Ting Lin Module 1 CL by Ting Lin https://padlet.com/tlin022/o3gjp3pir8i93246 old intention, new technology, same heart en-us 2023-04-27 04:11:40 UTC 2025-11-06 09:07:34 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f646-2640.png Why connected learning? tlin022 https://padlet.com/tlin022/o3gjp3pir8i93246/wish/2571000446 From Teaching in the Connected Learning Classroom (Peppler, Kylie, 2014, Foreword), I learned that connected learning offers "a set of design principles—further articulated by this group of educators—for how to meet the needs of students seeking coherence across the boundaries of school, out-of-school, and today’s workplace" (p.4). 

I also learned utilizing new technology can help to promote creative learning for our youth through connected learning.  Using technology is not only to meet youth's interest, but to also promote a higher academic pursuit and uniting a more just peer culture.   

When educators are inspired to take the journey on teaching connected learning, they will have to commit to being a designer-in-context. We will challenge ourselves to be actively engaged in work. We will work hard to re-design the curriculum. The best return is that students will be more actively engaged with school as they help to shape the resulting designs in meaningful ways.

Most importantly, connected learning "might exemplify a particular important avenue for learning and equity in the 21st century"(p.5). Connected learning focuses on the students. With the new teaching method shrift its focus from the teachers to the learners, students are offered with more modalities to amplify voices, produce creativity, collaborate with peers, demonstrate understanding, advocate and build connections while actively participate in their learning to problem solve. 

Ways of teaching changes over time. What never change is the intention of wanting students well. As some may not agree to knowledge is the power, but we can't deny "Knowledge shared is power multiplied" (Robert Boyce). Education is a heart work, connect ours with the students. ]]> 2023-04-27 23:16:59 UTC https://padlet.com/tlin022/o3gjp3pir8i93246/wish/2571000446 Connections tlin022 https://padlet.com/tlin022/o3gjp3pir8i93246/wish/2571076520 What questions surfaced from the reading?
From the Reading Rockets-Exploring Digital Literacy Practices in an Inclusive Classroom, it allows me to see more clearly the reason for choosing connecting learning. It is to broaden students' literacy skills in becoming a stronger problem solver and to making a difference in the world.

At the same time, I also learned many new online platforms and received ideas of what connected learning can look like in a classroom from Lee and her group of students' examples from her 5th grade LA class.

As I can't help to be amazed of their collaborative success in Hive Society and excited to explore more in this new digital world, I am wondering at the same time if all teachers/families can appreciate a connected learning environment? Will they be supportive of their learners using technology? 

In addition, I have a question about Emily's (one of the authors) work. I would like to know more about her strategy in "fostering a collaborative relationship among the support staff to drastically reduce the amount of time students were pulled out of the classroom for remedial instruction".

Meanwhile, I also wonder what makes "students who received additional services have limited access to working through the layered process of creating digital projects"? For that reason, I am curious what are some prompts teachers can provide for students to feel at ease and fully included? And what is an ideal timeframe for students to work collaboratively on a research project during school hours? 

What connections did you make to your teaching or learning experiences?
In all honesty, teachers are expected to follow school's curriculum to meet the state's standards, same as students. In order to purpose a new idea and put it into practice, it requires time for staff development and an agreement for its necessity.

As a school staff member, I noticed teachers are more likely to follow what other classroom teachers do. Students from the same grade normally experience similar lecture and produce same products for display.

As a leaner, I learned many new skills from my MAT program and clinical experience in how to build a lesson and different ways to engage with students.

I like the bigger growth I can receive as a student. Although being a student and a full-time employee at the same time can be tiring. But the joy I get in return helps me to come back stronger.
 
Putting thoughts together, I see connected learning a new form of collaborative practice to amplify voices, connect with communities and build an open and just learning environment. And this process should begin with teachers before we can transfer this power to students. It is a team effort requires me to start with self.

How does this reading challenge you? 
My MAT program provides me with an opportunity to explore education with the connected learning. As a student, connected learning helps me with my educational growth though a bond of interests, relationships, and opportunities with teachers/peers in a networked environment. As a school staff member, I see how technology helps in reducing students' loss with Covid-19. 

This reading challenge me to transform from a receiver to a giver. I must take time to navigate these online platforms so I can have the tools to provide an anchored instruction to support my students' needs.  
]]> 2023-04-28 00:45:55 UTC https://padlet.com/tlin022/o3gjp3pir8i93246/wish/2571076520 My Process tlin022 https://padlet.com/tlin022/o3gjp3pir8i93246/wish/2572685004 What did you learn from the process of creating your multimodal response?
There are many things helped me learn from the process of creating your multimodal response. For example, the course modules helped me to be academically oriented, the   reading materials/videos helped me to be production centered, the weekly questions helped me to be interest-powered, and asynchronous mode allowed me to use network openly for research. I can also view students' work to support my study and so to understand the purpose of work better.

What got in the way of your learning?
At the beginning of the reading, I was confused why connected learning is centered around technology. Therefore, I thought, "Does connected learning mean connect learning with technology?" So, I said to myself, "Why don't these scholars just name this theory Connect Learning with Technology?"

What helped your learning?
After reading the articles again and again, and with help from technology, I confirmed connected learning is about technology. This proves reading material helps school to deliver the content, but technology helps students to connect with the content.

How did you feel at different parts of the process?
I found settling on a question to respond was the hardest part of the process. After I decided on the question to respond, my work became clearer.

Question is where I can reflect thinking and understanding a question well allows me to speak in an organized manner. As an EL leaner who lives overseas, technology has always been my best friend. I use it as a tool to solve problems and be renovative with new ideas and real-life challenges.

From the process of understanding what connected learning is, there are many resources I can find online to help me with deepening my learning experience.  Although too much information can be overwhelming, especially when language de-coding is involved. Overtime, I learn to be mindful of the amount of information I receive and the time I invest in.

I make sure I use digital tools to highlight, translate, and research for me to better understand the purpose and the process of connected learning. Through modeling this work, I am assured connected learning can help to build an open and just learning environment for our students. I just need to practice more in order to get there for more people to believe in choosing connected learning methods.

How could you imagine using this tool with students?
From the introduction of Teaching in the Connected Learning Classroom (Garcia, p.6), I learned connected learning is "socially embedded, interest-driven, and oriented toward educational, economic, or political opportunity" (2013 report, Connected Learning: An Agenda for Research and Design, Ito et al).

As most classes look and function the same for decades, offer "ways youth expertise can be networked, amplified, and pinpointed globally with new media tools" is what they need to learn with the change in societies. 

In my kindergarten class, I like to open a topic that is to my students' interest and use it to link with the lesson. I also see how peer-support can help scaffold students in ways teachers can't or can't think of. I see the importance of peer-share, it not only provides them an opportunity to communicate with vocabulary that is taught in class, but also help them to deepen their compression with the course content. I know how to use SeeSaw and some reading apps quite well, but not other apps. 

I would say open network can be quite scary for young learners to explore at times as many sites are not children friendly and contains inappropriate languages/images that can cause irreversible damage. Students need to be protected under adults' supervision while performing this connected learning method. I know there are ways to view students' screens and take immediate action from blacking their view. It takes a certain amount of maturity for students to not abuse their privileges. ]]> 2023-04-29 20:03:59 UTC https://padlet.com/tlin022/o3gjp3pir8i93246/wish/2572685004