2. Digital Learning Spaces Leanne Shultz March 2006

3. What is a “Digital Learning Space?” A technology-rich opportunity for learning A technology-rich opportunity for learning A network of resources where the user constructs meaning A network of resources where the user constructs meaning An alternative to paper and pencil assignments An alternative to paper and pencil assignments A new way of communicating with fellow students A new way of communicating with fellow students A new way of understanding the world A new way of understanding the world Hands-on use of technology for self-directed learning Hands-on use of technology for self-directed learning

4. Common Digital Learning Spaces Social Networking Del.icio.usFacebookMyspaceWikiWikipedia Public Wikis Private Wikis Online Libraries Databases Reference Tools Full-Text Documents Video and Music Sharing Websites YoutubeKazaa Community Websites City of Ann Arbor School District or Teacher Site Teacher Site Interest Groups Forums Web Blogs LivejournalBlogspotBloggerDiaryland Online Gaming Communities Everquest Second Life Open Media Review Sites NetflixIMDBAllMediaGuide

5. Benefits of Digital Learning Spaces Digital learning spaces allow students to transcend normal constraints of time, space, and discipline. Digital learning spaces allow students to transcend normal constraints of time, space, and discipline. Students immerse themselves in an endless network of information, and must use critical thinking skills to analyze the integrity of sources. Students immerse themselves in an endless network of information, and must use critical thinking skills to analyze the integrity of sources. Dealing with digital texts in school is a newer experience for students, though many of them are already comfortable with the technology Dealing with digital texts in school is a newer experience for students, though many of them are already comfortable with the technology

6. 2020 Vision David Fisch, a member of the staff development team at Arapahoe High School, created a video imagining the future of public schools David Fisch, a member of the staff development team at Arapahoe High School, created a video imagining the future of public schools This 15-minute video is to be watched as a possible graduation speech for the class of 2020 and explores a possible and logical progression for the future of digital learning spaces. This 15-minute video is to be watched as a possible graduation speech for the class of 2020 and explores a possible and logical progression for the future of digital learning spaces. http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/ 2006/11/2020-vision.html http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/ 2006/11/2020-vision.html http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/ 2006/11/2020-vision.html http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/ 2006/11/2020-vision.html

7. Questioning Digital Learning Spaces Experience: Will students have difficulty doing more of their serious, school-directed reading on a computer? The graphic nature of a printed page is a very different sensory experience from a computer screen. When Virtual Reality technologies become more commonplace, what will that, then, mean for the experience of reading? Experience: Will students have difficulty doing more of their serious, school-directed reading on a computer? The graphic nature of a printed page is a very different sensory experience from a computer screen. When Virtual Reality technologies become more commonplace, what will that, then, mean for the experience of reading? Resources: How will teachers find the time to keep up with current technological advances? Will schools be financially able to provide students with the opportunities to use technology regularly to create digital learning spaces and communities? Resources: How will teachers find the time to keep up with current technological advances? Will schools be financially able to provide students with the opportunities to use technology regularly to create digital learning spaces and communities? Ethics: How should we choose between technological experiences and real-world ones? What kinds of experiences can digital learning spaces facilitate? How can we maintain a strong feeling of community and human brotherhood in reality? Ethics: How should we choose between technological experiences and real-world ones? What kinds of experiences can digital learning spaces facilitate? How can we maintain a strong feeling of community and human brotherhood in reality?

8. So, how can I use digital learning spaces in my classroom?

9. Create a class webpage This is a crucial step in developing a connection between students and digital resources immediately. This is a crucial step in developing a connection between students and digital resources immediately. Use this site as a way to keep students and parents posted on current events in the classroom (general schedule, main topics covered, main projects, etc). This creates a sense of community in a digital space. Use this site as a way to keep students and parents posted on current events in the classroom (general schedule, main topics covered, main projects, etc). This creates a sense of community in a digital space. Gradually work more student content into the class webpage. One fantastic way to do this is to create a wiki. Gradually work more student content into the class webpage. One fantastic way to do this is to create a wiki.

