Blog Post # 7

The Networked Student
The web and the use of all the different resources are so important in helping us learn about various topics. The internet has become a main source for research and and learning. This is such a vital tool that can be used in the classroom in a variety of ways. The internet is also easily accessible and you can find the information you need within minutes at the click of a button. This is changing the way we do so many things in our society.

The video we watched is about how to use networking effectively and how students can build their own personal learning network. This is a very valuable lesson for students to learn and utilize in their learning process. They need to know how to find valuable resources such as websites, articles, and other's blogs. The student in the video uses the internet and things such as mp3 players to connect with others around the world to increase his knowledge of the topic he is researching. This connects him with some of the best professors from around the world and their ideas and opinions on different subjects.

Teachers are very valuable in the classroom and can not be replaced. In the video they discuss several ways that the teacher helps the student in their process. It is made clear that without the teacher, the student's creation of a PLN from the video would not be as successful . She was a major part of guiding him through the process and helping him determine what was useful and factual information. Although technology is continuing to increase, the need for teachers will never decrease. The teacher and student relationship is a vital part of the students learning process. The teacher wants the student to learn about the technology so he can become successful in the 21st century.

A 7th graders Personal Learning Environment
In this video, a 7th grade student talks about her Personal Learning Network. She has set it up to include personal and school resources. She is very knowledgeable about the different ways to use her PLN and really enjoys using it for her school work. Technology being a major part of her school work is something that she really likes. It makes it a lot more engaging, helps her be a self learner, and gives her greater responsibilities. I hope that my PLN can become as in depth and useful to me as it is to her. I want to continue to grow my network and make it beneficial to me as a future educator.