Reflection on Connections and How they Facilitate Learning



I have drawn a spider web of connections and nodes to represent the connectedness of my personal learning network (Siemens, 2012). This view is called connectivism, and it is dependent on the technology of the 21^st century. Connectivism essentially highlights the proliferation of technology in creating personal learning networks. Because of the rapid pace of technological growth and interconnected information resources, we are able to create and use personal learning networks in our daily lives. As with any rapidly developing technology, some people embrace the changes and new capabilities while other people hang on to the familiar and proven methods.

I love technology, so I have easily accepted that personal information networks are the new version of the evening news. I use them daily for research, reading for pleasure, keeping up with friends, and conducting business correspondence. I began creating my own personal learning network in the late 1990s when we bought our first computer. My first venture into networking happened when I obtained an email address and found friends to put into my address book. I soon learned how to search the internet for information and quickly find what I needed. Now in the 2000s, I have embraced a variety of other personal information network tools such as Facebook, blogs, RSS feeds, LinkedIn, podcasts, and Twitter. These help me keep abreast of the latest national news as well as news about friends and other personal interests of my choosing (Seimens, 2007).

I no longer have to sit in front of the television, read the daily newspaper, or write letters to keep up with my interests and friends. Content customized to my interest is now “pushed” directly to me. I receive it in my email inbox, see it on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or read about it in my blog reader. I can tailor the content that I receive via my personal learning network to my learning needs and desires. Additionally, if a subject comes up that I don’t understand, I can “Google” or “Bing” it and find exactly what I need to know in a few seconds. I like Facebook and Twitter, but my favorite personal information network tools are my Feedly blog reader and iTunes Podcasts. I can subscribe to RSS feeds in my Feedly that I want to read, and I can browse through them as if browsing through a newspaper. I read what interests me for that day. When I have spare time, I listen to my favorite iTunes podcasts and forget about the fact that I have writing to do for my MSIDT classes.

Connectivism essentially states that: learning and knowledge rests in the diversity of opinions; learning is a process of connecting information nodes and sources; learning may reside in non-human devices; having the ability to gain new knowledge through our network is more critical than current knowledge; nurturing and maintaining information network connections is key; and currency of information is paramount (Davis, 2008). I believe these ideas are characteristic of most learners today that have grasped the technology of the information age in which we live. There is no doubt that information networks have changed the way we learn and the way we keep in touch with others. The availability of networking technologies has created a need for speed in receiving accurate and up-to-date information as soon as it happens. Nowadays, if we receive information that is a half-day old, we think it is old news. I see connectivism as a very keen observation of how we obtain current information. I don’t see it as a valid learning theory that we can use to describe the learning process that happens inside the mind or how knowledge is attained by the learner. However, connectivism is how we get information, make connections with it, and keep up with the fast paced world.

References

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, George. (2012, May 21). Downes on Connectivism and Connective Knowledge. Retrieved from the Connectivism blog: http://www.connectivism.ca/?m=201205

 

Siemens, George. (2012, May 21). It’s not about tools. Its about change. Retrieved from the Connectivism blog: http://www.connectivism.ca/?m=200706