Production 9: Connecting Connected Learning to Everyday Worlds/Practices & Passions
As educators, we are exposed to the minds of our learners who are capable of building their own connected learning environment. Connected learning, as outlined in the reading, addresses the gap between in-school and out-of-school learning, intergenerational disconnects and new equity gaps arising from the privatization of learning. It happens when an individual ties together his/her interests, peer networks, and school accomplishments to have a positive learning experience. It can happen when there is a collaboration of ideas, when different learning styles/multimodalities work together, and when access to technology is feasible and beneficial to learning. The connected learning model uses a sociocultural learning theory as their model and addresses the issue many educators and institutions face with young people, which is providing pathways to opportunity for all youth. “Young people can have diverse pathways into connected learning. Schools, homes, afterschool clubs, religious institutions, and community centers and the parents, teachers, friends, mentors and coaches that young people find at these diverse locales, all potentially have a role to play in guiding young people to connected learning” (Gutiérrez et. al, 2013, p.8) Connected learning is the most authentic when young people are able to share their interests with peers, when teachers/educators/people who work with youth create and plan student-interest learning and when youth have access to quality, safe environments where their ideas can be shared in a positive space that encourages them to problem-solve, collaborate and share their individual ideas. Connected learning is beneficial to the 21st century learner as it recognizes the differences between past and current approaches to education. For those in favor of connected learning, technology and young people’s digital media use is seen as resourceful kinds of learning and literacy young people are gaining. Connected learning gives a voice to all youth, including those who are viewed in our society as ‘non-dominant.’ As an educator, this approach to learning can be extremely beneficial to our students both in and out of the classroom because it allows students to see their opinions and ideas as valuable in addition to exposing them to the many creative outlets in which to share their ideas.
References
Ito, M., Gutiérrez, K., Livingstone S., Salen, K., Schor S., Sefton-Green, Watkins, C. (2013). Connected Learning: An Agenda for Research and Design. Irvine, CA: Digital Media and Learning Research Hub