1. The Age of Connection and the Connected Learner presented by: Anne Bartlett-Bragg

2. Learning in the Information Age Learning dominated by: Access Information – masses of it Google Delivery Distribution Focused on learning as an end product or acquisition model Some great examples – remember Froguts?? Brilliant use for hard to teach or hard to test abstract concepts Practice skills Interact or examine concepts, models or theories

3. Renovating learning with technology Adding technology to existing subjects / courses Converting materials to digital formats Adding computers to classrooms

4. Enhancing learning processes with technology Learner Management Systems (LMS) Enrolments, timetabling, student records Student / lecturer communication Asynchronous discussion boards Lectures notes, PowerPoint slides Do these processes really enhance the learning experience?

5. Learning in the Age of Connection Learning dominated by: Always on – continuous computing Laptops, handhelds, mobile phones Invisible, portable information fields Wireless networks Constant connectivity Increased levels of collaboration – beyond the classroom

6. Social Software Software that supports group interaction Software that lets people rendezvous, connect or collaborate…results in the creation of shared interactive spaces. Includes 1 or more of the following: Support for conversational interaction between individuals or groups (eg. IM or asynchronous discussion forums) Support for the development of personalised social networks –new connections –knowledge sharing - RSS

7. Social Software Applications IM Chat Weblogs Wikis RSS & aggregation – eg. Bloglines Social bookmarking - eg. Del.ici.ious Social sharing services – eg. Flickr

8. Let’s go exploring….. Wiki – wikispaces.orgwikispaces.org Social sharing services – eg. FlickrFlickr LTUG weblog Skype RSS & aggregation – eg. BloglinesBloglines Social bookmarking - eg. Del.icio.usDel.icio.us ELGG – Digital Dialogues

9. Social Software: Implications for Learning New learning theories: Connectivism: Learning is a process of connecting Maintaining connections Ability to see connections between ideas & concepts Managing information George Siemens (2005)

10. Social Software: Implications for Institutions Radically re-conceptualise the learning culture Changes the essence of what it means to communicate and learn Customisable Learning Landscapes Eg. ELGG – hybrid web-logging, e-Portfolios, and social networking

11. Social Software: Implications for Educators Opportunity to enrich the learning experience Landscape Architects or Designers Trusted source: guiding, advising on technology options, facilitating network contacts, Empowering learners to identify & customise their personal landscape

12. Social Software: The Challenges & Issues Connectivity / access Critical literacy Digital literacy Institutional IT policies Our (as educators) perceptions of teaching & learning

13. The future: If you don’t know where you are going, then it doesn’t matter which road you take, does it? Cheshire Cat Alice in Wonderland