Flipped Learning

           

Flipped Learning 

To continue with our theme on Connectivism, Alan Levine discusses why developing connections is key in continuous learning of integrated technology in education in the video Alan Levine-New Media Consortium. One point he made that I found to be enlightening, especially for myself, is to establish a “network of colleagues” both in and out of our fields. Some of us may tend to only build our connections with teachers who may share the same subject areas as ourselves. However, as Levine emphasizes and also as our professor once mentioned to me during our Pinterest activity last week, we may find great ideas and learn from others who may not directly be in our specialized fields.
 

            One of the best ways professionals, especially educators, can keep up to date is by joining a social network group. I decided to join the Flipped Learning Network, which has several specialized groups within it. I became a member of the World Languages and English Language Learners groups. What is “flipped learning?” As defined in the network, the modern term “has evolved to describe any situation in which technology is used to time shift the delivery of content. It is where active learning meets technology” (Flipped Learning Community). It’s a modern and more appropriate approach to learning in my opinion. A flipped classroom, removes the teacher as being the dominant figure to making the students the center of learning while integrating technology.

            By joining a professional social network such as the Flipped Learning Community, I have access to thousands of other educators, who can share their experiences in the classroom and beyond and assist me in my path of becoming an even better language teacher. Through discussion boards, and posting comments, educators can receive feedback from others’ perspectives and practices. In fact, such a platform can help us in our future projects, as I saw one teacher in the English Language Learners group I joined, who was starting her dissertation research and needed fellow teachers to complete an online survey as part of her study. There are a myriad of benefits and reasons to start to build a professional network, and this is a great way to start.

Connected Knowledge

         

Connected Knowledge 

 A learner is like the New York City subway system. The train system in NYC is one of the largest in the country and in order to service commuters well, it must make connections and transits to allow people to reach their destinations. Through these purposeful interactions and crossways of the train lines, the subway system is able to function efficiently on a daily basis. Similarly, learners of today must connect with others and cross different paths in their quest in learning and gaining knowledge.

            In George Siemen’s article (2005) on Connectivism entitled Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age, this idea and perspective of learners having to connect with one another are expressed. He states, “We can no longer personally experience and acquire learning that we need to act. We derive our competence from forming connections” (Siemen, 2005). This is a profound statement. As explained in the article, considering we must have different forms of knowledge in order to keep up with its exponentially growth in our digital and technological age, learning from other people’s experiences is imperative. This could only be done through establishing and developing networks and connections to learn from one another. In Connectivism, learning (i.e. “actionable knowledge”) can happen through external means, making “the connections that enable us to learn more…more important than our current state of knowing” (Sieman, 2005).   

In the video The Changing Nature of Knowledge, Sieman further elaborates on the notion that knowledge is not only within someone’s mind as viewed in traditional learning theories (i.e. behaviorialism, cognitivism, and constructivism), but that knowledge is accessible and sought from others. Moreover, he addresses the view that knowledge is constantly evolving and because of this, people are now relying on the connections formed with one another. Sieman states, “The network becomes the learning, the network that learners create.” This network of gaining knowledge externally is what is essential because of the fact that knowledge is constantly changing. What is relevant now, may become irrelevant and obsolete as Sieman mentions. Through connections, learners can stay up to date in their continual pursuit of knowledge.  

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Social Bookmarking: DIIGO vs. Pinterest

Social Bookmarking: DIIGO vs. Pinterest

One great way to incorporate technology with education is through social bookmarking. DIIGO and Pinterest are two online social bookmarking tools. They are similar in their purposes.  However, there are great differences between their layout, platform, and features.

Similarities

In both platforms, users are able to follow others and be followed. In DIIGO, you are able to join a group and also follow individual users. One great feature I loved when I first used DIIGO was how the bookmarks and updates on websites of those whom I follow appear in my library.  So this broadens my scope of information, especially since those who I chose to follow are in related academic and career fields as myself. Similarly, in Pinterest you are given the option to follow particular boards or specific people. Once you add a pin or join a particular board, Pinterest provides suggestions to other pins or boards related to it. In DIIGO and Pinterest, users are able to label and use multiple tags.

Differences

Pinterest is a content curation platform which allows users to organize and share like interests online by “pinning” images to a virtual board. One of the most significant features that makes Pinterest special is that it is visually appealing. Users can explore, save and share links of pictures and even videos. On the other hand, DIIGO does not associate images with content that is saved. It does, however, feature options such as highlighting texts on websites in saved sites and making notes on them.

The Bottom Line

DIIGO and Pinterest are both excellent online social bookmarking platforms, but which one should be used?  (Note: I don’t have any stocks or investments in either websites ;). From my assessment, it all depends on one’s needs.  I'm a visual learner and love creativity, so using Pinterest is a pleasurable experience in having images representing websites, ideas or messages I want saved (I would continue using it just for fun). However, if I were to work on a paper or have a continuous research project, I would use DIIGO to save all my websites, as there are more options for highlighting, etc. and it seemed more catered to 'academia' and higher education. All in all, they are both effective tools that can enhance teaching and learning.

                       

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