The start of this learning journey was both exciting and terrifying. When I began, I had chosen to study the Masters in Education: Knowledge Networks & Digital Innovation to be a better teacher, to engage and reach into the world of the students I teach, the digital world, that they call home. I wanted to be able to confidently use the tools and traverse the information highways that would allow me to help my students to flourish in both their school and life-long journey.

INF530 has definitely begun this journey at a cracking pace. Logging onto Adobe Connect to access my tutor and class mates, creating and writing a blog, navigating the CSU student portal, writing my first critical literature review and creating a digital essay have challenged me to think like a ‘digital native.’

Authors like Brown, Thomas (2011) and Becker (2010)  have challenged my views on games and learning, Siemens has been a font of information, explaining the new learning ecology with succinct clarity.

I have been inspired by Salman Khan and Eddie Woo and their utilisation of the digital environment to make learning more relevant and by Sugata Mitra’s overarching vision to use digital technologies and connectivity to bring education to all children.

I am constantly learning new terms and concepts and will (when a certain digital essay is complete) delve into the ideas of Big Data and its uses in schools. I am fascinated and a little terrified by the thought of schools and institutions using data to map a learner’s journey for them. I do however believe as Siemens says that Learning Analytics can personalise the learning process for students. My concern lies in the lack of regulations around said data collection at the school level and the lack of knowledge in many a school staff.

I have a times struggled to interact with my fellow classmates, Twitter has been a perplexing treasure trove of information. Connecting with educators across the globe and nation has allowed me to study informatics, makerspaces and the globalisation of learning, but I have been a somewhat passive user of this tool, scrolling through, reading and clicking on links without engaging by commenting or retweeting. It is my goal to become an active user, to add to the education conversation on this global arena and positively affect the educational community.

I have, however been validated by the idea of online communities and their positive influence in the arena of learning. Whilst struggling to be an active member on Twitter I have actively participated in the many educational Facebook groups of which I am a member, asking and answering questions, adding resources and links and participating in questionnaires and forums.

At a classroom level, and some would argue the most important level I have begun the process of creating a Makerspace (Foote, 2013) within my own school environment. The readings and insights I have gathered from Module 5 have allowed me to confidently take my proposal to the administration and gain the go ahead to create my Makerspace. This allow is a fantastic achievement, the clarity I have gained from the information and experiences shared have allowed me to make a positive change for my students.

Learning ecologies, Meta data, APA referencing, connected learning environments, MMO’s, information pathways, twitter, blogging, time management, late nights, and early mornings have all been part of my INF530 journey and I look forward to becoming a more active user of twitter and forums and adding to the education conversation.

References

Becker, K. (2010). Distinctions between games and learning: A review of current literature on games in education. In R. Van Eck (Ed.), Gaming and cognition: Theories and practice from the learning sciences (pp. 22-54). Hershey, PA: . doi:10.4018/978-1-61520-717-6.ch002

Brown, J. S., & Thomas, D. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. CreateSpace, Scotts Valley.

Foote, C. (2013). Making space for makerspaces. Internet@Schools, 20(4), 26-27.

Useful Links:

Masters in Education: Knowledge Networks & Digital Innovation: http://futurestudents.csu.edu.au/courses/teaching-education/master-education-knowledge-networks-digital-innovation

Adobe Connect: https://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect/meetings.html

Blog: https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/awood/

Digital native: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/digital-native.asp

Brown: http://www.johnseelybrown.com/bio.html

Thomas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0XR7CDD9Zs

Salman Khan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDF84DMMx7w

Eddie Woo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjIHB8WzJek

Sugata Mitra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3jYVe1RGaU&t=167s

Learning Analytics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idHxNSTZhNM