Jay,+Robin


 * Connectivism: Allowing Education to "Lose Control" **

AN INTRODUCTION

//Photo courtesy of Apple via [|Engadget photo] //

With the textbooks being replaced by Apple's I-Touch, Barnes and Noble's Nooks, and Amazon's Kindles, students "texting" instead of talking in person, and classrooms being replaced more and more by computer labs, the way students are taught is changing. While students growing up in this "new world order" may have little to no problem allowing technology to infiltrate what is taught and how it is taught, teacher, professors, and general instructors may have a hard time seeing the inevitable and current transition in education known as [|Connectivism.] **UNDERSTANDING CONNECTIVISM** Take a step back and watch students in the hallways of schools. You are watching the enthusiasm that lies at the heart of what **CONNECTIVISM** is all about. While teachers struggle to keep students awake during "learning" in the classroom, as students connect with other students in the hallway, the level of energy and information gathering is immense. Weekend plans, school events, what homework is like in different classes, and who is dating who are only a sliver of the information that will be gathered thousands of times over within the CONNECTIONS of a high school hallway.

**This is the basic concept of CONNECTIVISM- knowledge coming from a multitude of "connections."** TWO AUTHORITIES ON CONNECTIVISM: **SIEMENS AND DOWNES**​ George Siemens, learning theorist and the prominent authority on Connectivism, believes that educators must recognize that "connections" are much more important than "our current state of knowing". It is NOT about arriving to a destination (the classroom) and just receiving a specific package (the "LESSON" of the day) and being done. Information is always changing, and one teacher cannot even begin to attempt to cover and grasp the ever-changing landscape of information out there on ANY GIVEN TOPIC. Within connections, students CAN find the most current information, the most relevant information, and the information that they specifically need.

The traditional classroom follows a set amount of time, with a pre-determined amount of information that will be "given" to all of the students within the classroom. Connectivism allows each student to determine the specific information he or she needs, where to gain that information, and to be able to constantly update that information. Instead of thirty students receiving the same, single lesson, there are now thirty students learning thirty distinct lessons. As Siemens states in his essay, "//Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age", "the starting point of connectivism is the individual".//

Stephen Downes, a leading researcher in Canada on technology and its role in education, adds that connectivism demonstrates that "knowledge is not acquired" at one moment in the daily structure of classroom lesson plans and scheduling. Instead, as a student makes connections continually throughout his or her day, learning remains and "active" part of his or her day. Again, education does not become an appointment where only one set list of learning is acquired. With the knowledge pulled from an endless array of sources, via the internet, learning becomes more specific, more detailed, and, hopefully, more relevant to each student.

//The theory of Connectivism is being understood throughout the Internet:// media type="youtube" key="l51NqYE3Gbg" height="266" width="378" align="center"

Connectivism: Relevant to Our Teaching? Definitely! There are many ways that the learning theory of Connectivism is being used in the classroom.

On Cool Cat Teacher Blog, Vicki Davis writes, "I saw that at the beginning of using what some would classify as a more connectivist learning structure (for those who agree that connectivism is a theory) there was a definite initial hurdle to overcome. You do have to shift students to a more exploratory learning format where they seek information and read and use their discernment to determine the facts." Ultimately as teachers isn't that what we are doing on a daily basis when teaching our students in the 21st Century? She also asks a really important question in this age of schools teaching to the tests and that is, " Do teacher-led classrooms REALLY teach more or just cover more?" It's not really about showing how much the teacher knows about the material it's about getting the students to take "ownership" in their own learning. Making connections with the information, understanding it, learning it, and applying it.

The YouTube video below shows us what the Networked Student in the 21st Century looks like in Plain English. media type="youtube" key="XwM4ieFOotA" height="344" width="425" align="center"

Examples of Integrating technology into the current curriculum (reinforcing connectivism):
 * Teaching students in the elementary schools how to blog and how to comment on blogs
 * Facilitating high school students in the creation of blogs where they write and comment on each other's original writings (Creative Writing Blog Central)
 * Having students create blog groups where they gather and reflect upon information centered around authors like William Shakespeare, Arthur Miller, and Lewis Carrol ([|The Alice Project]).
 * Collaborating with other schools through Skype and ichat
 * Using long distance learning technology to have students interact with artists, authors, and other professionals
 * Using Twitter to gain information on classroom topics to connect with people on topics that are relevant
 * Setting up networks and making connections through on-line projects (Flat Classroom Project).



At the website, Imagiverse, projects are posted for classrooms to partake in to collaborate with other classrooms around the world. Part of their mission say, "We believe that imagination is the key to learning. Teachers can teach, but learning comes from within." As teachers we help to make the connections and to get the networking started. Our students use those connections and networks to find the answers they are looking for and then choose the method for finding the answers.

CONNECTIVISM - NOT JUST ONE LESSON PLAN BUT A DAILY APPROACH​ Despite opposing viewpoints and slow progress, technologically, in many school districts, Connectivism is approaching. It is already a part of our students' everyday existence. If our goal is relevant, imaginative, and meaningful learning, more educators will see the value of implementing the learning theory of Connectivism into their daily classroom routines.

For the good of our students, swallowing our pride, will educators work in a new way, allowing students to learn through connections on the internet and in their community?

**Will educators be willing to LOSE CONTROL for a better system of learning?**

References and Additional Material http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l51NqYE3Gbg&feature=related @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwM4ieFOotA [] [] []

[] [] [] @http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2007/02/connectivism-in-classroom.html @http://www.imagiverse.org/
 * Implementing CONNECTIVISM:**