Connected learning explained

Connected learning is a type of learning in which a young person pursues a personal interest with friends and adults. This learning method is linked to academic achievement, career success, or civic engagement.^[1] The approach leverages new media to broaden access to opportunities and meaningful learning experiences.^[2] The connected learning model suggests that youth learn best when they are interested in what they are learning, have peers and mentors who share these interests, and their learnings are directed toward opportunity and recognition. According to the proponents of connected learning, social support for interest-driven learning and connections drive individual learning outcomes. Platforms that support connected learning are generally characterized as having a sense of shared purpose, a focus on production, and openly networked infrastructures.

History

Connected learning has been a term used in research since the early 1990s.^{[3] [4]} The original usages piggybacked on the concept of connected knowing,^[5] which emphasized the importance of context in the development of knowledge for women. The term was cited in a large number of articles around this time, in connection with hands-on education such as fieldwork or internships, which are tied to the concept of learning in context. Early research that used the term "connected learning" also shared the common theme of the importance of mentoring for learning outcomes.^[6] In 2000, the term "connected learning" began to be used in research publications to refer to various project-based, networked, social, and information-age learning.^{[7] [8] [9] [10]} Cronwell and Cronwell created the first "framework and organizing set of principles to guide educational research and development (p.17). This research was supported by the Center for Internet Research. This connected learning framework is based on the following set of principles:

• The education process must become learner-centered;
• Assessment – diagnostic, formative, and summative – must be improved and deeply integrated into the learning and teaching process;
• National and state academic standards must be met or exceeded;
• Ethnic academic achievement gaps must be addressed and eliminated;
• Learning must become more active;
• The formation of lifelong learning behaviors must be facilitated;
• Education reform must be guided by empiricism;
• Well-designed, technology-enabled education reform will be self-improving, self-reforming and self-documenting;
• Teaching and learning content must be of the highest possible quality, current, and relevant;
• Proven pedagogical methodologies and the best research from all fields with a bearing on learning and teaching must be integrated into education;
• The needs of all stakeholders (students, teachers, parents, administration, government, business, etc.) must be served;
• Reform must also address the need to improve the formation and achievement of vocational goals by students, and
• Where minimum standards exist, the goal must be near-universal mastery rather than a standard distribution of achievement. (pp. 19)

This idea of connected learning is supposed to be an alternative to traditional in-school instruction. They label this connected learning framework as a work in progress that needs more research to support it. However, no further research has been completed on this framework.

Examples

Examples of learning environments that integrate peer, interest, and academic pursuits include athletics programs that are tied to in-school recognition, certain arts and civic learning programs, and interest-driven academic programs such as math, chess, or robotics competitions. These connected learning environments embody values of equity, social belonging, and participation. Connected learning environments include a sense of shared purpose, a focus on production, and openly networked infrastructures. Learning platforms that embody principles of connected learning include:

• YOUmedia^[11]
• Harry Potter Alliance
• Quest to Learn
• North America Scholastic Esports Federation
• Connected Camps
• Vanta Leagues
• Prisma

Reception

Connected learning, since its recent ramp-up, has been well received from the global education community.^{[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]} Educators and policymakers have raised concerns regarding the new model of learning laid out by research and practitioner groups, which included:

• Connected learning is another buzz word for the corporatization of education;^[18]
• Connected learning is devoid of critical thinking as it relies on a formula for students getting what they already want to find rather than broadening their horizons to discover what is not already known;^[19]
• The model makes no mention of key K–12 educators who have been pushing for similar types of networked/connected learning for the past decade, and^[20]
• Increased workload for those who support learners is also a concern.^[21]

Connected Learning Research Network chair Mimi Ito responded to the criticism by pointing out that, "the connected learning principles were developed with a very diverse range of practitioners in K–12 and other learning institutions like museums and libraries, as well as people working in popular culture/media, technology, and university researchers. So, while the research network hopes to provide a research component to feed the broader connected learning effort, we are by no means the driving force behind it.”

Notes and References

1. Book: Connected learning: An agenda for research and design. Ito. M.. Gutiérrez. K.. Livingstone. S.. Penuel. B.. Rhodes. J.. Salen. K.. Schor. J.. Sefton-Green. J.. Watkins. S.G.. 2013. Digital Media and Learning Research Hub. Irvine, CA. 2014-02-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20130826223627/http://dmlhub.net/sites/default/files/Connected_Learning_report.pdf. 2013-08-26. dead.
2. Web site: Connected learning: A framework of observation, research and development to guide the reform of education. Cornwell. W. R. . Cornwell. J. R.. 2006. The Center for Internet Research. Breckenridge, CO.
3. News: Clinical reasoning and new ideas on intelligence: Implications for teaching and learning. Schwartz. K. B.. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 1991. 45. 11. 2014-02-19. https://archive.today/20140528230757/http://ajot.aotapress.net/content/45/11/1033. 2014-05-28. dead.
4. News: 2943894. Influence of social interaction of cognition: Connected learning in Science. Lundeberg. M. A.. Moch. S. D.. The Journal of Higher Education. 1995. 66. 3.
5. Book: Women's Ways of Knowing. registration. Belenky. M. F.. Clinchy. B. M.. Goldberger. N. R.. Tarule. J. M.. 1986. Basic Books. New York.
6. News: Colleges as communities: Taking research on student persistence seriously. Tinto. V.. The Review of Higher Education. 1998. 21. 2.
7. News: Connected learning: Interdisciplinary projects in international settings. Vaz. R. F.. Liberal Education. 2000. 86. 1.
8. News: New literacies for connected learning in global classrooms. Downes. T.. Zammit. K.. Information and Communication Technologies. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology . 2001. 86. 1. 113–128 . 10.1007/978-0-387-35403-3_10. 978-1-4757-5471-1 .
9. Book: Kearns, P.. Towards the connected learning society: An international overview of trends in policy for information and communication technology in education. 2002. Global Learning Services. Kambah, Australian Capital Territory.
10. Web site: Connected learning: "Weaving" in classroom lessons. Cazden. C. B.. Keynote address for Pedagogy in Practice 2006 conference.
11. Web site: Safe Space and Shared Interests: YOUmedia Chicago as a Laboratory for Connected Learning. Connected Learning Alliance. 2018-09-05.
12. Web site: YALSA 2014 President's Program on Connected Learning. 2013-09-18.
13. Web site: Connectedlearning.tv/infographic twitter results.
14. Web site: Connectedlearning.tv/what-is-connected-learning twitter results.
15. Web site: Connected learning: A new research-driven initiative. Gerstein. J.. 2012-03-02.
16. Web site: Connected learning: The power of social learning models . Heick. T.. 2014-07-13 .
17. Web site: Teachers guide to 21st century learning: Connected learning. 15 August 2023.
18. Web site: Can connected learning work at the college level? . 2014-02-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140725090426/http://blogs.bedfordstmartins.com/bits/uncategorized/can-connected-learning-work-at-the-college-level/ . 2014-07-25 . dead .
19. Web site: The Threat to Connected Learning.
20. Web site: Connected Learning: What have they done with Alec, Will, Vicki?. 2014-02-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20140404114842/http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/2012/03/03/connected-learning-what-have-they-done-with-alec-will-vicki/. 2014-04-04. dead.
21. Web site: 7 Things you should know about connected learning .