Connectivism is a theoretical framework that explains learning in a digital age (Kop and Hill, 2008).\u00a0 One of its core propositions is that knowledge is not acquired. Existing learning theories, such as Behaviorism, focused on the idea of acquiring and internalizing knowledge.\u00a0 However, Connectivism suggests that \u201clearning is actionable knowledge that can reside outside of ourselves\u201d (Siemens, 2005). With the advent of computer technology, the internet, and learning networks online, knowledge can now be stored externally to a person and easily accessed when needed.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So if knowledge is not acquired, I propose that what a\nlearner must acquire instead is a learning network. Siemens argued that \u201cknowledge is distributed\nacross networks and the act of learning is largely one of forming a diverse\nnetwork of connections and recognizing attendant patterns\u201d (Siemens, 2008). The\nWorld Wide Web facilitates creating such a network. With ample access to blogs,\nvideos, presentations, and online documentation, learners have become more autonomous.\nThey are no longer solely relying on the knowledge and direction of their\neducator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, educators still play an important role. Siemens\ndescribes this role as curator. \u201cA curatorial teacher acknowledges the autonomy\nof learners, yet understands the frustration of exploring unknown territories\nwithout a map\u201d (Seimens, 2008). We are experiencing this new role firsthand in\nour current online class. Our instructor has been introducing us to resources\nand learning networks that I didn\u2019t even know existed. Take, for example,\nTwitter chats. They provide a great way to connect with others in your field to\nlearn from each other and bounce ideas off one another. And here I thought\nTwitter was just for tweeting and getting a few likes or retweets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are some arguments that Connectivism is not an actual\nlearning theory, but that doesn\u2019t change the fact that technology is altering\nthe way we learn. And in a world where what we know is rapidly changing and knowledge\nis quickly amassing, it is more important than ever for learners to acquire learning networks instead of just stagnant\nknowledge. Without such networks, they may be left behind in their industry or\njob more quickly than they realize. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for a digital\nage. International Journal of\nInstructional Technology and Distance Learning, 2(1)<\/em>. Retrieved September\n24, 2019, from: https:\/\/jotamac.typepad.com\/jotamacs_weblog\/files\/Connectivism.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Siemens, G. (2008) Learning and Knowing in Networks: Changing\nRoles for Educators and Designers. Accessible from: https:\/\/www.academia.edu\/2857165\/Learning_and_knowing_in_networks_Changing_roles_for_educators_and_designers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kop, R. and Hill, A. (2008) Connectivism: Learning theory of the\nfuture or vestige of the past? The\nInternational Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning<\/em>. Retrieved\nSeptember 24 2019, from: http:\/\/www.irrodl.org\/index.php\/irrodl\/article\/view\/523\/1103<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Connectivism is a theoretical framework that explains learning in a digital age (Kop and Hill, 2008).\u00a0 One of its core propositions is that knowledge is not acquired. Existing learning theories, such as Behaviorism, focused on the idea of acquiring and internalizing knowledge.\u00a0 However, Connectivism suggests that \u201clearning is actionable knowledge that can reside outside of … Continue reading “Learning through Connecting”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":1336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[11],"class_list":["post-1335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-theory","tag-connectivism"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joannadunlap.com\/5665fall19\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/connection.jpg?fit=770%2C464&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joannadunlap.com\/5665fall19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joannadunlap.com\/5665fall19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joannadunlap.com\/5665fall19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joannadunlap.com\/5665fall19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joannadunlap.com\/5665fall19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1335"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/joannadunlap.com\/5665fall19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1335\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1338,"href":"https:\/\/joannadunlap.com\/5665fall19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1335\/revisions\/1338"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joannadunlap.com\/5665fall19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joannadunlap.com\/5665fall19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joannadunlap.com\/5665fall19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joannadunlap.com\/5665fall19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}