Over the remainder of the Fall semester, I will complete another networked learning project. In a networked learning project, I will use the Internet, the connected learning community, and my own personal learning networks to teach myself something new. I will collect, curate, and synthesize this information into a final “presentation” of what I have learned.…
Behaviorist learning theory, a philosophy that maintains that a well-rounded understanding of the relationship between stimulus and response can promote desired behaviors within an individual has long been regarded as inconsequential to educators attempting to adapt to the needs of a 21st-century learner. Instead, behaviorism has been replaced by perspectives that promote constructivism, innovation, and…
Twitter is a communication tool that allows for open collaboration to aid in teaching, learning, and socializing online. Get Started To get started with Twitter, first, get an account. All you need is an email address and an idea for your Twitter handle (username). Choose something that relates to your interests, passion, superpower, or just…
Online learning has shown significant growth over the last decade as the Internet and other communication technologies are use to provide learners with the opportunity to gain new skills. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, online learning has become more of a reality in people’s lives. As our classrooms and learning spaces shift from public buildings to…
As a member of the Screentime Research Group, I’m often asked about how to talk about some of these concepts with youth. These questions usually center on “at what age should I…” or “how do I talk about…” when it comes to parenting in a digital age. As an example, I recently received this question,…
I was quoted in research from the Pew Research Center about the Next 50 Years of Digital Life. My comments were included in the section on concerns about technology being used for control and exploitation. Ian O’Byrne, an assistant professor of education at the College of Charleston, wrote, “I believe that technology, most notably these…
Together with Katie Paciga, Elizabeth Stevens, and Kristin Turner, I submitted a proposal for this call for papers from the Journal of Design Science. The call is a partnership between Wired Magazine, the MIT Media Lab, and the UC Irvine Connected Learning Lab. The special issue invites both empirical and conceptual papers from diverse perspectives…
To behaviorists, the mind is a “black box.” In science and engineering, the term black box refers to any complex device for which we know the inputs and outputs, but not the inner workings. For example, to many of us, our mobile devices are a black box. We push the buttons on the phone, select the app…
Children are meant to play games, chat with friends, tell stories, and mimic the social practices they see in the world around them. As they enter schools and learning systems, they continue this indoctrination into society as they study history, math, literacy, and build the content knowledge they’ll need to be empowered, productive members in…
My Wife and I ran the Cooper River Bridge Run last April with 27, 461 other finishers. It was our first 10K road race and a goal of ours after finishing several 5Ks. Road races are a big deal in our local area as the weather is “nice” throughout the year. The biggest race of…