Practical Connectivism

transcript

Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies

University of Alaska FairbanksNovember 14, 2007

George Siemens

Schools & universities:

ecologies for connections

A potential approach?

Certificate in Online and Blended Learning

Participants

Structured and self-directed

Content and Ecologies

Ecology & Conversation

Content

Connections

• Forming connections with experts outside of courses

• Learner-to-learner connections

• Connections to online communities/resources/journals/blogs

How does evaluation occur?

• Demonstration of competence against established criteria

• Learner creativity• Multi-modal• Challenge: maintain authenticity by

traditional standards• Function of existing in the network

The Complete Cycle

Educator’s role

• Network administrator (Fisher)

• Atelier (JSB)

• Concierge (Bonk)

• Curator (Siemens)

Learners role

• Way-finding

• Collaborative sensemaking

• Deep understanding

• Review, reflect, redesign

• Distributed

• Connectable

• Permit learner voice

• Permit learner action (with, not for)

How then does learning happen?

The connection is sufficient

Weak ties

Small worlds

Power laws

Connectors

Understanding: function of network

Education