Public Speaking Activity: Take 10 minutes and think about one of the worst leaders, managers, or bosses you ever experienced. You will be giving an impromptu speech in class following your ten minute prep period. What is the best way to use your time to prepare such a short speech? The speech should be 2 minutes long.
What is a Personal Learning Network and why are we talking about it...?
Let us start with a definition from Wikipedia of Personal Learning Network as a start: A personal learning networkis aninformal learningnetwork that consists of the people a learner interacts with and derives knowledge from in apersonal learning environment (PLE). In a PLN, a person makes a connection with another person with the specific intent that some type of learning will occur because of that connection. Learners create connections and develop a network that contributes to their professional development and knowledge.The learner does not have to know these people personally or ever meet them in person.
One aspect is that the learner contribute and derive knowledge in a PLEthrough various nodes.In this way, the learner chooses which mediums (digital, F2F, P2P,) and social media to build a PLN. Specifically, the learner chooses whom to interact with in these media and how much to participate. Learners enters thePLEwith certain goals, needs, interests, motivations and problems that are often presented to the people they include in their PLN.Moreover, the learner will collaborate and connect differently with various members. The learner will establish stronger relationships with some members and have a low level of connection with others. Not all nodes will be equal.Some of the member roles include searcher, assembler designer of data, innovator of subject matter, and researcher.
PLNs are becoming an important part of professional development in several fields with some businesses creating their own e-learning content and PLEs for their employees. In addition, PLNs have become prevalent in the field of education and are rapidly becoming adopted as centers for the diaspora of field related information (in this regard, they are also often referred to as PROFESSIONAL Learning Networks).
WHY DEVELOP A PERSONAL LEARNING NETWORK?
This is one of the best ways of using all available resources to improve and manage your own learning. Any network is about PEOPLE, PROCESS, and SYSTEMS (TECHNOLOGY).
PEOPLE: Anyone you can interact with to help you learn. Friends, fellow students, family, teachers, mentors and coaches, and subject matter experts (SMEs).
PROCESS: HOW, WHEN, and WHERE do YOU LEARN and COLLABORATE. Is it digital, Face to Face (F2F), or Person to Person (P2P)? Do you learn during school (07:30 am to 2:15pm), at home during homework time, at work, or throughout the day? It isn't all about technology, sometimes you meet people to talk with them about things you want to learn.
SYSTEMS (What Web 2.0 types of technology do you use?): Internet, Blogs, wikis, social media, etc. How do you use information technology to gain access to info about things you want to learn, to learn faster and more in depth? Besides texting, Google search, twitter, and Facebook what Web 2.0 technologies do you know?
Developing a PLN will help you now as a student and in your future life as a professional, so lets get started!! This will also help you in your Cadet Innovation Project....
Take 10 minutes to form a 2 minute short speech about the possibility of HOW a teenager could change the world, their country, state, city, school, or community.
Cadet Innovation Project....I know you think I am crazy...what can you a teenager do to affect the lives of others, let alone the world. After watching this YouTube video, how can you still think that....? Remember it all starts with with YOU being curious about something that you are interested in or something that bothers you that you want to fix. What are you curious about? What do you have a passion for learning about or a particular challenge or problem you want to fix? You need to use your imagination...?
The key to a successful student - teacher team has to do with the three R's: Relationship, Relevance, and Rigor. The term Relationship has to do with the professional rapport (empathy & understanding) between the student and the teacher. The term Relevance has to do with the teacher ensuring the student understands "how" the curriculum being taught relates to what the student needs and wants to learn. The term Rigor relates to the teacher ensuring the relevant curriculum being taught is challenging and causes the student to reach in their learning. PURPOSE: To share some things about yourself so your teacher will understand you better and support your self development to learn.
IN-CLASS TASK:
This is an in-class assignment where you will complete a written assignment with the purpose of telling your SNSI about yourself.
This will be a minimum of two pages in length and is between you the student and the SNSI.
Your Autobiography will include the following:
NAME AND GRADE
DESCRIBE YOURSELF
FAMILY BACKGROUND
STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
GOALS FOR HIGH SCHOOL
GOALS FOR NJROTC
GOALS FOR LIFE
ANYTHING ELSE YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE?
TURN IN THIS ASSIGNMENT BY THE END OF THE CLASS PERIOD.
