1. LEARNING AT YOUR SERVICE OPENER #10Chapter 11: Personalise Networks of Learning Summary BY Michael NKWENTI NDONGFACK MIDT STUDENT, OUM

2. THE NETWORK SOCIETY “we are a network society now-network individuals connected with each other in a mesh of loosely knit, overlapping the flat connections” Yochai Benkler

3. BUSINESS FLEXIBILITY IN THE NETWORK SOCIETY The world is open, access to educational resources are widen, opportunities are being created and supporting each other is the routine. Schools, business, government, politics etc are all benefitting .

4. RECURRENT PRACTICES OF TODAY’S WEB USERS Checking and updating blogs; Monitoring specific pages in wikipedia; Sending survey questionnaires to friends; Adding new friends to networks; Listening to podcast detailing an up coming event; Discussion via instant messaging etc The net generation regularly share and collaborate with their peers online

5. Social networking tools Browsing the internet is the key practice of most people around the globe nowadays and social networking tools are the most widely used. These tools vary from one country to another and from continent to continent. The most popular of all is Facebook. The growth recorded by Facebook can be illustrated by the success graph. Facebook grew from 7 million people in 2006 to 69 million people in 2008. In February 2009, it was the 5th most visited site in the world and the 2nd in the United Kingdom and other countries.

6. Views from Mark Franek on how Web 2.0 can transform classroom practice With the incorporation of Web 2.0 technologies in classroom practices: Students become more attentive to their thinking and work; Reflection and higher-order thinking is fostered ; Students can have access to authors, professors, journalists, critics and other experts and celebrities hence find mentors to develop their interest in specific subject area. Web 2.0 tools enables learners connectivity and learning becomes more flexible. Mark Franek

7. Benefits of Social networking sites Social benefits using tools like Facebook and MySpace: Membership with a group of friends is flexible; Information feeds on friends’ lives is eminent; Job posting, event notification, chatting, emailing, group activities are prominent; Etc . Educationally benefits using tools like Moodle, Sakai, Desire2learn: Virtual learning activities are possible; Etc . Social Networking tools brings the world into your palms “The tools for creation and sharing, including podcast, blogs, social networking software, wikis, and online photo albums are dramatically changing the educational landscape”. Curtis Bonk

8. Accessibility to centuries of archives via social networks Through blogs, we have access to archives written centuries ago and can also make comments on them. We also have access to trails of thought and can search for themes. Visits to interesting areas mentioned in blogs is possible through Google map.

9. Virtual world bridge The web is seen as a virtual world bridge linking learning communities together and connecting businesses.

10. The flexibility of learning a spoken language online More and more languages continue to be available online. We do not need go to a language centre to learn a language. With Web 2.0 technologies, we can learn how to speak a language online using multimedia devices. The Web has revolutionised learning practices.

11. Social networks for language learning Livemocha offering the for learners to learn a new language while at home and making new friends as the learn along. It was created by ShirishNadkarni. Its free Mixxer, a free educational community for language learners created by Todd Bryant. It offers possibilities for public chat and skypecast, document exchange and real time events FriendsAbroad and; About.com owned by the New Yorks times. It offers free language training and resources in eight languages.

12. ChinesePod complementing other social networks for language learning ChinesePod is used as an alternative to FriendsAbroad, Mixxer and Livemocha to teach Mandarin Chine through Podcasting. It provides daily conversations and lessons with native-speaking teachers using Skype. Learning is constructed around the learners’ need. “Online technology liberates potential Chinese learners from traditional physical, time, and teacher constrain” Jenny Zhu

13. KanTalk and ECpod adds to other language social network sites The internet has established virtual bridges around the every country until the world has become one global village. KanTalk and Ecpod are just adding to other language learning communities to further narrow communication barriers widening educational opportunities. Learning other languages and cultures opens up the educational world. “When one person finds success, we all do, even if it was with someone else’s product, invention, or idea” Curtis Bonk

14. Flexibility of getting a tutor or mentor online The dilemma of getting a home tutor in a story of the past; Abandoning your job and family for further studies is history; The constraints of the four walls confinement in the name of classrooms is more relax today.

15. Flexibility of getting a tutor or mentor online continue.. With the advent of the Web: One-to-one online tutoring and mentoring opportunities; Multitude sites offering online tutoring and mentoring; Apprenticeship training is more practical than ever before with special simulated software with a one-to-one mentoring support; Etc.

16. Learning is more open in connected networks with individuals supporting each other “Increased human connection, mentoring and networking are just apparent in this learning opener, they are the trend! The Open!” Curtis Bonk

17. Personalised learning Personalised learning elevates human learning and provides opportunities for learners to learn at their convenience.

18. The future of personalised learning “The next few years will propel us more deeply into personalised learning options as well as the pedagogical approaches for establishing or pursuing them” Curtis Bonk

19. End of presentation Thanks for your kind attention The images used in the presentation were obtained from http://www.crystalgraphics.com/powerpictures