Oct 27 2013

Thoughts on a National Digital Leaders’ Network using MakeWaves

  • Most important – DL coordinators used to create their open content to report on ideas – now the content is student generated and there are levels of publication and tools to publish and moderate the content. Everyone involved can see the potential for student generated content, interactions and sharing.
  • Digital Leaders – Enthusiastic and competent individuals who can support and influence teachers and other students. An ideal group in a school to be engaged with and feeding back about using technology for learning via blogging and social learning platforms.
  • Stories provide a simple, multimedia building block for content.
  • Blogs get young people (especially boys) communicating – tell / audience / approval / feedback is a powerful loop – we need to focus on coaching and feedback. How good is learning when you apply your understanding to someone else’s and give feedback??
  • Young people spend a lot of their time talking about tech and games – this moves them across into a more focused space with hopefully gains on useful learning (there may be some discussion needed about the differences 😉 )
  • VLEs have stalled because they have missed out interactions between users – there is a parallel between the realisation that group work is good because there are greater learner interactions – and social learning platforms where the same is also true.
  • A social platform for learners means that DLs can find out what is happening with other DLs and projects (missions)
  • A social platform for learners means that DL coordinators can run joint projects – these need to be discussed and common projects decided on at an early stage. Newbies can ‘see’ what is happening and quickly get a feel for what is involved
  • A network means that publication can be done quickly and safely to the network level to start with. Point of fact: most schools move to public publishing when stakeholders gain knowledge and confidence in the benefits.
  • Face to Face time still vital – but online blogging extends this time.
  • If you have capacity for older and younger DLs, and the money for a pro licence, use senior reporters to publish.
  • A social platform for learners negates distance – especially important in places like N Yorkshire where schools with common interests can be a long way from one another

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