W1 – define was connectivism is. Our knowledge is connected across networks, it’s not just in our heads. We learn how to access that information using various tools and “connections”. New research and new information keeps changing the information we have. We don’t learn everything in our head.
What is a learning theory? – describes how learning happens or how it occurs. A learning theory should meet these and these needs and then show how it is occurring.
W2 – we have to be conscious of the patterns that form.
W3 – Don’t get hung up on the topic of knowledge. There is a body of theorizing around what is knowledge.
W4 – Is it unique?
You don’t know what you don’t know, but what you do know, you discover how to access.
W5 – IRRODL.org
What do you see as the relationship between connectivism and constructivism? connecting and constructing.
Think of substrates and a mesh. 3 substrates –
1st substrate – biological basis (what is happening in our head?) (do we see a ball rolling in our head, no we see a shape, colours, movement, etc and this stitches together so we “know” it’s a ball rolling).
2nd substrate – conceptual – how we bring ideas together. Linking data. Ie: if you are going to understand physics you need to know x, y, z, etc. all these are related. If anyone comes along and says something different than x, y, z then it is our job to decided if it is correct and in addition to or different then what we previously knew. Align or grow our perceptions within a discipline.
3rd substrate- external/social aspect of learning. How we are connected to each other is our capacity to know? Who we are connected to is going to determine who we are (choose your friends wisely). Our relation to others can determine our happiness, health, physical wellbeing.
Book reference. http://connectedthebook.com/
You’re not at substrate 1, 2 or 3 you are constantly moving through the mesh of these 3.
The distinction is that these are views of learning that explain the process of learning, but not the biological and certainly not the conceptualizing of learning. Connectivism incorporates all 3 of these substrates.
Student: Learning, by definition, focuses on “biological learning”. Connectivism goes beyond biological learning to include “learning or knowledge in non-human devices” as well. So, Learning Theory is a subset of the theory of connectivism.
George: Perhaps not fully. My argument, all life is a learning process, not just what happens at school. ( I didn’t do George justice in capturing his response).