myconnectivism

information growth, technology, developments in social learning theory, and advancements in our understanding of minds and cognition require a reconsideration of learning theory. clarify and state your position on connectivism, one page 500 words, APA citation

effectiveness of connectivism in knowledge development at neuronal, conceptual, and external levels network characteristics that exist across multiple network types (biological, social, mathematical) and how they are expressed in learning networks.


 * Is it a new theory of learning?
 * New learning theory is needed: In the 21st century, the advancement and use of technologies and networks, as well as the information revolution make it necessary to revise the education system and the learning theories it is based on. We need to understand the architecture of the information, which can be characterized as open, distributed, networked, self-organizing, global, scalable and fragmented. (Siemens, 2012) The decreasing half-life of knowledge forces us to continuously learn and in many new ways to stay current and relevant. What we know today becomes obsolete by tomorrow. Currency is the currency. Zygmunt Bauman, a Polish sociologist coined the term “liquid modernity” to describe a new world order where there is not enough time for institutions to solidify, words like “career” or “progress” become irrelevant and an individual will travel through his life like a tourist changing jobs, spouses, places, values, even sex. (Trendwatching, 2009) 40 years ago when you finished your education you expected to get a career. But today when knowledge becomes obsolete in months you must realize you need to keep learning to stay current and marketable. Can you become master of anything if the knowledge becomes obsolete before you could gain competency?
 * Education takes place in a variety of formal and informal formats from classroom instruction to Facebook networks.
 * Technology is altering our brain. Intellectual technologies before the Internet that radically changed the way humans used their brains are the invention of the map, the mechanical clock, and the book. (Carr, 2011) Internet made it possible that the knowledge of whole humanity is at our fingertip or in our pocket. Internet changed how our brain is wired, we do not memorize facts anymore, but we learned to remember where to find them. (15 big ways the Internet is changing our brain, 2012)
 * 1)  Connectivism is a new learning theory. It adopts ideas from chaos, network, complexity and self-organization theories. According to chaos theory everything is connected to everything. The decision made under certain conditions will no longer be correct if the conditions change. Learning is a self-organizing process. The ability to connect information sources is critical for learning. Nodes of a network always compete for connections. The currently most connected nodes will likely acquire additional connections. (Siemens, 2005)
 * 2) Some of the possible weaknesses might be that Connectivist learning environment may not be effective for all learners. I think it fits bes advanced learners, who are most likely comfortable with the new technologies. When we learn something new, formal instruction based on traditional tools and familiar technologies might be easier and more effective, while advanced learners find networked learning more desirable to connect with expert peers to learn from their experience. (Gyasi & Wzientek, 2011)
 * 3) The MOOC format has been the best learning envorinment in my entire life. It is perfect for learning for performance. I can connect to my network at the moment of need for remembering, when something changes or when something goes wrong. (Learning Guide Solutions, 2011) "You cannot teach people everything they need to know. The best you do is position them where they can find what they need to know when they need to know it." -Papert One way I use wikis as my PLE is to strore, aggragate and organize resources around a specific topic, let's say for each of my courses I created its own wiki. My usual assets are in Youtube, Flickr, Diigo, Prezi, Slideshare, Twitter.
 * 4) One of my questions is how are assignments/assessments addressed in the connnectivist learning. Will traditional assessment methods (tests, essays, rubrics) be replaced with something different, such as analytics. For instance a learner would need to demonstrate how effectively he/she builds and interects in a network, how many connections were built and how strong the ties are.

