LCN600 – Online tutorial (Week 2) What is connected learning? image copied with CCO public domain licence from pixabay.com

Week 2 overview Welcome, Introductions LCN600 – Online tutorial (Week 2) What is connected learning? Welcome, Introductions Overview of connected learning principles Benefits and risks of connected learning principles Q & A Reminder – end Week 2: Connected learning first thoughts (Activity 3) START THE RECORDING Welcome everyone – especially if this is your first tutorial for this unit. We’re a ware that quite a few people enrolled in the last few days. Is this your very first time using Collaborate? Green tick for YES ---- Red tick for NO Everyone – how are you feeling about the unit so far? Ok, confused? Please type a word or short phrase in the chat box – add an emoticon – and then press enter Do a quick summary of responses note similar feelings Encourage less positive ones On the screen you can see an outline of what we’ll cover tonight As always, I’ll allow time for Q&A at the end And please note the reminders – to do by end of this week if at all poss

CL – very first thoughts START THE RECORDING Welcome everyone – especially if this is your first tutorial for this unit. We’re a ware that quite a few people enrolled in the last few days. Is this your very first time using Collaborate? Green tick for YES ---- Red tick for NO Everyone – how are you feeling about the unit so far? Ok, confused? Please type a word or short phrase in the chat box – add an emoticon – and then press enter Do a quick summary of responses note similar feelings Encourage less positive ones On the screen you can see an outline of what we’ll cover tonight As always, I’ll allow time for Q&A at the end And please note the reminders – to do by end of this week if at all poss CL – very first thoughts

What is connected learning? Emerging pedagogical thinking and practice Stimulated/underpinned by the Connected Learning report by Ito et al. (2013) Note: this is core reading for the unit (see the Essential readings list) CL principles (Ito et a., 2013) It’s interest-driven – peer culture, meaningful to the learners Learner-led – shared purpose Production-centred Academic-focused – in the broadest sense Equitable - Social justice, student voice Openly networked Participatory Quote: CL is “learning that is socially embedded, interest-driven, and oriented toward educational, economic, or political opportunity. Connected learning is realized when a young person [everyone really!] is able to pursue a personal interest or passion with the support of friends and caring adults, and is in turn able to link this learning and interest to academic achievement, career success or civic engagement. … (Ito et al., 2013, p.7) It is not simply a “technique” for improving individual educational outcomes, but rather it seeks to build communities and collective capacities for learning and opportunity” Note: although the report and most readings relate to young people – in this unit we’re exploring how the principles of connected learning apply across different education contest – not just young people or in schools

What is connected learning? Contemporary pedagogical framework CL is “learning that is socially embedded, interest-driven, and oriented toward educational, economic, or political opportunity. Connected learning is realized when a young person [everyone really!] is able to pursue a personal interest or passion with the support of friends and caring adults, and is in turn able to link this learning and interest to academic achievement, career success or civic engagement. … (Ito et al., 2013, p.7) It is not simply a “technique” for improving individual educational outcomes, but rather it seeks to build communities and collective capacities for learning and opportunity” Note: although the report and most readings relate to young people – in this unit we’re exploring how the principles of connected learning apply across different learning contexts – not just young people or in schools

Connected learning principles CL principles 3 spheres of learning – CL context Interests Peer culture Academic – purposeful learning Core properties Production centred Shared interest Openly networked Design principles Everything is interconnected Learning happens by doing – active, experiential learning Everyone can participate – inclusive, intergenerational Challenge is constant (Ito et al., 2013)

CL – three spheres of learning Expanded … Interests – personal affinity, passion, engagement Academic subjects, professional development, hobbies, sport, arts, political activism, community engagement Peer culture – social networks (virtual & real life), school, community Shared culture, knowledge, expertise, inter-generational Academic – future directed goals, purposeful learning, ‘work’ Formal outcomes, skills, life-readiness, ability to participate in society

Why connected learning? Many [young] people experience their learning in the three spheres of interests, peer culture and academic subjects as disconnected, and do not have sufficient exposure or support to explore their interests. Even among those who do, their interests generally lack connection to cross-generational learning, academic subjects, career pathways, and civic and political participation. Whether focused on sports, games, popular media, creative production or the arts, these interest-driven activities are often pursued in relatively self-contained institutions, peer-groups, or communities of practice that do not cut across the divides of home, school, afterschool, and peer culture. Connected learning, as its name implies, works to connect these spheres more purposefully. By giving equal weight to all of these different sites of learning, we can create more entry points and diversify the pathways towards learning and opportunity. Ito et al., 2013, p. 65

Slide prepared by Dr Mandy Lupton Connected learning design Slide prepared by Dr Mandy Lupton

Rationale for connected learning Created by and used with Permission of: Dr Mandy Lupton

CL-related theories and concepts Created by and used with Permission of: Dr Mandy Lupton

CL = active participation Engagement with authentic information environments Participatory professional and interest-based communities Engagement in authentic information & knowledge building practices Liking, rating, sharing, following, curating, commenting, creating

Risks & responsibilities of connected learning Digital footprint Digital reputation Modelling for learners (and colleagues) how to use unfamiliar tools or media in new ways Going beyond the known – working responsibly & safely with open learning environments Experiment - error - experiment - discover

Free image from www.pixabay.com QUESTIONS? Hilary What is the title or focus of your project? Write it clearly on a post-it note – add your name Eg Hilary - Enabling classroom teachers to support students’ productive and responsible use of social media for learning Each person – read out title to the whole group Pick out 2-4 key words that describe the essence of your project Eg teachers, students, social media, learning Write keywords + your name on post-it notes (1 post-it note per keyword) 3 or 4 small groups Organise post-its: Same, similar, different Share with whole group Identify kindred spirits – potential peer learners, supporters Any original spirits (no common interests)? What else do you have in common? Eg. IT expertise, subject expertise, good researcher or writer Free image from www.pixabay.com