Human Tech - Using The Ability Of Personal Learning Networks To Transform Didactics (Book)

Feb 24, 2017 

The featured mass for this calendar week is Richardson too Rob Mancabelli's  "Personal Learning Networks: Using the Power of Connections to Transform Education ".  This is  absolutely a cracking read alongside illuminating insights on the educational potential of digital technologies too social media.  Will Richardson too Rob Mancabelli brand a strong instance for the necessity of embracing digital technologies too social media networking inside schools . The authors corroborate their ideas alongside a broad array of studies too academic researches. They too dorsum upwards their arguments alongside anumber of key  examples of how engaging inwards personal learning networks convey empowered individuals to perform too orbit better.

After setting the scene alongside a detailed work organisation human relationship of the touching on of meshing on human life, the authors live ahead inwards their declaration that the charge per unit of measurement of the digitally-enhanced changes is accelerating at a spectacular speed too that unless schools select handgrip of upwards alongside it, students volition ultimately lose consummate involvement inwards them too volition goal upwards seeking noesis somewhere else, a matter which they convey already started doing through virtual online spaces . As the authors stated :

Our children are connecting exterior the schoolhouse walls, using technologies that most adults are but getting used to too that most schools convey non implemented. Today’s kids flock to Facebook, post hundreds of text messages a 24-hour interval from their jail cellphone phones, too remain ubiquitously linked to their friends inwards ways many adults convey lilliputian context for. Research is showing that their interactions inwards these social networks are a dissimilar withal of import purpose of their development, shaping the means they intend too run across the world
 Ito et al., (2008).  (p. 6)

Learning networks according to Richardson too Mancabelli are "a rich laid of connections each of us tin brand to people inwards both our online too offline worlds who tin assistance us alongside our learning pursuits." (p. 21).These learning networks convey live the norm inwards noesis dissemination too substitution of expertise. Their importance is good documented inwards several studies too hither are some examples the authors advance inwards back upwards of the centrality of PLNs inwards today's education:

• 'Online learning networks permit us to practise our ain global classrooms too collect teachers too other learners around the topics nosotros desire to larn about.
• They permit us to self-direct our learning inwards exciting novel ways, ways inwards which schools are going to uncovering it increasingly difficult to compete with.
• As authors Tony Bingham too Marcia Conner (2010) assert, networks “provide people at every level, inwards every nook of the organisation too every corner of the globe, a means to reclaim their natural capacity to larn non-stop” (Kindle location, 319, cited inwards Richardson too Mancabelli, 2011, p. 22).

In the residuum of the book, Richard too Rob beak near the dissimilar ways to implement a networked classroom too supply some interesting tips for ensuring success of learning network adoption inwards schools.