elearnspace. Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age
From the article "Connectivism presents a model of learning that acknowledges the tectonic shifts in society where learning is no longer an internal, individualistic activity. How people work and function is altered when new tools are utilized. The field of education has been slow to recognize both the impact of new learning tools and the environmental changes in what it means to learn. Connectivism provides insight into learning skills and tasks needed for learners to flourish in a digital era."
I always find George Siemens interesting. I this article he puts forward the point that behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism where all pre-networked learning theories. The learning theory of our current age is Connectivism, sort of networked learning that reminds me in many ways of mindmaps. He summaries the principles of connectivism as:
- 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.
It's interesting because I can see many of informal learning experiences over the last few years fitting in with them principles.
Posted by robin at December 15, 2004 08:58 AM