Lesson 2 Reflections

This has been a hectic 2 week period as we studied emerging technologies and the potentials of mLearning, learned to Twitter, and moved ahead to Lesson 3 to prepare for our duties as Moderators. There will be more to do in the Lesson ahead, with the paper on Network Structures and Policies to work on, as well as completing the Content Development page in WikiPaint. We are well on the way with those as we will learn a great deal by moderating the discussions, and our interviews are already in progress. :-)

As a group, we met together often (on average of every other day) to get up to speed with Lessons 2 and 3, and that also allowed us to get to know each other better. It also allowed us to work on improving our our skills with collaborative tools, even with the "glitches" (like when Google doc mysteriously decided to erase 2 rows of information on our table).

While I found Lesson 2 interesting, I am really excited about Lesson 3. I am a complete ignoramus when it comes to network hardware and structures, so I expect to learn a lot. There has been talk of implementing mLearning into the course structures of NPC and I hope to learn more about the policies of the institution as a foundation for exploring avenues for incorporating mobile tools in the future. Virtual desktops are the wave of the future as well, and I am contemplating networking my 3 computers into a virtual system--as soon as I learn more about it, and how to do it.

So far in this class, we have been exploring connectivism in the networks that we create with other people via Web2.0, the the networking of concepts that enhance making cognitive connections, and now we will be learning about networking through hardware and virtualization. I can see first hand how connectivism works through our group, the tools we use in the course, and am very curious about this next stage in our learning. By the end of the semester, none of us will look at networking the same as we did when we came into the course :-)

Lesson 2 Reflection - Great Joint Effort continued

One of the things I looked forward to this lesson was how to create a Wordle and then to move it to another page. I made one reflective of Lesson 2's learning experiences and with success have been able to move it to this blog page. So this continues as I had wanted it on the original page to this blog with a few additions, but it looks like another page is added instead. The learning continues. - Teri

Lesson 2 Reflection - Great Joint Effort

I have been very happy working with Group 3. We work so well together that it is time to call ourselves a team, not just a group. Ruth is a fantastic leader. Not only has she kept us on track for this lesson, but looked ahead so that we could get a head start on Lesson 3. We worked together on the Web 2 tool chart. That was a wonderful learning experience and a good collaboration. Michelle is a fantastic graphic designer. She will be working on an interactive PLE for one of our assignments. We also decided that we would like to continue working in a collaborative connective effort in a Professional Learning Environment. The bulk share of building that site will fall on Michelle. We are grateful for her skills and talents.

A very successful Lesson 2 learning experience. We are sailing high! - Teri

Lesson 2 Reflection

Feel free to read minutes of Team3 Meetings.....Link to new page on the right...

Wow...Teri and Ruth..I must say you are a hard post to follow!!

I am rewarded in many ways by our Connectivism...

As quoted in ‘Why Collaborations?’ reading; “when working with peers instead of alone (or with the instructor), anxiety and uncertainty are reduced as learners find their ways through complex or new tasks (Harasim, 1990).

I look at our chart and reading the Connectivism attributes (in blue) realize that we could indeed add another column “#7 - Team Collaboration”. It is not a Web 2.0 Technology but I can assure you our experience touched each connectivist principle listed in a most astounding way!

We each contributed technologies and even added one. I was not familiar with Prezi or Vyew while Ruth and Teri were not familiar with others. It was a add and modify process in google docs while teaching, modeling, and even delegating all for the purpose of learning and connecting.

I see how “Information flow within an organization is an important element in organizational effectiveness.” (thinking from organizational levels)
“Creating, preserving, and utilizing information flow should be a key organizational activity.” 

(a need for our team bonding)

Connectivism provides insight into learning skills and tasks needed for learners to flourish in a digital era. (I predict Team 3 will flourish)

Until Next Time....

GROWTH

LESSON ONE REFLECTIONS

Connecting, Connectivism
Networks Growing, Individuals Growing
Group Adhering/Bonding/Blending
Ideas Merging and Becoming New

I enjoyed working in Group 3 on Lesson 1. We networked well, connected and interconnected.
The PLEs and ONLEs are expanding. The active learning is engaging with a lot of give and take.
In our group we have built the structure, the skeleton. We are now busy constructing new ideas and trying out new delivery systems and networking tools. Becoming proficient in their use will help to enhance and further our learning.

"Connectivism" - today's learning, speedy and volumnous - socially networked and technology charged.

Our Group + Blog + Bonding + NLE-PLE = Connectivism

To 'know' something is to be organized in a certain way, to exhibit patterns of connectivity. To 'learn' is to acquire certain patterns" (Downes, 2005 quoted at http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism_self-amused.htm )

People have a tendency to compartmentalize the facets of their life into organized patterns that are work related, home related, school related, social related, church related, etc. There cannot help but be some bleed over, say between home life and work life, or when we have a friend that is part of 2 or more of the environments. However, we generally we do not discuss all the details of work at a church function, or discuss our Facebook conversations with everyone at work. All the interesting snippets of knowledge we have gained, tend to stay in their designated section.

As shown in the George Siemens photo (2011, http://profesorbaker.wordpress.com/2011/01/21/feed-it-forward-share-cck11/), in Michelle's post below, Connectivism links those environments together to form new patterns. The Personal Learning Environments (PLE) becomes the connection points where the networks we have forged link together and makes it possible for knowledge to transfer from one group of experience patterns to another. Thus, the established patterns are altered by the acquisition of the transferred knowledge, and we grow by learning. This is true whether speaking of the learning process that occurs within the mind, or in the literal transfer of information from one person to another.

The Group work that this team will create during the rest of the semester is an example of the Connectivist PLE in action. Michelle, Teri, and I, each in a different part of the state, with entirely separate and different living and working environments, will be connecting the knowledge we have through our own experiences and PLEs to forge a new Network with this class, or Network Learning Environment (NLE). We will be utilizing each others individual strengths to create original works—and we will be learning from one another to make our weaker areas become strengths.

Lesson 1 Reflection

• Since this is a team reflection blog, how your team want to accomplish this assignment is up to your team. Teach team member can take turn or all team members contribute to the blog. At least one entry must be posted by the end of the lesson. You can reflect:
• Team work of which I am proud.
• Team work which I found exceptionally challenging.
• Reflections on technology and instructional strategies that you and your team learned from this lesson.
• Anything your team would like to share

As we begin to form a bond, I can contribute the fact that Ruth, Teri, and I are engaged in developing a learning (and teaching) relationship. 

Lesson One had many readings that focused on network learning environments, personal learning environments (PLE); and Connectivism. 

Assignment 2: PLE

Ruth's PLE

Michelle's PLE

Teri's PLE