The above Mind Map shows my crazy world of connectivity!
Now, I have not listed Facebook because I just deactivated my account (with the option of reactivating it at any time). This has caused a feeling of "disconnectedness" in me, but it has also allowed me to have a few extra minutes to devote to something else. The convenience of networking and the online environment has a great impact on my life on a daily basis. I work from home. I teach for several online colleges and generate an income greater or equal to that of working in the traditional classroom. Flexibility from networking has created more opportunities and allowed me to excel in my educational studies as well as my career and social life.
My network has changed the way that I learn by providing me with this flexibility. I worked my way through school and was unable to major in Education in my undergraduate studies because at that time, online courses for this major were not offered and I could not discontinue working and supporting myself to student teach. I found a program at an online college that would allow me to complete my bachelor's degree in English and continue to work. I worked toward this goal and then I was able to secure a teaching position through the alternate route method. I still had to complete my teacher licensure qualifications via the traditional on-ground college course and I did this at night. I continued to work toward my master's degree via traditional college night courses. I succeeded in this and proceeded to find an online program to complete my Ph.D. At first, there was nothing online that I wanted to specialize in, but Walden launched their Educational Technology specialization and I knew it was what I had been looking for. I have been working on my doctoral degree program as I transitioned from public school teaching to online college teaching. I guess you could say my network is very important because I found my first online college position from meeting a classmate in one of my first Walden Ed Tech courses. Things have progressed from that point until I was able to resign my traditional classroom and work from home.
The online learning environment has become a part of my daily world. There were many things that I did not understand and I found that I lost knowledge as the technology world progressed without me during my time in the traditional classroom. Even now, I believe I am still not able to stay on the cutting edge of technology because it changes so rapidly. I am just beginning to understand the terminology of "Jing" and "Presi" and many new ways to interact via technology. There is so much out there and I want to prepare myself to contribute to learning by bringing my classroom into the 21st Century. Networking and being connected to others through technology as a student and as an instructor helps me to learn the latest developments and resources for making instruction as effective as possible.
I have self-taught by accessing as much information as possible about applications I am not familiar with and I continuously attend webinars and explore tutorials to help me to master new technology. I am a visual and kinesthetic learner, so "playing" with the technology helps me to familiarize myself with it. Videos and anything visual help me to learn more quickly rather than reading text only. The more interactive the tutorial, the better for me.
Blogging is my new way of free writing and I type more quickly than I can write. While I still love classic literature and I have a library of hard copies, without technology, I would be lost!
Go networking!
Cynthia
Here is a description of my Mind Map:
Social:
Skype
Blogs
Educational:
Blogs
Skype
Walden Classroom
Wikispaces
Work:
Anthem College Online Networks
CCI Online Networks
Grand Canyon University Online Networks
Blogs, Email, and Skype overlap from social to educational and some into work. I hope that in the future, it will be a crazy mass of overlapping as I connect all aspects of my world.
Cynthia
ReplyDeleteI love how you put the fact of feeling "disconnectivism" when you deactivated your facebook account. I did the same thing for a few months and thought I was going to go crazy just not knowing what was going on in everybody's life. Before the days of facebook I wouldn't have a clue what was going on with all of my old high school classmates but now I feel lost if I don't check the updates at least daily.
Makes me wonder what our students would do without the feeling of "connectivism" that they have all grown up with.
Thanks for sharing......very interesting post!
Brandy
Networking with others outside of our small bubble that we may work with in a face to face school I believe allows us to grow as learners. I have learned many ideas from my networking through Walden.
ReplyDeleteI have thought about closing down Facebook, but then like to have that connection with family and friends if needed. However, I decided last school year to limit my checking. I don't need to know the minute by minute updates some give. A once a week or so check is good enough for me.
Cynthia,
ReplyDeleteI think you are doing great, keeping up with the latest technology to stay connected. The only way we can get ahead of the technological curve is if we are the ones creating the technology. Hmm?
I like your linkage between educational and social networking. I am finding more and more, my educational life and my social life are connecting through every point. Good use of networking through technology to gain employment.
-Marc
Brandy, Kellie, and Marc,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. It is tempting to reactivate my Facebook account. I may give in soon. I do miss the updates, but I think I will be satisfied to visit less often than I did previously. Connectivism is an interesting concept and one that I am going to continue to ponder a bit more.
Cynthia