David Truss (via @sabridv) suggests what we can do with tools to make them great
1. Give students choice
2. Give students a voice.
3. Give students an audience.
4. Give students a place to collaborate.
5. Give students a place to lead.
6. Give students a digital space to learn.
Compare this list to:
- Stephen Downes Connectivism Principles:
1- Autonomy
2- Diversity
3- Openness
4- Interactivity and Connectedness
and to
- Chickering and Gamson Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education
1. encourages contact between students and faculty,
2. develops reciprocity and cooperation among students,
3. encourages active learning,
4. gives prompt feedback,
5. emphasizes time on task,
6. communicates high expectations, and
7. respects diverse talents and ways of learning.
As George Siemens posted, It’s not about tools. It’s about change.
It’s the change underlying these tools that I’m trying to emphasize. Forget blogs…think open dialogue. Forget wikis…think collaboration. Forget podcasts…think democracy of voice. Forget RSS/aggregation…think personal networks. Forget any of the tools…and think instead of the fundamental restructuring of how knowledge is created, disseminated, shared, and validated.
