wk 4 - Learning Theories: Connectivism

 

Connectivism

• Premise that humans  knowledge is based upon a metaphor of a network with nodes and connections. A node is anything that can be connected to another node such as an organization, information, data, feelings and images. Learning is the process of creating connections and expanding or increasing network complexity. Not all connections are of equal strength.
• Learning is different from other theories because  knowledge is distributed across nodes.
• Theory has 8 principles:
• 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.
• Learning is more critical than knowing.
• Maintaining and nurturing connections is needed to facilitate continual learning.
• Perceiving connections between fields, ideas and concepts is a core skill.
• Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) is the intent of 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.