Self-Directed Learning in a PLN

AAACE Annual Conference, 2010Clearwater, FL

Terry Carter, tjcarter@vcu.eduJeff Nugent, jsnugent@vcu.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University

Enhancing Self-Directed Learning through a Personal Learning Network

networked communication

collective knowledge

video / communicationsearch ++

resource sharing

publish videocommunication

collective knowledge

resource sharing

publish audiocommunication

resource sharing

networked communication

publish images

publish text

networking / collaboration

publish media

communicationtools

resource sharing

collectiveknowledge

socialnetworking

Platform of Participation

Open Educational Content

Self-directed LearningKnowles’s 1975 definition

“a process in which individuals take the initiative, with or

without the help of others, in diagnosing their learning

needs, formulating learning goals, identifying human and

material resources for learning, choosing and implementing

appropriate learning strategies, and evaluating learning

outcomes” (p. 18)

Adapted from Warlick, 2009

PLN

dynamicallymaintained asynchronous connectionsNews, web

searches

Blogs, wikis, SNS Social

bookmarks

Social Media (Flickr,

YouTube)

Podcasts, open

source resources

RSS feedaggregator

personally and sociallymaintainedsemi-synchronousconnections

Professional Colleagues

(distant & local)Family, Friends, Others

blogs, Twitter, wikis, mobile phones, SNS

Learner

Family, Friends Others

ProfessionalColleagues

(distant & local)

Telephone, desktop

teleconference, chat, IM, virtual

worlds

personallymaintainedsynchronousconnections

resource sharing

Help Learners Create a PLN

Model the process and

share strategies

Join a professional

social network

Begin reading &

commenting professional

blogs of interest

Join the micro-

blogging community with Twitter

Expand your Web 2.0

presence with the

creation of blogs, wikis,

and your own SNS

What skills are needed to engage in

learning that is open, social and

networked?

SimulationDistributed cognition

Collective intelligence

Judgment

Networking

NegotiationAppropriation

Multi-tasking

Transmedianavigation

Performance through improvisation

Play throughexperimen-tation

Jenkins, 2006

resource sharing

What Challenges Do You See in Helping Learners

Become More Self-Directed through the

development of a PLN?

ReferencesFreeman, L. C. (2004). The development of social network analysis: A study in the sociology

science. Vancouver: Empirical Press.

Granovetter, M. S. (1983). The strength of weak ties: A network theory revisited. Sociological Theory, 1, 201-233. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/202051

Knowles, M. S. (1975). Self-directed learning: A guide for learners and teachers. Chicago, IL: Association Press.

Jenkins, H. (2006). Confronting the challenges of participatory culture: Media education for the 21st century. Boston: MIT Press and The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur

Foundation Reports on Digital Media. Retrieved from http://digitallearning.macfound.org/atf/cf/%7B7E45C7E0-A3E0- 4B89-AC9C-E807E1B0AE4E%7D/JENKINS_WHITE_PAPER.PDF

Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Marsick, V. J., & Watkins, K. E. (1990). Informal and incidental learning in the workplace. New York, NY: Routledge.

Warlick, D. (2009, March-April). Grow your personal learning network. Leading and Learning with Technology, 36(6), 12-16.

Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning, and identity. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Wenger, E., McDermott, R. A., & Snyder, W. (2002). Communities of practice: A guide to managing knowledge. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.

on