The Connected Educator Chapter 2 Thoughts

 

        In chapter 2 of The Connected Educator, authors Sheryl Nussbaum and Lani Ritter Hall claim that connected learning in communities is very much needed, especially in today’s digital age. That is their new model for professional development: connected learning communities. Nussbaum and Ritter argue that although professional learning communities such as high-schools with face-to-face connections are valuable, they aren’t enough. They believe that a new model of professional development is needed today for educators. Their model transforms teachers’ traditional network by creating community offline and online. Having access to communication with other learners/ educators all over the world allows everybody to think about fresh ideas. The connected learning community model encourages a 3-pronged approach to effective professional development:

1. Local community: a professional learning community (PLC) -Traditional face-to-face connections

2. Global network: A personal learning network (PLN) -Online connections with diversifies groups of people/ resources

3. Bounded community: A community of practice or inquiry (CoP) -Group of people who share interests and feel a need for deeper connections than PLC or PLN

Professional learning communities are a team focus. Just sitting in a traditional classroom or accounting office would illustrate this. Personal learning networks remind me of college in a way. Students are responsible for pursuing their own self-directed and independent learning experience. In many professions there is a need for online connections as an opportunity to advance their work, learn about other companies, etc.

       

        Members of connected learning communities learn by creating connections between ideas, experiences, and information. They learn by interacting, sharing, commenting, and creating content. Individuals may have a way of defending and sharing their own opinions/ views and reflecting on personal experiences. By sharing, learners can have many takeaways- even if they are across the world. In a profession, employees are always looking for ways to advance their work. When accountants work together and collaborate, most of the time they will be able to produce more accurate data. On top of that, it can be produced faster which would then allow for more timely decisions.

        Networks are very personal and individuals have the freedom to choose their own set of connections and how they learn. In my future profession as an accountant, I could participate in this reciprocal learning system by sharing my knowledge and then learning from my colleagues/ peers. I believe that sharing and collaborating is probably one of the most important aspects of learning in a digital age and being connected.

        As an aspiring accountant, networking would help me stay current in the accounting industry. I’d be able to learn the latest news, trends, and practices by talking to others in my field, whether it is with somebody face-to-face or someone across the world electronically. Online networking allows for individuals to gain exposure to new ideas and think of subjects in different ways that they may not have thought of. Some fresh ideas may give me the ability to benefit my company. Technology can be used as a connection to learn and teach, and it would be in everybody’s best interest. Various online tools enable people from all over the world to connect, collaborate, and learn. Some of these tools include blogs, twitter, skype, and many more online apps and methods of communication. There are numerous opportunities to discover the learning potential of online collaboration and networking tools. As a result, individuals can begin to use the technologies and techniques to their benefit for learning and carry them on into their profession. These tools and technologies make it possible for anybody to be an autonomous learner in today's new digital environment.