Connected learning in virtual classrooms for a master's in teacher training at One University in Madrid, Spain

Abstract

This chapter presents the connected learning experiences of one class in the Master's in Teacher Training at the National Distance Education University (UNED) in Spain. Connected learning involves social participation via social networks for the development of reflective and critical thinking. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the didactic use of connected learning and analyse its results. The chapter describes students' perceptions of the experience of an academic debate on Twitter that included more than 9000 tweets and the results of the research are presented. The data show that students developed a strong feeling of belonging through participation in the social network; furthermore, sharing ideas, resources and perspectives on Twitter provided students an experiential learning among students. Connected learning activities based on social networks can facilitate a process of social learning as long as they include an academic foundation and are guided by pedagogical criteria. This type of research facilitates the implementation of pedagogical methods based on social components and network participation that are essential to an increasingly flexible, open and participatory system of education.