How do I learn from the Internet?

How do I learn from the Internet?  I read blogs. They give me access to people much smarter than me, who are sharing things I want to learn. I read both individual and organization blogs about online learning, education, English Learners, and technology. But I also read Pogue's Posts to feed my inner tech geek. I read The Jose Vilson to spark my inner revolutionary. And I read dy/dan because he's cool, and I always want to know what the cool kids are up to!

How do I learn from the Internet?  I watch online videos. They provide visual cues that help me learn better, and are dynamic enough to keep me engaged. I watch TED and TEDx to fuel my creativity and passion through exposure to new concepts, new approaches, and new heroes.

How do I learn from the Internet?  I am learning to use Twitter to follow people who have interesting things to say, and/or interesting resources to share. I am also learning to use Twitter to share; sometimes what I have to say is interesting to someone else. >I try not to mix my professional and personal spaces, unless I think my personal network will find something from my professional life compelling (or vice versa). I use Facebook to connect with my real-world friend and relatives. I use my blog to connect with my professional network.

How do my students learn from the Internet?  I do believe that students are going through much of the same struggle that I am - figuring out how to manage the absolute glut of both valuable and useless information that floods our digital worlds. However students typically have less awareness of why it's important to separate personal and professional networks, and less understanding of the permanence of digital footprints. In supporting students, I think instruction in information literacy is key; two topics jump out as being critical for long term success. Students must be able to access, evaluate, and validate resources - they must be able to find relevant resources, understand bias, and be able to identify hoaxes and scams. Students must also be able to manage their information on the internet - understanding privacy laws, opt-out and opt-in clauses, and encryption basics are important for their long-term security.