Personal+Learning+Space

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Whether you call it Personal Learning Environment or Space or Universe, by any name, this concept refers to one's stance and knowledge of how to learn in a digital age. Consider knowing how to connect, communicate, collaborate, research, create, manage, and curate to be some of the most important new literacies.



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"Why aren't we really working on expanding our capabilities?" -- Doug Englebart, early computer innovator, The Mother of All Demos

We are in ECI 521! The course design and its emphasis on everyone's contributions to our collaborative inquiry creates a sandbox for new literacies and technologies. Consider this an opportunity to "expand your capabilities" as you explore new tools/resources and create communities and networks of others interested in learning through literature with young adults. That's what a Personal Learning Environment (PLE) is all about.

=**Tools for Communication**=

Open Communication -- you, course colleagues, and the world. . . Blogging -- WordPress -- lots of customization; easy to pick up (recommended). Here's an exceptionally well-done tutorial by Georgia McCabe. You'll find an abundance of materials when you google to learn about how to begin blogging. If you find anything extremely helpful, please share. Blogger -- also easy to begin Tumblr -- image-rich possibilities

For ways to post to your blog beyond text. . . Soundcloud -- easy to record or upload files that you can then embed in your blog post. Eyejot -- record yourself on video and easily embed in your blog or simply use iMovie / Moviemaker to record yourself and upload to YouTube. You can then embed in your blog post.

Twitter -- Bookhenge Tweets ; Culture Tutorial -- Twitter for Teachers VoiceThread -- we'll use VoiceThread for making audio commentaries for activities, including our Journey Books and various Collaborative Critical Inquiries. VoiceThread Help . ..

Closed Communication -- you and me Google Docs -- serves well for your Reflective Assessment Process; simply "share with collaborators" when it's ready for me to respond. Learn more . ..

=**Tools for Collaboration**= //(helpful for virtual book clubs)// //CoSketch --// consider this an asynchronous (or synchronous) whiteboard that you can use to collaboratively create visual thinking. Google Docs -- many book clubs have found organization easier by using this tool. [|Twitter]-- book clubs could agree on a hashtag and tweet so that all messages appear on one page. Culture Tutorial -- Twitter for Teachers Webspiration -- really interesting tool for using visual learning to begin a virtual book club or any project. Collaboratively build concept maps or book maps with discussion questions about books. VoiceThread -- we'll use VoiceThread for making audio commentaries for activities, including our Journey Books and various Collaborative Critical Inquiries. VoiceThread Help . ..

= = =**Tools for Curating**= Diigo -- We have a course Diigo group for curating resources that we find and create -- The Bookhenge Group To learn to Diigo . .. Zotero -- free service for bookmarking and providing citations for online sources. You can even form groups for collaborative projects. Wikis -- Wikispaces provides Pro Account wikis for educators. Begin here. . . Symbaloo -- very visual way to archive and/or present resources

=**Tools for Bookcasting**=

Bookcast Production-Transaction Cost Matrix (includes the "Teachable Moment" copyright video and sources for royalty-free music and images.) New Tools for Video Slide Shows Creative Commons-licensed Materials? Try here . .. More Resources on Copyright, Fair Use, and Creative Commons . .. See especially Code of Fair Use for Best Practices in Media Literacy Education (adopted by the National Council of the Teachers of English) Royalty-Free Music -- Free Music Archive Incompetech Best Online Sites for Creating Music Bookcasting Exemplars and Tools Used [|YouTube] -- you'll publish your bookcasts to your own personal channel on YouTube. Create your YouTube channel . ..

=**Tools for Scholarship**= Action Learning Projects -- Symbaloo Webmix with links to Action Learning Project multimedia reports The Digital Scholar-- John Latham's PLE (Personal Learning Environment) for scholarship. [|Google Reader for Beginners] -- subscribe to blogs about young adult literature and by YAL authors. Zotero -- free service for bookmarking and providing citations for online sources. You can even form groups for collaborative projects.