Connectivism: Reflection of My Mind Map

        Technology has allowed individuals to be active learners who can take the lead on what they want to learn, when they want to learn it, and at their own convenient pace. How I gain new knowledge using the advantages of technology is supported by Connectivism and the premise that people learn by sharing knowledge distributed through technology. As shown through my mind map networks, along with my prior knowledge and experiences from my personal, professional, and educational background, it is consistently changing and adapting to the ever-changing environment.     

        The world wide web has made it easier, quicker, and more accessible for me to learn just about everything with current and up-to-date information. The “Half-life” of knowledge has declined due to the steady stream of information added to the internet and media (Davis et al., n.d.). Gone are the days when you had to go to the library to browse through a Magna Carta collection to learn about history. No longer do you have to purchase abundant of books on any given subject for the information to become obsolete and sit on your bookshelf while collecting dust. Information and knowledge can now be stored on the internet and retrieved later to reference or share with others.  

        Smartphones and computers have also made all the information available instantaneously. If a question pops up, I can pull out my smartphone or computer to find the answer to my question. The learner’s power to continue learning is more important than the knowledge they already possess (Siemens, 2005). People are not limited to only knowing the information they have gain through the past, but rather the need and desire to stay informed drives the individuals to continue to learn through their networks.

        A simple question can be answered with the click of a button. I can render endless inquiries under Google search, YouTube, Pinterest, or other social networking of any given topic. If I wanted to learn how to cook a specific dish, I can search the web and get countless recipes, reviews, and ratings from other users. If I needed to learn technical support to understand how to use a software, I could watch endless YouTube videos. I can post a question on Reddit and have an abundance of responses from multiple perspectives, looking at the problem from various angles and learn from their insight and experience. Social media has allowed me to stay connected with my friends, family, and coworkers and share information, resources, and expertise. By tagging and posting articles, videos, and life experiences, we can learn from one another.

        Connectivism has given a new light to the advantages of gaining knowledge through connections from individuals’ past experiences and knowledge. As shown on my mind map, everything is intertwined and connected in various ways. The internet has shown just how easily connected we all are to one another and how we continue to foster the community of active learners.

  

Reference:

Davis, C., Edmunds, E., and Kelly-Bateman, Vivian (n.d.). Connectivism. Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved at *Orey_Emergin_Perspectives_Learning.pdf

Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A Learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Design & Distant Learning, 2(1). Retrieved from Jan05_01 (itdl.org)

Comments

Popular Posts