Question+5

What have you learned about Personlized Learning and Personalize Learning networks this semester? What does this have to with technology?
Karen Question 5 Response

Misha Bae - I knew about the blogs, but I did not want to follow anyone's blog. I thought it would take up too much of my time. I learned that it does not take up as much time as I expected. It was very useful. However, the best thing I got out of this class was the use of podcast. I think podcast is like an audio/video blog. I appreciate other teachers' post on podcast and the different approaches they present. I think students benefited from using podcast in class. Next year, I am going to use Wall Wisher as comment box for students. I learned so much from this class.

Vanessa Rivas - I wasn’t aware of Personalized Learning and Personalize Learning networks until this semester. I’m glad to have learned about this because they’re definitely good resources for educators. I think that PLNs are a great avenue for educators to share their knowledge and ideas. Furthermore, I think its great that this is becoming more prevalent in schools because I don’t think teachers really have the time to share with one another their ideas and insights, therefore, these networks are a good way for them to communicate via the web.

Alexandra Pineda- Personalized learning enables a child to decide what they want to learn, when they want to learn and how they want to learn a particular topic. These include learning and thinking skills, information- and communications-technology literacy skills, and life skills. The CBL was proof of PLNs in which we made our learning our own. The use of technology was useful to share our information to others either as a podcasts, wallwisher, youtube etc. This type of learning is more meaningful than the traditional approach in which students are engaged, gain knowledge and retain information.

I have taken upon myself to learn the new way of teaching and learning in this digital world. I have learned that being part of a networking group brings more knowledge and gives that person a new way of sharing creativity, knowledge and best of all to keep up with the changing world in all aspects of economics, global educations and many other issues that a person would have not work in order to keep up with what is happening each day. The use of this Web2.0 tool is great because not only can I communicate locally it can also be done globally. We are living in an era that we need to know what is happening all over the world because we are all part of it. The use of this tool as others sites are beneficial for students too in a sense that students can start creating their own PLN for their future academic and social life.
 * Bany Marlowe - Primary K-2**

I didn't know anything about personalized learning networks before taking this course. As with many topics we've talked about in class, it just seemed to pop up in my staff meetings or professional development meetings in my district as the semester progressed. My district said that we could join a district Ning and start creating our own personalized learning networks. What I have discovered about personalized learning networks is that it's a term that many teachers already utilize and contribute to and that is supporting others in the profession. Personalized learning networks give teachers added support in all aspects of education and teaching, and it also gives them an outlet to share their own experiences, expertise, and ideas with other teachers. Technology can be an integral part of a person's personalized learning network, and it can be a tool to help a teacher develop and grow. What has surprised me the most is how many opportunites there are on the internet to create or be part of a personal learning network. It's very exciting to know that I can find a place to share and learn with others in education who share the same educational philosophies as I do. Technology can allow me to find other like-minded teachers, especially if I don't happen to work with them in my own school. Plus, it's nice to learn how other schools and teachers function. A personalized learning network can give teachers the freedom to seek fresh ideas and reflect on their own classroom practices.
 * Abi Marlowe- Middle School Group 6-8**

=
Individualized exploration is key to a child's academic success. When one has the opportunity to guide their own learning, there are infinite possibilities available to enhance their learning process. One of the biggest personalized learning networks that I have seen active is through Walter Payton High School. Students have the opportunity to personalize their education through communication with other students throughout the world. They are able to gain a worldly perspective that will help to shift their world view. This will also encourage them to discover more information about the communities that exist within the world, and it will encourage them to travel and learn as a means to expand their future career opportunities. In terms of technology, this allows students to explore video-conferencing in the academic field. Far-removed from the personalized webcam, this makes education more global. By introducing this opportunity to our students, they will naturally be more encouraged to learn independently through the motivation this provides.======

=

 * Anya Zaremba - I knew about Ning and Delicious through my previous job as a cybernavigator but I didn't take advantage of all they offered. I believe that had I still been working there I would be a lot more tech savvy now that I have taken this class. I have definitely learned a lot about PLNs this semester and I believe that they are a great way for teachers to be able to learn more and share what they know with others. I love that there are blogs, wikis, and nings for everything and these are so important nowadays because they can really help students expand their knowledge about subjects that they want to learn more about. Students can go online and join these groups and have discussions which will help foster critical thinking skills, which will greatly help them in life. Miguel Parra High School 9-12 I have learned that without technology personalized learning networks would not be possible. I have actually learned a lot from other people in this class especially after sharing our challenge based learning projects. I now have an arsenal of educational tools that I will incorporate into my own teaching. I liked that this class was set up for personalized learning because it gave me the opportunity to learn about my personal capabilities and also gave me a chance to make mistakes and learn from them. The blogs were great and I wish I had gotten more involved the the back and forth responses. I know that I will certainly do that more in the future. Overall it was one of the most useful classes I have taken which why I hope that it is soon part of the undergraduate curriculum. **======

=
Personalized learning is a combination of many key pieces in its learning process. It includes parent involvement, responsibility, and participation in the education of their child. It also is about small class sizes and program collaboration between teacher, parent, student, and school. Teachers use various learning style assessments and include flexible learning related to their results in multiple environments both within and beyond the classroom. Support at home for the learning environment is very important, and flexible curricular choices and use of technology technology is key, as is a varied pace learning. This is exactly what special education teachers and case providers like me try to do with a student's IEP. The development of technology opens so many more doors for a variety of learning techniques, which is very exciting because there are so many more ways to help guide students learn well with this development.
 * Ammara Ali- Personalized learning networks are great ways for teachers to communicate with one another via technology, even with those around the country. I love the idea of blogs and nings because they are such valuable resources for teachers. Teachers can receive guidance and support, without feeling embarrassed or afraid to ask for help. This is beneficial, especially for novice teachers, who can feel very overwhelmed in preparing for their first classroom. My favorite is the large variety of nings that have been created for educators. Through nings, teachers can share their lesson plans, teaching strategies, handouts, videos, photographs, and much more! I like the English Companion Ning the best because it provides ideas on reading strategies, teaching texts, and teaching with technology. I have a middle school endorsement in Language Arts and after browsing through the English Companion Ning, I feel that if I would be able use this to my advantage in implementing a Language Arts curricula for my students that is effective and meets the needs of all my students**.======
 * Lliane Blons- High School 9-12**