Five Essentials to Create Connected Students

Vicki Davis, author of "Five Essentials to Create Connected Students" in EdSurge Article, discusses social learning and why it should be taught in the classrooms.  She says that students who are disconnected to social learning/media tend to abuse their technology privileges when online.  Disconnected students miss the knowledge needed to be successful because they do not know how to communicate through social medias.  Davis lists five essentials for children who are connected to social learning.  They are: a connected author, publisher, conversationalist, strategic disconnector (one that I favor), and a curious, lifelong pursuer of ingenious solutions.  Although connected students have a higher advantage, Davis feels that these five essentials are needed to know and truly understand the use of connecting.
"We educators must shift this generation from being consumers to being creators," says Davis.  I personally love that statement.  Davis' outlook on social media should make all schools re-evaluate their technological device policies.  My high school completely bands any type of technological device mainly because students are distracted by them during class.  Davis' fourth essential talks about students knowing how to strategically disconnect themselves to have a well-rounded life.  That is a discipline that schools should pursue.  That will show students that their technological devices are only an asset.  I also agree with Davis' idea of showing students the professional side of social medias.  Instead of broadcasting their personal lives to their world, they benefit others with their strong ideals.  I never thought of Twitter being used for social learning, but Davis has truly gave me an eye opener on what positive effects it can have on our students.