Chapter 5

 Online Collaboration 

An important aspect of connected learning is collaborating with individuals you meet through websites. Chapter 5 outlines different ways of social bookmarking as well as providing resources to help readers. According to the book it is important to categorize and archive the content you come in contact with, to help avoid information overload. Social bookmarking is a way people can collect useful information as well as collaborate and network with other learners. There were three websites in particular that stuck out to me. As a political science major, new philosophies and ideas are constantly being introduced within my field. The website RSS readers is a perfect tool to help organize these new ideas being introduced. Having the ability to subscribe to blogs that introduce these new philosophies without having to search them myself is very convenient. It also can help with future networking. Many blogs offer a comment section for communities to debate what’s being written about. Having access to many blogs can allow me to connect with people who share similar interests. I appreciate how the book also talks about how Twitter is a tool for collaboration as well. Twitter allows you to follow certain subjects within the app. They use hashtags and word searches to help people look up varying ideas and information. Having the ability to see other peoples accounts and who they follow is also a way to network. Twitter verse is teeming with information and ideas. It is important for learners to understand how to use it to build their Connected Learning Network.

For my contentious politics class we were tasked with researching how advocacy groups went about organizing protests and informing the public on their cause. While researching I quickly discovered online networking through twitter and blogs was their main tool. Especially in countries with a dictatorship, anonymous online advocacy was the backbone of their organizations. They were able to provide information to the public and gain attention from the outside world. Through online  networking these groups grew and became stronger and eventually gained support from other countries to help with their humanitarian crisis’. The internet is a powerful tool if you know how to properly use it. 

Nussbaum-Beach, Sheryl, and Lani Hall. The Connected Educator: Learning and Leading in a Digital Age. 2011.