Page 38 - EW December 2020

Learning without limits
This vision is known as the Connected
Learning Community. learning capability and accelerating the learning cycle.
• Each is empowered to harness new technologies
THE CONNECTED LEARNING and learning applications, eliminating time-sapping
COMMUNITY struggles with the mechanics of learning.
• Learning is fully integrated with learners’ individual
lifestyles and preferred learning styles-seamlessly
The Connected Learning Community is a simple yet adapting to their personal needs and abilities.
powerful idea with even more relevance today than when • A newfound comfort level with learning cultivates
we first introduced at the beginning of the millennium. In deeper perspectives and fresh viewpoints, igniting
our vision, the world is an enriched learning environment learners to explore the intricacies of learning itself and
in which technology used well enhances and expands how it applies to their world.
opportunities for learning while providing the practical • A limitless learning environment levels the playing
technology experience needed in today’s society and field and knows no economic, ethnic, political, or social
workplaces. boundaries.

In this new genre of learning, schools will transform from a
brick and mortar setup to digital learning spaces.

In the Connected Learning Community:

a Students, educators and parents have anytime, anyplace
access to learning.
a Learning is relevant, individualized and personalized.
a Schools have information systems that support
accountability and efficient management.
a Schools, campuses, homes, libraries, businesses
and global resources are connected in a dynamic,
collaborative learning environment.

The process of learning is not confined to the time spent
in a classroom, with homework or on field trips. Learning
involves many facets of activity and information flow
that form a learning ecosystem. Today’s learning faces
many barriers, including social, economic and technology The Learning Ecosystem Described
constraints. Yet technology can effectively address these
challenges. The learning ecosystem involves many parties: students,
teachers, parents, administrators, government agencies
In order for technology to improve education, schools must and the community at large. Access requirements to
consider the total environment and fully understand the facilities, curriculum, and general information are many
learning ecosystem. Barriers present in the ecosystem must and varied. Activities within the ecosystem also vary greatly
be illuminated and appropriate technology-based solutions between environments, from those within the confines of
must be applied to overcome those barriers and thereby today’s brick and mortar schools; to virtual schools across
assist educational organizations in achieving their goals. the Internet; to radio or satellite links for very remote
communities. The learning ecosystem deals with a vast
Schools today require flexible and cost-effective growth, set of challenges in the process of assisting with outcome-
including the use of existing technology and the ability to based learning and attaining the highest level of educational
adapt to change. Therefore, the learning ecosystem must be achievement.
agile, capable of changing and growing as new innovations
occur in teaching, learning, technology, and as the needs of The Connected Learning Community approach addresses
the ecosystem evolve and mature. Envision the possibilities the many facets and challenges of today’s learning
of such an ecosystem, a community of learning for teachers, ecosystem, and recognizes the potential to achieve greater
parents, students, and administrators in which: degrees of connectedness among all parties to foster higher
learning outcomes. Through standards and technology, the
• Each has access to personalized learning on a range Connected Learning Community enables a more effective
of devices-anywhere, anytime-individualizing their learning ecosystem. In this ecosystem:

38 EDUCATIONWORLD DECEMBER 2020