Saša Kovačević
COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND MEDIA
Networks and Communities for Student Real World Involvement
As "Generation Z" continues to grow, there are more and more resources that are available to all individuals. This idea has gained so much popularity, that an entire learning theory has been dedicated to it. Connectvism, as coined by Stephen Downes and George Siemens, highlights the importance of our access to digital networks and community, and stresses the key difference of information acquisition as compared to core knowledge.
As a Fashion Studies teacher, my students will focus their efforts on the impact of clothing on culture and society, and vice versa. Thankfully, Edmonton is home to Western Canada Fashion Week, which occurs semi-annually lining up conveniently with both fall and winter semesters.
This particular event boasts a large involvement from various members of the Edmonton community. The blog, for example, is consistently updated about events and designers, many of which are local. The students would be able to use this blog, among other elements of the website, to build a network of professional connections. At any point throughout the semester, students would be able to pose questions to these connections, and perhaps even make arrangements for them to join us in class as guest speakers.
There are many individuals who are included in WCFW, and they also have a range of positions, duties and areas of interest. If students worked in groups, we could explore many facets of the fashion world including design, modelling and retail. Students would be able to see local relevance, and further explore how these items compare on a global scale.
The benefits of this exercise are that students would learn how to build connections in a network that is relevant to them from both a personal interest and geographical approach. The connections that they make are easy to access, and could also help them connect with individuals that reflect their areas of interest. These connections would be able to explain how students could get involved, as they are always looking for volunteers, and would also allow for a student-centred approach in the classroom.
REFERENCES
Siemens, G. (2005, January). Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. Retrieved November 08, 2016, from http://itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm
Photo Credit: http://www.intouch.news/word-on-the-street1/2016/3/25/western-canada-fashion-week
Western Canada Fashion Week Website: http://westerncanadafashionweek.com