How Do You Learn?

Connectivism is one of the newer learning theories and is extremely relevant to the digital age. It suggests that new forms of knowledge are the result of a number of connections between all the ‘nodes’ in a network (Bates, 2019). A key characteristic of this learning theory is that knowledge is constantly changing - it can often be somewhat chaotic as nodes come and go, and the interconnectedness between various networks lead to opportunities for new knowledge from different sources.

One of the main reasons why connectivism has faced criticism over time is the influence it has had on the traditional classroom. Not only is knowledge created beyond the level of human participants, but the idea of transferring or building knowledge on an individual scale is no longer accurate. Instead, connectivism focuses on the activities we participate in within our networks and allows us to learn through active participation and interacting with one another. Technology and the internet are critical components of this learning theory. While this may be controversial to some individuals, non-human applications have provided me with new forms of knowledge during this course! Stay tuned to read more about how connectivism relates to the way I learn best in EM203.

According to Dr. George Siemens, the principles of connectivism are:

Diverse opinions stimulate learning and the transfer of knowledge.

The connection between specialized nodes and flows of information make up the learning process.

Learning can take place through non-human applications (such as technology!)

The ability and desire to learn is more important than what individuals already know.

Maintaining meaningful connections and relationships is required for continuous learning.

The ability to see the value in connections across different fields, industries, and concepts is an important skill.

All connectivist learning activities require up-to-date information.

Decision-making is a learning process because information is constantly changing. Even if an answer is correct today, it may be considered wrong tomorrow due to shifts in views and knowledge.

These principles clearly outline some of the main characteristics that I mentioned in my first post! Factors such as building strong connections with individuals across networks, the value in learning through non-human applications, and the ever-changing environment all work together to create the foundation of connectivism.

Our course, EM203, is a perfect example of how connectivism works. Since it is an online course, almost every aspect of our learning modules require us to interact with each other through platforms such as discussion boards and Twitter. These applications allow us to create our own networks (ex. learning groups), and create new forms of knowledge by sharing ideas, opinions, and the results of the activities that we participated in. The three main principles of connectivism that shadow many fundamental components of the course are:

1. Diverse opinions stimulate learning and the transfer of knowledge.

Example: Lesson 4 Discussion - Learning in the 21st Century

As part of the lesson 4 discussion, we were asked to watch a TED Talk by Salman Khan about the power of a digital classroom, and then discuss what we think learning will look like in 2030. Even though I believe that the classroom environment will take on more of a hybrid-style rather than being 100% virtual, many of my peers argued that classrooms will continue being completely virtual in the future - long after the pandemic is over. It was very insightful to read opinions that were different from my own, and I was able to gain a new perspective on what learning might be like for future students.

2. Learning can take place through non-human applications (such as technology!)

Example: Lesson 3 - The 3 M’s

For the lesson 3 activity, we had to select one of four tasks to complete that we did not previously know how to do. I personally chose to knit a 5 cm by 5 cm square because I have always wanted to learn how to knit but never found the time to do it. Even though the task was something that I was completely unfamiliar with, I did not feel intimidated going into the activity at all! This is because there were so many resources around me - both in real life and online - that I could use to complete this task. I ended up watching a knitting tutorial on YouTube that was made specifically for beginners, and this non-human application really allowed me to quickly pick up a new skill. I will definitely continue using technology and other complex mediums to learn new things in the future!

3. Decision-making is a learning process because information is constantly changing. Even if an answer is correct today, it may be considered wrong tomorrow due to shifts in views and knowledge.

Example: Weekly Twitter Challenges

After doing a bit more research about connectivism, I learned that it can occur at three different levels. Specifically, Dr. George Siemens explained in a YouTube video (which I will link down below for anyone to check out!) that the three levels of connectivism are:

The Biological Level

A Conceptual Connection

Networked Learning Through External Social Spaces

The level that is most relevant to Tumblr and my own personal approach to learning is Networked Learning Through External Social Spaces. As previously explained in my earlier posts on connectivism, new forms of knowledge are created through the connections between various ‘nodes’ in a network. The foundation of this learning theory is the ability to connect with one another and share ideas through words, pictures, and videos. In my opinion, Tumblr is the perfect social space to share ideas because it not only provides a centralized place to explore new topics, but similarly to Twitter, you can also easily explore different communities and concepts through the use of hashtags. For example, when examining the layout of my own Tumblr, you can search topics by hashtag on the left-hand side bar - if you wanted to see all my posts relating to the digital age, a simple search would allow you to do so. Tumblr also gives users the freedom to share much more than just words. Individuals can create text, video and image posts, quotes, and even discussion chats that you can reply to and share your ideas with the original poster and other commenters (as seen in some of my previous posts below!).

I would say that the underlying connection between Tumblr and Connectivism is the ability to bring thousands of networks together to share ideas through different non-human applications. The ease of sharing opinions and thoughts is just one click away, and online platforms like Tumblr blogs give you access to more networks than you could ever imagine meeting in person. As I am finishing up the second half of my third year of university, I have learned a lot about myself as a person but also as a student. I realized that I am a very visual learner who thrives in environments that foster teamwork and collaboration, and connectivism is a learning theory that supports these characteristics. I am naturally also a very curious person who loves doing research on new things - not only does a medium like Tumblr provide new resources to discover on these topics, but it also connects me with people who might have an extensive amount of knowledge and who are willing to share what they know with otherse. In contrast to other learning theories such as cognitivism where learning takes place through analysis, evaluation, and problem-solving, connectivism supports my preference for collaboration and unique applications like videos and discussion groups to effectively understand complex topics. Interacting with my peers has been one of the most critical parts of my time in EM203, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the past few weeks of this course. I am very excited to keep progressing as a learner in EM203 and investigating new concepts that directly apply to my life the same way connectivism and social spaces do on a daily basis.

Thank you for reading through my Tumblr and I hope you learned something new! I would love to hear which learning theory you think best describes your approach to understanding new material in and outside of the classroom!

What did you think about Salman Khan’s TED Talk that we watched in EM203?

If you haven’t watched it yet, make sure to check it out here! 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, how have you stay connected with your friends and family? Have you learned anything new?

Reblog to add your thoughts - let’s discuss how we have adapted to a global pandemic!