Group+for+Connectivism

=Group Supporting Connectivism - Shelly, Lawrence & John=

= Connectivism Is A Viable Learning Theory = [] ** Connectivism is the integration of principles explored by chaos, network, and complexity and self-organization theories. Learning is a process that occurs within nebulous environments of shifting core elements – not entirely under the control of the individual. Learning (defined as actionable knowledge) can reside outside of ourselves (within an organization or a database), is focused on connecting specialized information sets, and the connections that enable us to learn more are more important than our current state of knowing. Connectivism is driven by the understanding that decisions are based on rapidly altering foundations. New information is continually being acquired. The ability to draw distinctions between important and unimportant information is vital. The ability to recognize when new information alters the landscape based on decisions made yesterday is also critical. ** In other words, "know-how" and "know-what" are being supplemented with "know-where" (the understanding of where to find the knowledge when it is needed), and meta-learning is becoming just as important as the learning itself. = How Is Connenctivism Relavant To Your Teaching? = There are many ways in which connectivism will be relavant to your teaching practices. It will change the role of student and instructor. The instructor will move more into the areas of providing tools, resources, and pathways to acquire knowledge. The student will use these tools to develop their style of learning in the 21st Century. = Connectivism Does Support Your Students = Students will be supported in new and creative ways through the application of the connectivism learning model. Students will begin with their own knowledge, and then as their motivations and interests lead them, they will be able to pursue roads for required projects and personal passions. They will be able to remain current as information changes, and will be able to continually adjust what they know and what they think.
 * While exploring the links and information provided below, you will find ways and means to make sense of and sample valid and useful information.**

Connectivism - A New Learning Model for the 21st Century
At its heart, connectivism is the thesis that knowledge is distributed across a network of connections, and therefore that learning consists of the ability to construct and traverse those networks. []

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). = ​Principles of Connectivism = according to [|Siemens] are defined as:
 * Learning and knowledge rest 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.

Needs of the 21st Century Learner: [|by Kop and Hill, 2008]
-- Because information is constantly changing, the validity and accuracy of that information is constantly changing. - Connectivism requires individuals to create networks, with which they will share, seek, and alter new information. The same networks also allow individuals to be life long learners, who no longer just "consume" information. Learners are now apart of the knowledge "creation" process.
 * **Students need the ability to Seek out Information**
 * **Secondly, students need the skill/ability to filter secondary and extraneous information**

[|Handbook of Emerging Technologies for Learning] by George Siemens and Peter Tittenberger

-Learners piece together (connect) various content and conversation elements to create an integrated (though at time contradictory) network of information.
===-​ Our learning and information acquisition is a mashup. We take pieces, add pieces, dialogue, reframe, rethink, connect, and ultimately, we end up with some type of pattern that symbolizes what’s happening "out there" and what it means to us, and that pattern changes daily.===




A Comparison
[|by Ireland, 2007] How does connectivism compare to other learning theories? How does it differ from established paradigms? The chart below illustrates both the similarities and differences between connectivism and three major philosophical perspectives on learning. [|.]


Connectivism Key Information, Module 6, boce909pls, Retrieved Nov. 10, 2009. [].

Davis, Edmunda, and Kelly-Bateman, Department of Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology, University of Georgia, Connectivism, Retrieved Nov. 11, 2009. [].

Downes, Stephen, Half an Hour Blog Post, Retrieved Nov. 11, 2009. [].

Ireland, T, Situating Connectivism, 2007, Retireved Nov. 11, 2009. [].

Kop and Hill, Connectivism: Learning theory of the future or vestige of the past?, 2008 October, Retireved Nov. 11, 2009. [].

Lefever, Lee, Connectivism in Plain English, Retrieved Nov. 11, 2009. [].

Siemens, George, Connectivism - A Learning Theory for the Digital Age, 2004, Retrieved Nov. 11, 2009. [].

Siemens and Tittenberger, Needs of the 21st Century Learner, Retreived Nov. 11, 2009. [].

Wikipedia Forever, Retrieved Nov. 12, 2009. []).