conquering the myths of social media

Conquering the Myths of Social Media & Learning

George & Alec CourosDigital Learning Spring ConferenceApril 18, 2011Vancouver, BC

#edtechbc

introduction

context

Changes

Early Day of PC in Schools Todayʼs Social/Mobile Reality

David Wiley

@opencontent

Then vs Now

Analog Digital

Tethered Mobile

Isolated Connected

Generic Personal

Consumption Creating

Closed Open

David Wiley

@opencontent

Education vs Everyday

Analog Digital

Tethered Mobile

Isolated Connected

Generic Personal

Consumption Creating

Closed Open

George Siemens

• “Informal learning is a significant aspect of our learning experience. Formal education no longer comprises the majority of our learning.”

•

Informal Learning

http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm

this is not about technology

"You don't lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place

and making a case." ~ Ken Kesey

our shared myths

Each technology creates a new environment.

The old environment becomes content forthe new environment.

The effects of mediacome from their form

not their content.

Pier 21, 1958

Dad

• redefine communities, friends, citizenship, identity, presence, privacy, publics, geography.

• enable learning, communication, sharing, collaboration, community.

• networks form around shared interests & objects.

networks

http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2010/11/great-scott-over-35-hours-of-video.html

Justin Bieber

Amanda Hocking

Maria Aragon

Rebecca Black

Best Job in the World

Stephen Downes

• “Ten years ago, not one student in a hundred, nay, one in a thousand, could have produced videos like this. It’s a whole new skill, a vital and important skill, and one utterly necessary not simply from the perspective of creating but also of comprehending video communication today.

On Digital Video

38cc licensed flickr photo by jayRaz: http://flickr.com/photos/shnakepup/2935979173/

The greatest digital divide is between those who can read and write with media, and those who can't.Elizabeth Daly

From: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smieyetracking/5546549150/

From: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vagawi/3155400274/

Google Apps vs. Microsoft Office

Blogging vs. Journals

Twitter vs. Google

Students Leading the Way

Learning from each other creates more opportunities

Connections

Why Do Students Go to University?

Content

Social Life

Degrees

Support Services

(Wiley, 2010)

Why Do Students Go to University?

Content

Support ServicesSocial Life

Degrees

WikipediaPLoS

OCW

Open Courses

Google Scholar

arXiv.orgFlatworld K

MCSEGCT

ACT

CCNACNE

Facebook

MMOGsMySpace

Twitter

Yahoo! AnswersQuora

Skype

(Wiley, 2010)

ChaCha

Focus on Relationships

It comes back to this...

...and sometimes we justreach out

because we can.

We have to allow our studentsto create their own content.

Identity Day

Identity Day

“Your post about the Identity Fair held at your school was exactly the

type of activity I thought would help accomplish my overall goal of

being proactive against bullying.

Identity Day

conclusion

http://www.flickr.com/photos/admitchell08/2574455073

Let Go Of Control

Will Richardson

• “What happens to traditional concepts of classrooms and teaching when we can now learn anything, anywhere, anytime?”

21st Century Learning

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dolmansaxlil/4802611949/

Create a Culture of Sharing

Private Public

Closed Open

Real Learning

Learning Side-bySide

http://georgecouros.ca

http://connectedprincipals.com

http://budtheteacher.com/blog/2009/10/10/on-modeling/

George

Relationships

“We need to move beyond the idea that education is something

that is provided for us, and toward the idea that an education

is something that we create ourselves.”

(Downes, 2010)

Thank You for Learning with Us

Aleccouros@gmail.com

@courosa

Georgegeorgecouros@gmail.com

@gcouros