Connectivism 101: For the Curious November 12, 2007 University of Alaska Fairbanks George Siemens

What was happening: late 90’s/early 00’s Network effect was experientially manifested Control was shifting User generated content Lower barriers: We could create, collaborate, share with relative ease

Network effect was experientially manifested

Control was shifting

User generated content

Lower barriers: We could create, collaborate, share with relative ease

What was happening in late 90’s/early 00’s Information explosion accelerating Edublog community rapidly developing Learning from each other: distributed, co-formation of understanding Rise of everyone

Information explosion accelerating

Edublog community rapidly developing

Learning from each other: distributed, co-formation of understanding

Rise of everyone

Learning didn’t feel like the theories said

We need a view of learning that recognizes: Changing information base (capacity to know) Role of technology Place/time shifted collaboration Shared sense making Life long learning Connected specialization Diversity Principality of connections

Changing information base (capacity to know)

Role of technology

Place/time shifted collaboration

Shared sense making

Life long learning

Connected specialization

Diversity

Principality of connections

Contributing factors Dissatisfied learners Engagement Changing world: how we relate to information Upheaval in information fields (blame the network) News, music, video, software, scholarship

Dissatisfied learners

Engagement

Changing world: how we relate to information

Upheaval in information fields (blame the network)

News, music, video, software, scholarship

Learning/life had changed

The few became the network

Points of failure Unneeded control LMS models (centralized/clunky) Good for administrators Terrible for learners and faculty LOs starting to peel hype layer Structured and planned=outdated

Unneeded control

LMS models (centralized/clunky)

Good for administrators

Terrible for learners and faculty

LOs starting to peel hype layer

Structured and planned=outdated

Heisenberg principle of information/learning: if you can describe it, it has changed

Origin Lots of stuff before I ever got here 2003 article – networks, ecologies 2004 article – self-published 2005 – IJTDL 2005 – Downes: Connective Knowledge 2006 – Wilson: “The diagram” Simultaneous: networked learning Edublog space exploded (see edublog awards)

Lots of stuff before I ever got here

2003 article – networks, ecologies

2004 article – self-published

2005 – IJTDL

2005 – Downes: Connective Knowledge

2006 – Wilson: “The diagram”

Simultaneous: networked learning

Edublog space exploded (see edublog awards)

Connectivism: Theory of learning developed in the manner it states learning occurs Downes, Cross, Richardson, Verhagen, Kerr, Anderson, Blackall, Sessums, Fisher, Hiebert, Wilson, Fiedler (plus a few hundred others) How did they contribute? Why did they contribute? How’s that for authentic?

Downes, Cross, Richardson, Verhagen, Kerr, Anderson, Blackall, Sessums, Fisher, Hiebert, Wilson, Fiedler (plus a few hundred others)

How did they contribute?

Why did they contribute?

How’s that for authentic?

What is connectivism? Knowledge distributed Learning as networked process (i.e. forming connections) Principles form base of all design

Knowledge distributed

Learning as networked process (i.e. forming connections)

Principles form base of all design

Three levels: Neural Conceptual (Sweller, Novak) External (people, information sources)

Neural

Conceptual (Sweller, Novak)

External (people, information sources)

But is that learning?

“ More than anything else, being an educated person means being able to see connections that allow one to make sense of the world and act within it in creative ways” William Cronon, 1998

“ More than anything else, being an educated person means being able to see connections that allow one to make sense of the world and act within it in creative ways”

William Cronon, 1998

The network became the locus of change

What is knowledge?

Where is it found?

“ All the knowledge is in the connections” David Rumelhart

“ All the knowledge is in the connections”

David Rumelhart

Learning in relationship to knowledge and mind Distributed – Hutchins – Not “in skull” Spivey et. al. – “not always inside brain” Bereiter – “knowing outside the mind” Externalization – Wittgenstein, Vygotsky Socialization – Papert, Piaget, Bruner, Bandura

Distributed –

Hutchins – Not “in skull”

Spivey et. al. – “not always inside brain”

Bereiter – “knowing outside the mind”

Externalization – Wittgenstein, Vygotsky

Socialization – Papert, Piaget, Bruner, Bandura

The network became a lever of influence

The aim: Deep understanding Complex worldviews Multi-context Assimilative/adaptive Agility/stability (Oblinger)

Deep understanding

Complex worldviews

Multi-context

Assimilative/adaptive

Agility/stability (Oblinger)