Connectivism



How Do My Connections Facilitate Learning?

 

In the Connectivism article I learned that it is impossible to learn and experience everything first hand. "We must create networks which, simply defined, are connections between entities. By using these networks - of people, of technology, of social structures, of systems, of power grids, etc. - learning communities can share their ideas with others, thereby "cross-pollinating" the learning environment (Siemens, 2005, para. 21).

In the mind map I created above, you can see all of the connections that make up my learning network. The two major categories of my learning network are people and technology.

I still learn quite a bit from people. My experiences and interactions with family, friends, and coworkers still shape the way I learn a great deal. Also, there are occasions where I learn in a more traditional lecturing style. My boss, pastor, and instructors might deliver a lecture in which I learn from and interact with. However, unlike 10 years ago, all of these people that shape my learning also refer me to current technology so that I can further my learning.

The technology that makes up my learning network is ever changing and ever growing. The way I learn now is not like the way I learned in the past. I will use a real-life example to demonstrate my point. This week I needed to know how to replace a garbage disposal. So, I hopped on-line and did a search to find out information. There were enough websites, blogs, and videos (my favorite digital tools) posted for me to quickly learn the necessary tools and skills I would need to replace the disposal. In the past, I most likely would have gone to a hardware store to talk with an expert, checked out a library book on the subject, or hired a plumber.

As you can see, my personal learning network supports the tenets of connectivism. I can learn new skills through current technology that may have been impossible in the past. As my technological savvy grows I hope to add to the world of connectivist learning.

Davis, C., Edmunds, E., & Kelly-Bateman, V. (2008). Connectivism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Connectivism

Siemens, G. (2005, January). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology & Distance Learning, Retrieved November 03, 2008, from http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm

How Do My Connections Facilitate Learning?