Week 5: Learning Facilitated By Connections

 My network connections changed how I learn as an adult by enabling rapid learning about any topic that comes to that I desire through technology resources not previously available in my youth. The starting point for connectivism is creativity in the mind of the learner (Siemens, 2005). Through learning and practice, I discover more about a topic and find new content as I learn and experience more through continued practice.  My primary network, YouTube and Google, are essential resources I reply upon to initiate learning. Blogs and scholarly websites are new-to-me resources that I’ve found very informative.  When I was younger, I only had the library as a resource for books about any desired topic, but the library resources were limited in availability.  I would search other people’s libraries to borrow from them, especially if they have a profession of interest to me.  Although I’ve collected a library of books and videos, I often combine both printed materials and online content to enhance learning.

The tenets of connectivism include connection to real-time knowledge available through technology resources from many diverse opinions (Davis, et al., 2008).  My learning network aligns with these tenets by serving as a resource to the most current information available, which may be more recent than printed materials.  My network also delivers a diverse perspective on any topic and also offers alternatives not considered previously.

To assist with understanding learning theories, YouTube has helped provide a visual animation in simple language for a topic that can often be over complicated in its explanation. I found that viewing different versions of presentations on the same topic, and I eventually come to an ‘ah-ha, now I get it’ moment.

 References:

Davis, C., Edmunds, E., & Kelly-Bateman, V. (2008). Connectivism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. http://textbookequity.org/Textbooks/Orey_Emergin_Perspectives_Learning.pdf

 

Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Design & Distance Learning, 2(1).  http://www.itdl.org/journal/jan_05/article01.htm