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Today is May 18, 2006 |
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The Learning Theory of Connectivism
Behaviorism, Cognitivism and Constructivism--look out! George Siemens of Red River College keeps a blog called Connectivism . His message is compelling: a digital age requires a digital learning theory. After limiting the effectiveness of the traditional three learning theories in a digital age, he wraps chaos theory, complexity theory, network theory and self-organization theory into Connectivisim. This theory has major implications for organizational learning initiatives like Professional Learning Communities and futuristic high school models.
His well-written and insightful argument is entitled Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. A sample of Siemens' content goes like this--
Some significant trends in learning:
- Many learners will move into a variety of different, possibly unrelated fields over the course of their lifetime.
- Informal learning is a significant aspect of our learning experience. Formal education no longer comprises the majority of our learning.
- Learning now occurs in a variety of ways – through communities of practice, personal networks, and through completion of work-related tasks.
- Learning is a continual process, lasting for a lifetime. Learning and work related activities are no longer separate. In many situations, they are the same.
- Technology is altering (rewiring) our brains. The tools we use define and shape our thinking.
- The organization and the individual are both learning organisms. Increased attention to knowledge management highlights the need for a theory that attempts to explain the link between individual and organizational learning.
- Many of the processes previously handled by learning theories (especially in cognitive information processing) can now be off-loaded to, or supported by, technology.
- Know-how and know-what is being supplemented with know-where (the understanding of where to find knowledge needed).
Some questions to explore in relation to learning theories and the impact of technology and new sciences (chaos and networks) on learning:
- How are learning theories impacted when knowledge is no longer acquired in the linear manner?
- What adjustments need to made with learning theories when technology performs many of the cognitive operations previously performed by learners (information storage and retrieval).
- How can we continue to stay current in a rapidly evolving information ecology?
- How do learning theories address moments where performance is needed in the absence of complete understanding?
- What is the impact of networks and complexity theories on learning?
- What is the impact of chaos as a complex pattern recognition process on learning?
- With increased recognition of interconnections in differing fields of knowledge, how are systems and ecology theories perceived in light of learning tasks?
Principles of Connectivism:
- Learning and knowledge rests in diversity of opinions.
- Learning is a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources.
- Learning may reside in non-human appliances.
- Capacity to know more is more critical than what is currently known.
- Nurturing and maintaining connections is needed to facilitate continual learning.
- Ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill.
- Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) is the intent of all connectivist learning activities.
- Decision-making is itself a learning process. Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality. While there is a right answer now, it may be wrong tomorrow due to alterations in the information climate affecting the decision.
Connectivism impacts on areas outside of learning:
- Management and leadership. The management and marshalling of resources to achieve desired outcomes is a significant challenge. Realizing that complete knowledge cannot exist in the mind of one person requires a different approach to creating an overview of the situation. Diverse teams of varying viewpoints are a critical structure for completely exploring ideas. Innovation is also an additional challenge. Most of the revolutionary ideas of today at one time existed as a fringe element. An organization's ability to foster, nurture, and synthesize the impacts of varying views of information is critical to knowledge economy survival. Speed of “idea to implementation” is also improved in a systems view of learning.
- Media, news, information. This trend is well under way. Mainstream media organizations are being challenged by the open, real-time, two-way information flow of blogging.
- Personal knowledge management in relation to organizational knowledge management
- Design of learning environments
Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: a learning theory for the digital age. Retrieved Aug. 09, 2005, from elearnspace Web site: http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm.
Article posted # August 9, 2005 at 06:26 AM:
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About the Blogger:
Whether a Yellow Jacket, a Yosef, an Achiever, a Cardinal, a Patriot, a Pirate, a Charger, a Cougar or an Eggie -- Joe has witnessed the power of technology as a tool to support and enhance teaching and learning. He is forever curious about such possibilities. He is an experienced collaborator, designer, and presenter of staff development for the successful implementation and integration of technology in learning environments.
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