Overview

In Unit 3, you will focus on developing your ability to critically define, assess, and analyse the various ways social forms of learning are organized. We will define and examine various organizational structures for digital learning, identify and analyse the challenges and opportunities these structures have on the creation of learning environments, and use case studies to analyse how digital identity and presence are impacted by the organizational structures that are used to bound the learning environment. The activities in Unit 3 and their associated readings will be discussed and completed during our Residency session.

Learning Activities and Assignments

• Complete Unit 3 Activity 1: Read the Unit 3 readings; review and analyze various digital learning organizational approaches (groups, nets, sets, communities, collectives). Reflect on the impact these structures have on your plan for digital presence and digital identity.
• Complete Unit 3 Activity 2: Create a visual of your own network that identifies where you are situated and how are you situated.
• Complete Unit 3 Activity 3: Assignment 2: Debate (Team).
• Complete peer and self assessment for Assignment 2.
• Participate in our Residency sessions.

And we are off!

Activity 1

Read Unit 3 readings and reflect on the impact structures such as (groups, nets, sets, communities, collectives) have on your plan for the creation of your digital presence and digital identity. Post your 200 word reflection on your blog and remember to cite any literature you use to support your points and provide references at the end of your post for any works cited (APA format of course )

Activity 2

Create a visual of your own network that identifies where you are situated and how are you situated.

How are you “connected” with others? We talk about networks and communities in this course, but what would those look like if you were to draw or map them? What would your map of connections look like?

Conduct some research on networks to gain some insight into potential visuals (e.g., by searching google images). Perhaps take a look back at the work of one of our Virtual Symposium speakers Dave Cormier for some ideas. Imagining that you are a node in a network of other nodes (people), what would your network look like? Create a visual of this network and share it on your blog with a post that describes what it is that your visual shows and represents. Here are some examples of LinkedIn networks through visualized through automated software NodeXL or Kumu or other network mapping tool you can find (and share your find with us!

Activity 3 – Complete Assignment 2: Debate (team activity)

For this assignment, you will be organized into debate teams the end of the first week of Residency in order to critically discuss a topic relevant to organizational structures of digital learning environments. The debate will be carried out live during our second week of Residency. There will be time during Residency to prepare for the debate.

For the debate topic, you will be divided into groups for and against the motion. Each group will be responsible for different roles (opening remarks, formal rebuttal, etc.). Your team will have some time built into the Residency schedule for planning and preparation for the debate.

Specific guidelines around roles and responsibilities of team members will be discussed in Residency, and are intended to create even division of work, with each person contributing to their team, and participating in the open debate (scrum) following formal rebuttals.