Reflection: Connectivism

 

My network has enhanced the way I learn. Internet resources like YouTube, Google Scholar, and other software resources have been essential to my learning experiences.

YouTube is a great resource for videos. Many people have bragged about attending the “YouTube university”. YouTube provides videos about any subject matter you could imagine. I have learned how to change a tire on my car, how to code, and how to understand differential equations. Throughout my undergraduate years, I depending tremendously on YouTube to help me understand difficult subjects.

When I have questions about new knowledge, I “Google” it. Google is my go-to resource when I have questions about new information. Google is not the end all be all, but it is a great resource to guide me to the information I seek. Google Scholar provides a more creditable platform for students to research. Although Wikipedia has become a more creditable source  in the past few years, I find it difficult to rely on it entirely. Google Scholar allows me to feel more confident in the source I use in my research assignments.

My personal learning network support the central tenets of connectivism.

Siemens posits the following principles of connectivism:

• Learning and knowledge rest in diversity of opinions.

• Learning is a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources.

• Learning may reside in non-human appliances.

• Capacity to know more is more critical than what is currently known.

• Nurturing and maintaining connections is needed to facilitate continual learning.

• Ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill.

• Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) is the intent of all connectivist learning activities

Source: http://textbookequity.org/Textbooks/Orey_Emergin_Perspectives_Learning.pdf

The tenet that stands out the most for me is the last, Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) is the intent of all connectivist learning activities. It is important as an Instructional Designer to make sure I remain innovative and current to maximize the potential success of learning experiences I design.