Module 4:Connectivism

Connectivism

The ability to connect to people, data and an array of informational sources all help facilitate learning through collaboration, sharing of ideas, dialogues and gaining insight from the experiences of others and your own. My network has changed the way that I learned because I no longer work independently I utilize all of my network connections as resources to share content, ideas and best teaching practices and strategies. In my workplace, the math and literacy coaches are great resources when focusing on content, strategies and research based materials.

Technology is a resource that allows us to connect with others, data and several resources. Several digital tools allow people to connect and gain access to information, ideas and different viewpoints. However, the digital tools that best facilitate learning for me are wikis and blogs. Throughout this program I have been able to experience and expand my knowledge and use of both wikis and blogs. Engaging and utilizing wikis and blogs have allowed me to create and gain knowledge through my networks.

When gaining new knowledge and I have questions I tend to first search for information using the internet, discussions with the teachers on my grade level and both the math and literacy coaches. Connectivism has shown me that learning happens in many ways, such as emails, blogs, discussions, Skype and Google. With the increase of information and a focus on digital tools and resources different skills and approaches are needed.


Resource:
http://www.connectivism.ca/about.html

Blog4 ResponsesI responded to http://digitalworldlearning.blogspot.com/and http://sharon-mcdaniel.blogspot.com

Constructivism

Module 3 Blog
Responded to http://holly-shumaker.blogspot.com/
and http://lainepagan.blogspot.com/

Constructivism
Reflect on Rheingold’s video, and then respond to the following:
Do you believe that humans have a basic instinct to “interact and work as a group,” as Rheingold proposed in his discussion of the evolution of Wikipedia as a collectively developed encyclopedia? How can technology facilitate collaboration among learners based on constructivist principles?

I do believe that humans have a basic instinct to interact and work as a group. I believe that we as human have the desire and urge to communicate, share ideas and discuss various topics. You can see these desire and urge do interact in the personal lives of people and in their careers, such as various businesses and education. Many times this collaboration is to share ideas, accomplish an objective or even just to vent. In the past human focus was more on self-interest when considering business and education, but now throughout evolution the process of cooperation, collective action and communication have emerged and expanded due to new technologies and other worldly advances. In the world today, “self interest is not always the dominating factor” states Rheingold (Rheingold, 2008).

“New forms of cooperation created by new technologies create new forms of wealth” (Rheingold, 2008).

I believe that technology plays a major role in the expansion of collaboration among learners. Therefore, I think that technology facilitates collaboration based on constructivist principles by allowing learners to develop deep thinking and a knowledge base that encourages the learner to generate, learn, or create new knowledge. Technologies, such as blogs, wikis, Google docs and various others allow learners to collaborate no matter their location or the time and they can easily manage work while collaborating. Through these technologies, the learner can collaborate with peers around the world and even experts that can enable the student to have authentic learning experiences. Overall, technology can allow the learner opportunities to actively engage with the content and make real life meaningful connections.


Rheingold, Howard. (2008). Way-New collaboration. Retrieved April 5, 2010 at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html