4 Core Principles of Connected Learning
        
        
        
        Connected learning — education that uses digital media to engage students and 
encourage communication, collaboration and critical thinking — is the key to 
student success in the information age, according to a new report from the
Alliance for Excellent Education.
The 4 Principles
  The report, "Connected 
Learning: Harnessing the Information Age to Make Learning More Powerful," 
identifies four key components of a connected approach to learning.
  - Make learners the focus. This involves helping students 
    become lifelong learners and develop the skills and knowledge they need to 
    succeed in the 21st century.    
- Help students make the connection between their 
    own interests and their academic studies and also connect with inspiring mentors 
    and peers to improve student engagement.
- Learning is continuous. Continuous learning involves 
    linking learning to school, home and the community, so it can happen in any 
    setting.
- Finally, Help learners become makers and producers 
    by teaching them to experiment, create, produce and design.
According to the report, by incorporating these four principles into 
  education, schools can improve student engagement and, consequently, increase the 
  number of students who graduate from high school prepared for future success in 
college or the workforce. 
A Fourth 'R'
  The report identified relevance as the fourth "R," after 
  reading, writing and arithmetic, and each of the four keys to connected learning 
relate to making education relevant to students as a way to help them succeed.
“In today’s digital age and global economy, students need skills that cannot 
be learned by highlighting facts in a textbook or filling in blanks on a 
worksheet. Connected learning leverages students’ interests to master core 
academic concepts and deeper learning skills, while equipping them with a 
lifelong interest in learning,” said Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for 
Excellent Education, in a prepared statement.
The full report, "Connected Learning: Harnessing the Information Age to Make 
Learning More Powerful," is available as a free PDF download from the
Alliance for 
Excellent Education's site.
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
            
        
        
                
                    About the Author
                    
                
                    
                    Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].