>> Everything we hear is an [|**opinion**] , not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. Marcus Aurelius >>
 * We have no right to express an opinion until we know all of the answers. -Kurt Cobain
 * We have no right to express an opinion until we know all of the answers. -Kurt Cobain
 * But it reminds me of the Cognitivist approach in a sense that as computer to network, cognitivism to connectivism. As a standalone computer is connected to a network, additional functions are unlocked. When a learner connects to a network new opportunities occur and function of learners brain start to change.
 * maybe in this world of chaos a theory is messy too. Or we do not even need a theory. What is theory.Chaos theory.
 * Is the concept of theory distracting? no. I like the principles, as long as I understand them I like them Some of them i still need to chew on and read more.
 * What are the weaknesses? Critics here
 * not working in traditional academic environment since it can lead to some sort of chaos
 * It seems that this course has been run with remarkable learner participations for a few years now, which proves the opposite. Chaos occurs naturally in this environment and learners are expected to be able to manage their learning while navigating in this chaos. so it cannot be an argument against it.
 * I have a doubt about applying the same theory in two completely different learning environments. as a student in a course based on constructivist approach I expect a totally different experience from the ones I had had in other traditional elearning courses. But it is the same. We have to complete assignments that are completely defined by the facilitators. Assignments interrupt my learning. I am trying to comapre my experience as informal learner/networker with my current status as learner in this course. When I network for learning, I have __choices__ (when I want to connect to whom, when I want to disconnect, if I want to say something, what form of __self-expression__ I prefer in a given moment if any, etc.) Assigmentments such as this (write an position paper on Connectivism) do not interest me. Writing is not my preferred way of learning. And because of that I have hard time to try to do something "artificial" while missing other ways of learning, because time is limited and I have a family and work. I cannot do assignment and let's say developing a learning tool that I can actually use for improving sometni or changing somethin. I believe the purpose of learning is to cause change as a result. When the course end I would like to have something that I can use in my life or work. An essay such as this does not hold too much value for me. Tomorrow these of my thoughts will change. No sense to spend time and write about my thoughts. Waste of time. So this is the same experience I usually have with online courses. Running a course on the social web instead of Angel or Blackboard does not qualify as new theory. I like the idea of a new Theory, and agree with the principles, I just do not believe that we are operating in this course by those principles. I am just sharing how I feel, and what I do and not do. I am disappointed because I would expect something different and it is not. I am angry because I have to use tools that I do not like to interact on Diigo or Google groups. I think this cours if we suppose that it is based on Connectivist principles, somehting is missing. What missing is the difference between learner experience in the free use and credit use. The consideration of the learner. The learning should be at learners hands (cicero; I cannot teach), learner choices, self-expression should be more.
 * I think that learning goals and assessments are inherently for the teacher or institute and do not serve the learner at all. I expect a learning theory which will define learning that a network learner does. How the assignment reflect the principle of "the capacity of leanring more is more important than what is currently known" Why don't I do a job aid as a result of this course for instance.
 * Speedy assignments needed to reflect the rapid change. writing academic papers take time.
 * I am offereing a few other characteristics that I reflect back from my experience as a networker. Choice, self-expression, relevance, effciency.
 * I think this format is for advanced learners. Quote my research report and the graph.

>> I do not have a set goal of learning outcome. I follow my curiosity. I never know what I will learn at the end. Learning is a journey. >> Ties: a one hour instruction might not be enough. A weak tie. I follow up, connect via email, offer help, answer question, send a survey, etc. Strengthening ties. >> half-life of knowledge: this theory has been around since 2005. is it still valid? Has it been revised? Do we have enough time to mature a theory? We need a liquid theory? >>
 * What are the strengths? modern, relevant, takes the environment into consideration.
 * How connectivism resonate with your learning
 * The capacity..lub
 * I am collecting my learning assets (course materials and other relevant contents in wikis. I have a wiki for each topic, for this course too. It is so much aterial that sometimes I have a problem with remembering where a particular embeded youtube video is. If I was more selective and more organized this would be like my social web long term memory. I think memory is really limited. As I encounter interesting info, I store them in a place where I can find if I need it. I do not memorize, instead I use wikis, blogs etc. I also noticed that the speed of learning increased. I can learn or find knowledge very fast. I can learn a new tool rapidly, I am not learning everything for instance a new tool Scoopit, I only learn the basics tdo basic operatiobs. I learn more deeply if needed. I need to improve more in becoming more selective.
 * ning experiences?
 * What are your outstanding questions
 * What does assessment look like in this environment. In our current course it is offered openly as well as more "academic" fashion for students who registered for grades and credits. It is obvious that learning objectives and assessments are vague for the open version. Maybe there aren't any. Steve described in his video that "quote" but at the same time there is a very specific assignemtn not letting any choices for the learners. Do we need a theory?
 * Notes:
 * Why is this course designed on old theories. Why not practice what you are preaching?
 * Is it possible that none of the theories completey true in a sense as they try to be all inclusive?