I would like to reflect upon the following questions and would like your opinion as well:
· How has your network changed the way you learn?
Technology, being an ever evolving catalyst, drives the method by which we learn. Our network possibilities open doors to more and more available information by which we sift through in hopes of gleaning a deeper meaning of concepts and schemas that we pursue. I remember going to, “The Stacks”, to gather information. What an inefficient way to learn anything!
My network starts with a computer and the internet. I have access to most information that I need right at my computer. I can gather facts and opinions from a rich field of knowledge, if I screen and sift through the total information available.
· Which digital tools best facilitate learning for you?
Here are some of the digital tools I use for learning. How about you?
Blogs- Web based publications consisting of periodic publications. http://dashboard.bloglines.com/privatepage/1#MerchantCircle
RSS- Really simple syndications.
Google Scholar- http://scholar.google.com/
Wikis- A wiki is a website whose users can add, modify, or delete its content via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a rich-text editor.. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki
ProQuest Central- ProQuest Central is the largest aggregated full-text database in the market today totaling more than 19,370 titles—with over 13,010 titles in full text. It serves as the central resource for researchers at all levels in all markets. http://www.proquest.com/en-US/catalogs/databases/detail/proquestcentral.shtml
ERIC- The Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) is a database funded by the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences. ERIC indexes journal articles, books, research reviews, conference papers, technical reports, policy papers and other education-related materials. http://auth.waldenulibrary.org/ezpws.exe?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,url&profile=ehost&defaultdb=eric
Education Research Complete- Education Research Complete offers one of the largest collections of full-text education journals. Topics include all levels of education and a variety of special topics such as curriculum instruction, administration, policy, funding, and social issues. In addition to the journal content some full text books, conference papers and other documents are available. http://auth.waldenulibrary.org/ezpws.exe?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,url&profile=ehost&defaultdb=ehh
Journals in Education
Learning and Instruction
Educational Researcher
Journal of Educational Psychology
Educational Leadership
YouTube- http://www.youtube.com
· How do you gain new knowledge when you have questions?
When searching information about certain questions, I use the Boolean logic method to search the world wide web.
“Boolean logic allows you to combine words and phrases into search statements to retrieve documents from searchable databases. This tutorial will show you how to utilize Boolean logic to search the Internet”. http://www.internettutorials.net/boolean.asp
Keeping in mind that sites ending with .gov or .edu will pass the CAPOW test : Currency, Authority, Purpose, and Objectivity, and Writing Styles. Sites ending in: .net, .org, or .com will not usually pass the CAPOW test.
· In what ways does your personal learning network support or refute the central tenets of connectivism?
My personal learning network supports the central tenets of connectivism. Let me give you a few bullet points to back that up:
· Discussion boards provide diversity of opinions.
· Using: Walden University’s online Library, Google Scholar, educational journals, and blogs provide nodes of information sources.
· Use of computer and internet.
· Constant research into Instructional Design Issues to increase knowledge.
I think you get the picture that Connectivism is definitely present in today’s eLearning environment.
George Siemens has a good journal article defining the central tenets of Connectivism:
“Connectivism is driven by the understanding that decisions are based on rapidly altering foundations. New information is continually being acquired. The ability to draw distinctions between important and unimportant information is vital. The ability to recognize when new information alters the landscape based on decisions made yesterday is also critical.
Principles of Connectivism:
· 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.
· 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.
Decision-making is it 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”(Siemens, G., 2005).
Siemens, G. (2005, Jan). Connectivism: a learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning. Retrieved from http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm
“The scholar must be a solitary, modest and charitable soul. He must embrace solitude as a bride...that he may become acquainted with his thoughts.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-82)
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-82)
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
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