"Connect, connect connect!" Stated Dr. Alex Couros who is a professor at the University of Regina, but currently on sabbatical. However, Dr. Alex Couros does not relax or stop his learning or creating his PLN while on sabbatical. He is currently presenting to pre-service teachers (like us) and teaching an online FREE class to over 1200 people! His views of endless sharing and always staying connected are the standard of what today's society needs to evolve to. We need to stay connected and make friends with total strangers, because that is when we really learn.
Dr. Couros also commented on the fact that times are changing and how a few years ago, schools had a direct policy in dealing with cell phones: NO CELL PHONES ALLOWED IN SCHOOLS. Now you'll see schools piloting in-school daily device usage and the use of students bringing their own device and connecting to the school's internet. BYOD is the new saying within modern forming schools. Bring your own device! Because you will need it and why not have the answers at your fingertips?
Dr. Couros also spoke about what Shareski and Evans had brought up within their presentations. SHARE. He stated that we are all staying connected and using different tools so we are consuming the knowledge. But the arrows need to go both ways, so SHARE your ideas and thoughts. The best thing to do online is to get connected with a total stranger. Read his or her blog, connect, comment, LEARN.
Another great blog to read is Staci, who wrote her blog on connecting and the different steps on how to connect. Staci blog
That stickman graphic is awesome! I'm going to have to check out some of the sites in the border.
ReplyDeleteYour arrow metaphor struck me. (Perhaps it's all the arrows I've been looking at researching and mapping PLNs?) We are so focused on meeting our needs that we don't see the people who meet them.
Brooke, I really like the graphics you have used. They really emphasize what you have written. I also like the point you made about ensuring that our connections goes both ways. I wonder if it would be easier sharing with a stranger as opposed to sharing with someone you know personally. It is great that you provided a link to a blog that outlines the steps to getting and staying connected. Thanks for "sharing" it.
ReplyDelete