10. Create a Class Wiki A wiki is a website that allows visitors to collaboratively construct content. Typically, anyone has the ability to write, edit, add, delete, and change data. The online encyclopedia Wikipedia is a common example of this type of website. http://pbwiki.com/edu.html) and @wiki (http://atwiki.com/) are just a few of the many wiki farms (sites where you can create a wiki). Teachers can create a restricted-access wiki on school webspace. Peanut Butter Wiki (http://pbwiki.com/edu.html) and @wiki (http://atwiki.com/) are just a few of the many wiki farms (sites where you can create a wiki). http://pbwiki.com/edu.htmlhttp://atwiki.com/http://pbwiki.com/edu.htmlhttp://atwiki.com/ Students can write, share, and edit each others’ work in a safe, collaborative space. The group can build upon and share their knowledge throughout the course of the year, connecting and expanding concepts. Students can write, share, and edit each others’ work in a safe, collaborative space. The group can build upon and share their knowledge throughout the course of the year, connecting and expanding concepts.

11. Showcase Student Work Become familiar with creating digital video, music, and image files. Assist students in accessing these technologies to digitize their projects and performances. Become familiar with creating digital video, music, and image files. Assist students in accessing these technologies to digitize their projects and performances. Create a page where students can upload and share their work. Make this a space that students can invite their parents and friends to browse. Give students extra credit for designing and updating the class media page. Create a page where students can upload and share their work. Make this a space that students can invite their parents and friends to browse. Give students extra credit for designing and updating the class media page. Designing the showcase as a blog will enable visitors to leave comments. Many popular blogging sites are open-source, which means you can copy their code into your own site. Designing the showcase as a blog will enable visitors to leave comments. Many popular blogging sites are open-source, which means you can copy their code into your own site.

12. Analyze Favorite Digital Spaces Periodically ask students to critically review the digital learning spaces they visit most often. This could be a game, a website, or a multimedia sharing network. Periodically ask students to critically review the digital learning spaces they visit most often. This could be a game, a website, or a multimedia sharing network. Ask students to identify the benefits and drawbacks of these spaces. Is it a positive space? Why or why not? How does it feel to communicate in this way? Ask students to identify the benefits and drawbacks of these spaces. Is it a positive space? Why or why not? How does it feel to communicate in this way? Regularly remind students to investigate the reliability of any information they acquire, whether it be online, in person, or in a book. Use digital learning spaces as a great example of how quickly information can lose its integrity. Regularly remind students to investigate the reliability of any information they acquire, whether it be online, in person, or in a book. Use digital learning spaces as a great example of how quickly information can lose its integrity.

13. Credits Agogino, Alice M. and Wood III, William H. “Creating a Digital Learning Space for Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Education.” http://best.me.berkeley.edu/~aagogino/vision.smete.org.html http://best.me.berkeley.edu/~aagogino/vision.smete.org.html Fisch, Karl. “2020 Vision.” http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2006/11/2020- vision.html http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2006/11/2020- vision.htmlhttp://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2006/11/2020- vision.html Laspina, James Andrew. “The Locus of Language in Digital Space.” http://www.ncte.org/library/files/Publications/Journals/la/0783- jan01/LA0783Locus.pdf?source=gs http://www.ncte.org/library/files/Publications/Journals/la/0783- jan01/LA0783Locus.pdf?source=gs http://www.ncte.org/library/files/Publications/Journals/la/0783- jan01/LA0783Locus.pdf?source=gs Strasma, Kip. “Andrea’s Dream: Teaching and Learning with Digital Texts.” http://www.ncte.org/library/files/Publications/Journals/tetyc/0302- dec02/TE0302Andreas.pdf?source=gs http://www.ncte.org/library/files/Publications/Journals/tetyc/0302- dec02/TE0302Andreas.pdf?source=gs http://www.ncte.org/library/files/Publications/Journals/tetyc/0302- dec02/TE0302Andreas.pdf?source=gs Close?