I dabbled with Twitter a few months back when Ashton Kutcher challenged Larry King to a Twitter popularity contest. However, beyond that, I didn't explore much further as I felt my Facebook social network sufficed to keep me connected. Yet, after attending the Leading and Learning Conference in Red Deer today, where I listened to Will Richardson, a top edublogger and author of "Blogs, Wikis, and
Podcasts," I realized I needed to give tweeting another shot. Richardson argues that Twitter offers "passion-based learners" a platform to connect with each other. His previous inspiration led me to start reading blogs and eventually blogging myself, and now I'm eager to dive back into tweeting.
Richardson emphasized the importance of social networks in education, urging educators to teach digital learners about their online presence and how they can connect with others beyond their physical surroundings to learn. He highlighted the emergence of a new literacy, the "literacy of learning" online. There are myriad ways to connect with like-minded individuals and explore shared interests and passions, from groups of cyclists sharing daring adventures on YouTube and forums, to individuals seeking answers to questions on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.
Here's a video Richardson shared during his presentation to illustrate the power of social networks facilitating online learning.
Upon watching this video of a 12-year-old boy seeking answers to his questions, it becomes evident that this transcends mere technology; it's about culture. Digital natives are growing up in a digital world, where the internet is an integral part of daily life.
What networks do you engage with to facilitate learning beyond your physical space?
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