Connectivism

Connectivism

How it has changed the way I learn and teach

Connectivism has changed the way that we research information and learn about new things.  This is due to the vast amount of information available to us on the Internet and the large amount of venues that make this information available.  We are also experiencing the ability to create our own knowledge through the Internet.  This blog is the perfect example.  I am able to take the knowledge I have gained about Connectivism and share this knowledge with my classmates.  This also provides the opportunity for my classmates to respond to my understanding of the Connectivism learning theory and provide their input on the theory and what they like or dislike about my interpretation. 

The way that information is accessed has changed the way that I learn about information.  It does not change my internal ability to learn or how I learn, it changed the way I am able to access information through a networked structure.  This has been exciting for me because I enjoy research and learning about new information.  I have been known to spend hours on the computer researching a topic and finding extensive information about that topic.  The problem I have encountered is having the time to read all the information that I have found.  Therefore, I have turned to locating podcasts or videocasts on the topics.  It is unbelievable the amount of information available in these formats.  This allows me to listen to the information while driving in the car.  The Internet has changed the way we access the information and share information.

Working in Groups

Working together is how we accomplish things in life.  When we work in groups, we bring together our own ideas and experiences.  Sharing this information allows us to use other people's knowledge and experiences to build on what we already know.  Collaboration is important in learning, work, and every day life.

Rheingold (2005) talks about how the collaborative efforts of Wikipedia shows that people can work together to produce something good.  This is true.  Every day people work together to build buildings, pave roadways, and run businesses.  This is not to say that all people are able to work in groups to produce something.  Not everyone is good at working in groups and providing an equal contribution. 

The advances in technology have allowed us to collaborate with others more efficiently.  It has allowed for the construction of sites like Wikipedia and participation by those who wish to contribute.  "I simply want you to keep in mind, that if in the past, new forms of cooperation, enabled by new technology, create new forms of wealth, we maybe moving into yet another economic form that is significantly different from previous ones" (Rheingold, 2005)  Collaboration in business is nothing new, it has been going on for centuries.  The way that we communicate has simply changed over the years due to the advances in technology.  We saw changes when the telephone was invented, the fax machine was introduced and now the Internet.  This does not change the fact that people have worked together to accomplish tasks, it only provides a more efficient way of completing the tasks.


“Howard Rheingold: Way-New Collaboration” http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html

As learning theories evolve, new theories are introduced as the needs of society changes and old theories are dismissed. The main theories of cognitivism, constructivism, behavioralism, and now connectivism are continually being scrutinized by professionals, especially when a new theory is introduced. Ben Kerr (2007) makes this point about behavioralism in his blog posting http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html. “So, although it is possible to make perfectly valid criticisms of Skinner's behaviourism or the theoretical foundation of cognitivism that is not the end of the story” (Kerr, 2007).

As the debate continued with behavioralism, cognitivism became the preferred learning theory. The idea that learning is and internal process seemed to make it more individual and personal. The roles of the learner and instructor changed, as did the process of learning based on the cognitive approach being utilized. In Michael Hanley's blog on behavioralism, he identifies Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction.This helps both the learner and instructor understand their roles in learning and what transpires during the learning process.

Through the interpretations and understanding of the different learning theories, many tend to conclude that the theories are not complete by themselves. "We need to take pieces from each school of thought and apply it effectively because…Cognitivism doesn’t explain 100% how humans process information and neither does Constructivism or Behaviorism" (Knapp, 2007).  The points that Karl Kapp makes in his blog help us to understand that by utilizing all the required components of each theory that fits a particular learning model, we will better serve the learning community.