Connectivism - Reflection

 

Connectivism

I love being amongst people with a wealth of knowledge. I find that the more I widen my network the more knowledge I gain from others experience and ideas. Siemens (2005) endorses the idea that learning and knowledge rest in diversity of opinions. I benefit from being amongst diverse groups of people because the perceptions shared expands mine. George Siemen (2005) reminds us that many learners will become associated unrelated fields over the course of their lifetime. I am an educator, culinary expert, administrator, but wouldn’t it be nice if I develop other skills too? I associate myself with the Westmoreland Cricket Association Board that consist of persons from all walks of life, (social workers, bankers, master cricketers, to name a few). Affiliating myself with others who has similar or different experiences builds my knowledge and empowers me to offer more to people. 

Diverse groups of adults who seek to upskill faces challenges of personal life and school, but the digital tools minimize this. Connection and engagement are important in online classrooms. Digital tools are great in implementing these principles. George Siemen (2005) shares that technology alters the way we think and the tools we use defines and shape our thinking. I mostly use the MOODLE Platform to share online content, but MOODLE has its limits as it is not very interactive. Therefore, I use Microsoft Teams and WebEx for interactivity in lessons. These digital tools promotes connection and engagement in my learning space.

One thing about adult learners is that they are advocates for lifelong learning. One thing I find useful in seeking new knowledge is building my network through shared experiences. In fact, experience has long been considered the best teacher of knowledge. Since we cannot experience everything, other people’s experiences, and hence other people, become the surrogate for knowledge (Siemen 2005). I build my network by attaching myself with different organizations including my workplace. I find that in doing this new knowledge is attained and I can use this for professional growth. I work with HEART Trust, Jamaica that focuses on responding to the labour market needs of Jamaicans in a competitive market and as such with my networking I ably respond to these demands. I love to learn and have always found the benefits of learning by experience. The more I make these connections the more engaged I become when learning.

Adult learners especially should seek networks that will support the tenets of connectivism. After reading an article written by George Siemen (2005), it reminded me that social networks function on the simple principle that people, groups, systems, entities can be connected to create an integrated whole. I have always been an advocate for networking, not only for seeking useful resources but also for learning. As I attach myself to varying networks at HEART Trust and through social, professional and community groups it expands my personal development skills.

In closing, connectivism is a necessary learning theory, one that have really made its mark in todays world. As we look towards the future this theory will continue to show its face and its usefulness. Instructional Designers should find the advantages of learning by experience in making these connections in the online classrooms. Building our networks is vital to how and what we learn, we should subscribe to this concept as it increases knowledge.

 

Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age, International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, 2(1). http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm