Implementing a Networked Classroom

After reading the Implementing a Networked Classroom, I feel the urge to commit with the idea of creating a networked classroom that will allow my students and myself to reflect in the different ways that this format of learning can benefit both. I agree with the article when it says that our roles as teachers have changed. Our students today need to develop different skills in order to be successful employees in the next decade. As teachers, our job is to give them not only the tools but the guidance to help them use technology effectively to develop those skills and bring them close to other learning communities and experiences. 

Students need to become aware and at the same time responsible of their own learning process, they need to organize and direct their own learning to achieve their goals. A networked classroom gives students the possibility to interact not only with students and teachers in other schools or in other countries, but it gives the opportunity to bring experts of different fields into the classroom, so that they can share with students their ideas, their findings, or the real life problems they are facing at the moment. Networked classrooms become transparent, collaborative, learning centered, accesible and based on communication. This format gives students the possibility to connect with other students inside the classroom, publish their work locally and globally, and even connect with teachers and students outside the classroom. 

As a teacher that is always concerned about  being updated in the different ways I can use to engage my students in their learning process and motivated them to always search fo more and go beyond, I feel the need to give my students the opportunity to connect with others beyond the classroom to enrich their learning experience and at the same time develop skills that they will need as future workers.

The use of a class blog or other tools such as skype, must be used as a tool to share knowledge and experiences, and to collaborate with others to create meaningful ideas that can make a positive change to our global world.