This document discusses how the internet enables a new model of connectivist learning. It argues that with the rise of Web 2.0, knowledge now exists as fragments across the network rather than within individuals. When faced with a problem, one can now leverage this networked knowledge to find solutions faster. The document suggests encouraging more contributions to and reorganization of knowledge online to improve this environment for learning from problems.

1. Department of psychology and behavioral sciencesKnowledge & Learning for a Better WorldKnowledge and learning in a fragment ageSHENTU TengAugust , 2010 Hangzhou, China

2. The incoming contents2

3. It’s not just a toolThe power of Internet is underratedMost people may still think Internet as a tool, just like radio or TV, that's true indeed 10 years ago.But with the arrival of Web2.0 and the incoming Web3.0, the Internet shows himself as the dawn of a new age, the fragment age.Then what's that has anything to do with knowledge?3

4. The Internet and WritingLet's roll back to 2400 years ago, when the characters and writing just came out. The Socrates and his apprentices Plato look down to the writing.The writing is toy for children, the speech is wisdom of adults.4

5. The Internet and WritingTime changes, and the wise can be wrong.The knowledge for the first time can break through the limit of Time, and become permanent treasures of human beings. That's how we stand on the shoulders of giants.5

6. The Internet and WritingWould it be possible that the mighty Internet help us break through the spatial limit?If you prefer it's YES, then let's move on.6

7. Knowledge and LearningWhat is knowledge?We often forget the information as knowledge.The information flows on Internet is the same as the knowledge bear in our mind.Can we learn from Internet? Expertise and skills

8. Facts and information

9. Awareness or familiarity BUTDefined by the Oxford English Dictionary7

10. Knowledge and LearningHow to dodge a snakebite8

11. The incoming contentsFirst, introduction of the connectivism as a learning theory.Then, how Internet make it possible to learn in this way.At last, we will try to dodge the snakebite. 9

12. ConnectivismConnection mattersFrom WikipediaConnectivism is a learning theory used in computer science which is based on the premise that knowledge exists in the world rather than simply in the head of an individual.We all know our brain is just a huge network of neurons. But your computer seems not work in that way. The idea of create an artificial network to compute leads to connectionism.10

13. Different program modelsThe traditional program modelThe If-then modelLike a guide bookThe possible problem and solution is coded by programmer.

14. The program is preset.

15. The knowledge is beard in mind of programmer, who write the program to make it explicit.if … then … ; if … then … ;if … then … ;11

16. Different program modelsThe connectionism program modelLike a studentThe network modelThe programmer build up network without any code.(a blank network)

17. Train the network with some input and expected output.* *(Learning)

18. Solve new problems in some degree

19. The knowledge is beard in the network and implicitAnswerExpected outputSolutionsTraining inputProblem*The training process will change the connection between nodes. e.g. enhance the right path.12

20. Different learning approachTaking a course or reading a book is like install a software. Maybe you only need one simple function, but the programmer doesn’t know what the function is, so most of the IFs are just in case.13

21. Different learning approachBut connectionism take a different approach, you can always get the answer of the problems in the domain where the network has trained. The answer may be not good enough, but the network learns at the same time, so next time, it would be better.14

22. The society as a networkWhat if we see the entire society as a network and every individual as a nodeProblemAnswer15

23. It’s happening in everyday lifeYou won’t be the first one who meet such kind of problem, there’re someone who know how to deal with it. But,Can you find them? 16

24. Internet for the rescueThanks to Internet, now the people we meet in one day can be more than that of Socrates’ whole life.On what level has the world changed?Especially after the buzz word Web2.0 comes out.17

25. How Internet shape the worldBe visible onlineWeb2.0 technologies make the Internet user friendly, so the content is user generated, which means more people are visible online.18

26. How Internet shape the worldBe short and shorterThe content is short fragment rather than a chunk of systematic knowledge.A PageA BlogA Tweet19

27. How Internet shape the worldBe fast and fasterTherefore information spreads fast in this network. One hour after the news of Jackson's death hits the internet, the first mainstream news source publishes a confirmation article.20

28. How Internet shape the worldInformation reorganizationWhat’s google’s content? More than 80% content of this page is taken from other website.Google just collects information and tell you where it is.21

29. What would the learning be like then?22

30. Still remember the case?How to dodge a snakebite23

31. In Web1.0 or beforeSorry, good luck next time, find a website about jungle exploring before you are in danger.24

32. In Web2.0This is what you get NOW, You may find a Blog about how to dodge it, or a Video clip of a real example.But still sorry, before you click and see what’s that, you have already been bitten.If there’s a “snake bite dodging club” on Internet, things may slightly different. Because the experts there know where to find the guide, and collect it, so it’s faster to get the really helpful information.25