8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
January 26, 2007
343 Drake Centre / Asper School of Business
University of Manitoba
"Today’s students - kindergarten through college - are the first generation to grow up with... digital technologies. They have spent their entire lives surrounded by and using computers, videogames, DVD players, videocams, eBay, cell phones, iPods and all the tools of the digital age. Today’s average college grads have spent fewer than 5,000 hours of their lives reading, but often more than 10,000 hours playing video games, another 10,000 on their cell phones, and more than 20,000 watching TV. They download 2 billion ring tones per year, 2 billion songs per month, and exchange 6 billion text messages every day." 1
These 'digital natives' see technologies not as new tools but as an integral part of their lives, as 'just there.' What is the impact of this new digital environment on how our students learn? How should we as educators respond to this new environment? Join us on January 26, 2007, as we explore this 'new learning environment' and its implications for teaching.
1Don't Bother me Mom - I'm Learning. Marc Prensky.
| 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m | Breakfast and Registration |
| 9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m | Welcome and greetings |
| 9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m |
Keynote: Personal Learning Environments and you In this keynote Terry will present an overview of the technical and social pressures and opportunities propelling lifelong learning and the emerging tools of the Net designed to meet these needs. The presentation defines and gives examples of Personal Learning Environments and other social software tools. The session challenges educators to evaluate the usefulness of these tools to enhance both formal and informal learning opportunities, and to analyze the costs and benefits of doing so from a change management perspective. Dr. Terry Anderson, Personalized Learning Systems and you (ppt) |
| 10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m | Questions |
| 10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m | Break |
| 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m |
Morning Breakouts: A look at today’s learner
The morning breakout sessions will explore how today’s learners approach both formal and informal learning. Session facilitators will guide discussions with learners who have agreed to describe:
Each breakout group will focus on a particular learner demographic: high school students, first year undergraduate university students, senior year / graduate students, and lifelong learners (faculty). |
| 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m |
Debriefing from each breakout session that address these
questions
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| 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m | Lunch (University Club) |
| 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m |
Afternoon Plenary: Tools of the New Learning Environment
The last several years have seen a rapid shift in how technology is used in communication and dialogue. Centralized applications are challenged by simple, social, and loosely connected technologies. Today's new software tools enable learners to rapidly form connections with other learners and information sources. It is now easy for learners to become content creators and producers in multiple formats (video, text, audio). Content essentially becomes a conduit to conversation. This session will explore the skills needed and used by learners to stay current and connected in complex knowledge environments, and outline the challenges faced by educators in recognizing and fostering these skills. George Siemens Clarence Fisher Darren Kuropatwa Clarence Fisher's slides (ppt) |
| 2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m |
Afternoon Breakouts: Teaching the digital natives
Building on the understanding gained in the morning breakout session, the afternoon discussions will explore ways to connect with today's learners. Facilitated by educators who are exploring new teaching methodologies, practices, and technologies, these breakouts will be an opportunity to build a community of practitioners to share strategies and possibilities, as well as to revisit existing successful teaching methods. |
| 2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m | Debriefing |
Sponsored by:
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University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada