Building Student Networks:Towards a Connectivist Analysis of Classroom Learning Environments

A paper given at EdMedia 2015

Transcript

1. Towards a Connectivist Analysis of Classroom Learning Environments Building Student Networks Dr. Gerald Ardito! Pace University! EdMedia 2015
2. Be careful what you wish for It all started with an insight What would it look like if students drove their own learning?
3. Conceptual Framework
4. Conceptual Framework Distributed Constructionism "(Distributed Constructionism) focuses particularly on the use of computer networks to support students working together on design and construction activities, and it argues that these types of activities are particularly effective in supporting the development of knowledge- building communities." Resnick, 1996.
5. Conceptual Framework Connectivism "At its heart, connectivism is the thesis that knowledge is distributed across a network of connections, and therefore that learning consists of the ability to construct and traverse those networks." Downes, 2007.
6. Research Questions
7. Research Questions 1. What type of learning environments can promote self-directed learning in middle school science students?! ! 2. How does a self-directed learning environment (re)shape student learning networks?
8. If you build it ... Instructional (Re) Design Is this my beautiful house?
9. If your only tool is a hammer ... How did it work? You may find yourself in another part of the world
10. A journey of one thousand miles... Where are we going? What's the Big Idea?
11. The Tools
12. Follow the yellow brick road... Moodle Building a container for learning
13. There is no try. Do or do not. Google Docs Sharing is caring
14. What we have here... Edmodo Easy communication
15. What it looked like
16. Findings
17. Findings ❖ Students did as well or better on state mandated year end exams!! ❖ Student work demonstrated more depth than in previous years! ❖ Students managed themselves spontaneously, creatively, and productively! ! ❖ Students' learning networks were enlarged and made more robust for the most part (success was correlated to having viable networks)
18. Regents Scores Year 1
19. Regents Scores Year 2
20. Run silent, run deep Depth of Student Work Sometimes more is more
21. Intrinsic Motivation Students Managing Themselves "Conditions supporting the individual’s experience of autonomy, competence, and relatedness are argued to foster the most volitional and high quality forms of motivation and engagement for activities" Selfdetermination.org
22. How were the students connected Types of Student Networks Getting connected. Staying connected
23. Student networks Traditional Classrooms A small number of nodes
24. Student networks Constructivist Classrooms More than a sum of parts
25. New Student Networks How were students connected? More than a sum of parts Pairs Parallel Play Mother Hen
26. A rising tide raises all boats Next steps Learning from failure.