A few weeks ago I began a series of posts that focused on the idea of 21st Century Literacy.  Several organizations, including the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, NCREL/Metri Group, and ISTE have created frameworks that articulate what it means to be literate in the contemporary sense.  Using their work as a guide, we have identified several key literacies for our students:

• Basic Literacy
• Visual/Media Literacy
• Information LIteracy
• Citizenship and Ethical Literacy
• Network Literacy
• Intercultural  Literacy

I’ve previously addressed the first four of these concepts, and the nature and value of Global Literacy are known to most everyone.  To conclude our introduction to 21st Century Literacy, I will focus on one of the most critical yet least understood of the new literacies: Network Literacy.

The Power of the Network

We have all seen commercials from Cisco, Verizon, and other high-tech corporations extolling the virtues and power of “the network.”  And while these advertisements are designed to sway consumers, they carry an important message for educators; there is strength and knowledge in numbers.  In today’s world, knowledge is decentralized and easily distributed.  The nature of networks, be they professional, social, or academic, has changed.  The constraints of time and space no longer apply, and we are shifting from a culture of isolation to connectivism.   As author and elearning expert Jay Cross noted,

“What can you do?” has been replaced with “What can you and your network connections do?”  Knowledge itself is moving from the individual to the individual and his contacts.

If we are to leverage the potential of this new, interconnected environment, we must come to understand the nature of networks as they relate to teachers, students, and the teaching-learning process.

The Networked Teacher

In May, we were fortunate to have Dr. Alec Couros, a professor of educational technology and media at the University of Regina, visit our campus and share his insight on Networked Possibilities.  Alec’s presentation provided an excellent overview of networking and is well worth revisiting.  Consider this image he created depicting the Typical Teacher Network:

Although familiar to all, this paradigm will not foster Network Literacy.  Instead, we need to collectively shift our practice to reflect the nature of the Networked Teacher:

Alec’s graphic illustrates a personal learning network (PLN), a dynamic, interactive collection of resources that extends beyond the classroom.  Notice that the elements of the typical teacher network are not replaced in this new model, but rather are complimented by myriad tools that support a bi-directional exchange of information and ideas.  The Networked Teacher benefits from being part of a system that truly expands possibilities.

The Networked Student

Students have ample networking opportunities that begin at a very early age. From preschoolers exploring Club Penguin to teens interacting on Facebook, social networks have become prevalent for many of today’s youth.  While these social sites have received considerable attention as of late (and not all of it positive), the Networked Student also understands the academic advantages of networking:

YouTube Direkt

Learning can be social and collaborative, and we can help students develop personal learning networks that mirror our own.  We must remember, though, that while we may be the center of our PLN, we might not be the center of theirs.

Teaching, Learning, and Network Literacy

In the words of Will Richardson, Network Literacy is “The ability to create, grow and navigate personal learning networks in safe, ethical, and effective ways.”  Students will engage in the networked world with or without us; our guidance can help them make responsible choices.

The teaching-learning potential for approaching education as a collective effort, as opposed to an isolated endeavor, can be transformative.  The network is always learning and more knowledgeable than its individual components…and that’s the power of the network.

Posted: 12|15|08 at 3:47 pm. Filed under: Literacy, Social Networks.
Comment | Trackback