These tools include:

Collaborative Learning Environments (Canvas)
Web feeds (such as RSS and Atom)
Blogs and Wikis
ePortfolio’s (Such as Google and Canvas)
Project Management Software
Social networking applications (such as Ning)
Course management systems (Canvas)
Mobile Learning (Such as iPad, iPhone, Android, and other capable smartphones)
Applications for Podcasting, Video and Image Creation and Editing
Web 2.0 tools (Such as Twitter, social bookmarking, Youtube/Vimeo and more!)

In this workshop you will be encouraged to develop an online presence for your courses and learning environments and a Personal Learning Network (PLN) for yourself that highlights your emerging and enduring understanding of networked learning. Your PLN is a tool for you to research, evaluate and participate in in the dynamic conversation surrounding technology and learning.

Workshop Objectives:

You will develop a framework for exploring and understanding the foundations of networked learning and e- learning in general, and how to apply these fields to the K-12 context . I will encourage you to examine your knowledge territory and courses with networked learning and how they might integrate into future interdisciplinary ventures A major effort will be in providing you with the opportunity to develop your own Personal Learning Network (PLN) to serve as a springboard for teaching in the 21st century.

Approach:

Workshop participation will include synchronous workshop sessions in the Mac Lab, asynchronous activities and one-to-one communication with Thomas Steele-Maley and other colleagues.

Synchronous workshops:
Participants will have the opportunity of meeting weekly to discuss texts under review and experiment with new technologies in a learning laboratory setting. Attending workshop sessions is recommended.

Asynchronous ("Individual") Activities:
A significant portion of the workshops learning will happen outside of the scheduled, synchronous workshops. Participants will gain experience in social learning processes such as: setting up courses in Canvas, starting a blog, using social and collaborative bookmarking, reading and commenting on educational blogs from inside and outside of the workshop, microblogging, reading about educational philosophy, exploring social learning tools, and creating networked resources for teaching and learning.

One-To-One Sessions:
One-to-one sessions can be arranged with Thomas Steele-Maley. These sessions will be available throughout the 2012 and 2013 to deal with any confusion or questions that you have about the workshop content or processes. These can be mediated through (steelemaley), Skype (steelemaley), chat, telephone, or face-to-face sessions in office hours.

*Portions of the general structure of EDT 400 Sec.1 and Sec 2. have been adapted from the course designs of Dr. Alec Curos of University of Regina with permission.

To LNW PD: Intro Assignment