The Read/Write Web challenges us to rethink the information delivery model of traditional schooling. Instead of teaching a large amount of content, we may want to consider spending more time teaching our students to be self-sufficient, lifelong learners who are able to find, evaluate, and apply content relevant to their needs at any given moment. In this environment, that might best be accomplished by showing them how to create and maintain their own learning networks in which they participate in the give and take of knowledge and experiences. These learning networks can be structured, as in MySpace or Facebook, or can be more "loosely joined" as when a large group of bloggers with similar passions find each other and begin to interact online. One learning theory that embraces that vision is Connectivism, which attempts to make sense of how best to learn in a world that is flooded with information. This module will look at how connectivism might fit into your own practice and goes over some of the tools for network creation that are currently on the Web.

Module Six Activity Checklist

Open the Learning Activity Checklist (pdf).

The Checklist can be saved to your local drive by clicking Save on the toolbar. As you complete Module Assignments, check them off on this electronic copy. Alternatively, you can print a copy to complete.

Module Six Objectives

At the completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Understand how social networks work and what their main appeal is.
• Analyze how networked learning communities are supported by emerging Web technologies.
• Describe how the nature of knowledge, learning, and teaching are changed by emerging Web technologies.
• Evaluate how emerging Web technologies support student learning.
• Use Web technologies to find and connect with educators around the world.