CHAPTER ONE:

I have finished chapter 1 from the book Personal Learning Networks, Using the Power of Connection to Transform Education, written by Will Richardson and Rob Mancabelli.  Because I'm only through the introduction and the first chapter I still have an open mind and many thoughts bouncing around in my head.  Understanding the power of personal learning networks is very important because of the effects they can have.

I may not agree that all the network effects are positive however, I do agree that these effects are present in schools that are immersed in global learning networks.


1. Students are better prepared for life and work in the 21st century.
2. Classrooms are more engaging.
3. Students are responsible for their own learning.
4. Instruction is more individualized.
5. Adults become better at their jobs and build problem-solving capacity.
6. Students are safer.
7. Schools save time and money.

I do believe that schools with more technology and global networking can better prepare students for life in the 21st century.  It is clear that technology has advanced extreme amounts and will continue to advance so it is important for younger generations to be prepared.  Global learning networks can make classrooms more engaging but I feel that it also gives students the opportunity to get off task easier. Students being responsible for their own learning and instruction being more individualized has its hight points.  As shown by the author students would be more interested in their work and they could create their own text with resources that fit their learning style instead of a generic textbook.  In my opinion, there needs to be some sort of control and organization in the classroom.  It brings about the question, how might this affect state standards? I completely agree that adults become better at their jobs and build problem-solving capacity because global networks would give the opportunity for feedback.  Teachers need to be active learners and this allows them to actively learn all the time.  Educating students on how technology works and the dangers of that can keep students safer however, the internet can be unsafe even if you are aware of the dangers.  Opening global technology to kids at an early age has the possibility to be very unsafe when used improperly.  Lastly, I can see how networking can save schools time but money?  Technology is very expensive and some schools have trouble affording generic textbooks.

Any school can make changes toward being more globally networked.  This change will not be easy and it will take time but in the end I think it will be worth it.  Transformation in technology is going to happen whether we like it or not, so instead of fighting against it we might as well work with it to transform education.