Connectivism - Connections to Learning

My Connections to Learning

It never cease to amaze me how the advancements in technology has literally changed the way we live.  Technology has influenced changes in the cars we drive, the media we watch, and now most importantly, the way we learn.  Connectivism is the new kid on the block when it comes to new learning theories.  Take a quick look at the video below to see how quickly education is changing and how connectivism it at the heart of it all.    

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjOv_ssTQDY&feature=related

George Sieman is the author of this new learning wave.  He describes the effects of three components driving connectivism as chaos theory, importance of networks, and the interplay of complexity and self-organization. (Davis, 2008)  The narrator of the video says”Connectivism is when learning occurs as part of a social network”. (Connectivism and Technology, 2009)  Although I would not stake my life on the principles surrounding connectivism, I can say that my personal network has changed the way I gather and learn information.  The young learner in me was accustomed to the word dictionary.  This was the first printed resource I remember my mother introducing me to when I did not know or understand something.  I also had the advantage of two older siblings who I thought knew everything.  And do you remember encyclopedias?  The World Book Encyclopedia complete volume took up an entire bookshelf in our home library.  These are all resources that fueled my early knowledge base. As an adult learner now, I recognize that my immediate resource for learning is rooted in technology.  My network for learning has changed to where on the internet can this information be found.  A wealth of information is just a click away.  The internet has become my best friend when it comes of facilitating my learning.  I remember when I would surf the web for hours at a time thinking that only minutes had passed.  When I am in search of new information, the internet is my initial resource for information then I will refer to human resources for additional information and feedback.  Books are still a part of my research process but much more limited as when I was growing up.  So I think I can safely say that my personal learning network does support the idea of connectivism by making decisions based of rapidly changing foundations. (Davis, 2008)  However, I do keep an eye out for opportunist to filter any unreliable information that may be published on the internet. (Davis, 2008)

References

Davis, C. E.-B. (2008). Connectivism and Technology. Retrieved 10 7, 2012, from Connectivism and Technology: http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Connectivism

Connectivisim and Technology [youtube video].  (2009, Oct. 25). [pduresky]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjOv_ssTQDY&feature=related