Siemens' and Downes' Connectivism
How Connectivism can be used to create active learning:
Connectivism is active learning. Since it is each individuals responsibility to pursue their own knowledge acquisition through networks and no knowledge is disseminated by a centralized source, it is impossible to be a passive learner.
Connectivism is active learning. Since it is each individuals responsibility to pursue their own knowledge acquisition through networks and no knowledge is disseminated by a centralized source, it is impossible to be a passive learner.
How to use Connectivism in a learning experience:
Currently, one of the most common ways that Connectivist Theory is being applied to learning environments is through MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). These courses are often free and open to anyone. In a pure Connectivist MOOC, learners would join the MOOC network because they wanted to engage with that network around a specified topic. From there, it would be up to the learners to determine how to gather information and discuss with others to further their own knowledge. Some learners might use traditional discussion boards, while others would interact in virtual communities, post interesting sources to twitter, post on blogs related to the topic, etc. Through interacting with others, the learners would be building their own knowledge colored by their individual experiences.
For younger students, the Montessori method appears to have many of the traits of Connectivist Theory, though perhaps with less of an open classroom structure or digital social networking opportunities. Students in Montessori schools are given choice among varied activities for learning. Each of those activities, as well as the other students and teachers in the class, could be considered the "nodes" referred to in Connectivism. The children construct their knowledge through their exploration of the "nodes" and the discussion and social interactions with other students teachers.
Currently, one of the most common ways that Connectivist Theory is being applied to learning environments is through MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). These courses are often free and open to anyone. In a pure Connectivist MOOC, learners would join the MOOC network because they wanted to engage with that network around a specified topic. From there, it would be up to the learners to determine how to gather information and discuss with others to further their own knowledge. Some learners might use traditional discussion boards, while others would interact in virtual communities, post interesting sources to twitter, post on blogs related to the topic, etc. Through interacting with others, the learners would be building their own knowledge colored by their individual experiences.
For younger students, the Montessori method appears to have many of the traits of Connectivist Theory, though perhaps with less of an open classroom structure or digital social networking opportunities. Students in Montessori schools are given choice among varied activities for learning. Each of those activities, as well as the other students and teachers in the class, could be considered the "nodes" referred to in Connectivism. The children construct their knowledge through their exploration of the "nodes" and the discussion and social interactions with other students teachers.
George Siemens discusses a Connectivist learning experience in the video below:
