#Ulearn13 | Social networking and professional learning - Research stream
-
Upload
karen-melhuish-spencer -
Category
Education
-
view
402 -
download
0
description
Transcript of #Ulearn13 | Social networking and professional learning - Research stream
Join the conversa.on by using #ulearn13 | Follow us @ulearnnz
Online social networking and its impact on New Zealand educators’
professional learning
Karen Melhuish Spencer | @virtuallykaren | karenmelhuishspencer.com
Sunday, 13 October 13
The context: New Zealand’s Virtual Learning Network
http://www.vln.school.nz
Sunday, 13 October 13
What do we mean by social network sites?
Image (CC) by ButchLebo
clear purposeprivilege the individual
visible connectionsafford collaboration and creation
shared spacessupport curation &
aggregation of content
Sunday, 13 October 13
Can social networking support effective learning?
“It is preDy random professional learning, but some.mes it’s really useful.
Image by tejvanphotos (CC)
”Sunday, 13 October 13
The study
• Interpretive, ethnographic study, using mixed methods
• Online survey 2012 [70 responses, 83.6% completion]
• Representative of wider sector
• Interviews with 5 educators
• Content analysis grounded in Activity Theory and effective professional learning frameworks
Image: (CC) Some rights reserved by NoJuan
Sunday, 13 October 13
Activity Theory
Sunday, 13 October 13
Findings
Sunday, 13 October 13
MotivationsI am a lead teacher... I access VLN primarily for: to gain ideas for my own development in prac.ce and to gain prac.cal ideas to take back to staff.
“
”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhwright/5874234034/sizes/m/
• reduces isolation• personal affirmation• explore topical issues• connect with colleagues•cherry pick & grab bag
Sunday, 13 October 13
Activities and goalsproviding me with real <me
answers to my ques.ons, real tried and true resources and websites
and apps, given me other points of view and access to resources I
would not have found otherwise.
“
”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrs_logic/3556644715/sizes/m/
• sharing resources• gather information• pedagogy over content• whole school issues• fast rather than deep• personal focus over school/student
Sunday, 13 October 13
Technology as an enabler “”
Image credit: RaHuL Rodriguez
•groups and forums•inbox as arbiter•browse inbox rather than personalise and post•groups as filters•managing info-flow•issues with navigation
The online discussions are something you
probably wouldn’t get unless you went to
ULearn.
Sunday, 13 October 13
I had signed up but didn't use it. When I looked for advice about
iPads from ICT cluster facilitator she referred me there. It has been very
valuable. I had floods of advice from all around NZ when I asked a ques<on. Email advice of posts is also very good. I have even been able to pass on some things I've
learned -‐ pay back.
“
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bertknot/8236396151/sizes/m/
”
Community, rules and sharing the load
•Content over connections•Easy access to others•Safe and professional•Effectively facilitated•Ministry related
Sunday, 13 October 13
So what?
Sunday, 13 October 13
Implications: Teachers
•Consider extending inquiry using such networks beyond the school• Discuss ways to actively collaborate with others•Digital literacy development to maage information•Understand notions of professional learning•Look for opportunities to connect•Understand that filters need to be judiciously used
Sunday, 13 October 13
Implications: School leadership
•Consider personalised professional learning models• Learn within AND beyond school•Digital literacy professional learning•Integrate wider networks•Design blended professional learning Image: rafal.postcrossing
Sunday, 13 October 13
Implications: Policy level
•Coherent approach to blended professional learning across PLD, inc. online facilitation
•Understand the opportunities that networks might offer
•Support grass-roots community-driven approaches
•Extend effective PL facilitation models to include online/blended Image: florriebassingbourn!
Sunday, 13 October 13
Limitations
•Early adopters at the vanguard•Snapshot in time•Self-reported•Not tracked into schools
Image source: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Concrete_wall.jpg
Sunday, 13 October 13
...a final word...
“It’s a taonga...I like the way it feels like it is continually moving. It’s not static, it is continually evolving...it feels like it is breathing. And that it has got life.”
[‘Amanda’]
Sunday, 13 October 13
Q&A
Sunday, 13 October 13