Connectivism: A knowledge learning theory for the digital age?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The emergence of the internet, particularly Web 2.0 has provided access to the views and opinions of a wide range of individuals opening up opportunities for new forms of communication and knowledge formation. Previous ways of navigating and filtering available information are likely to prove ineffective in these new contexts. Connectivism is one of the most prominent of the network learning theories which have been developed for e-learning environments. It is beginning to be recognised by medical educators. This paper aims to examine connectivism and its potential application. CONTENT:The conceptual framework and application of connectivism are presented along with an outline of the main criticisms. Its' potential application in medical education is then considered, CONCLUSIONS: While connectivism provides a useful lens through which teaching and learning using digital technologies can be better understood and managed, further development and testing is required. There is unlikely to be a single theory that will explain learning in technological enabled networks. Educators have an important role to play in online network learning.(Word count 170)

Las teorías de enseñanza-aprendizaje y los recursos de Internet: su confluencia en centros de primaria

“…Sin embargo, la propia organización o conexión en red de los espacios educativos está creando una alternativa teórica real, con características propias, que puede desplegarse tanto en formatos tradicionales como constructivistas (Leal, 2009). Diversos autores consideran al conectivismo una teoría del aprendizaje en la era digital basada en el análisis de las limitaciones del cognitivismo y el constructivismo, con objeto de poder explicar cómo la tecnología está infl uyendo en nuestros procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje (Downes, 2007, Darrow, 2009, Kathleen Dunaway, 2011, Goldie, 2016.…”

“…Sin embargo, la propia organización o conexión en red de los espacios educativos está creando una alternativa teórica real, con características propias, que puede desplegarse tanto en formatos tradicionales como constructivistas (Leal, 2009). Diversos autores consideran al conectivismo una teoría del aprendizaje en la era digital basada en el análisis de las limitaciones del cognitivismo y el constructivismo, con objeto de poder explicar cómo la tecnología está infl uyendo en nuestros procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje (Downes, 2007, Darrow, 2009, Kathleen Dunaway, 2011, Goldie, 2016.Intentando recoger esta problemática, el objetivo general de esta investigación es encontrar puntos de encuentro entre las teorías y las tecnologías, para que ambas confl uyan en un mismo sentido y camino. Para ello, se toman en consideración aspectos como la evolución histórica de las teorías y procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje junto con los distintos recursos de la web y servicios de Internet, con un objetivo educativo.…”

Social Networking in Czech Elementary Schools: A New Path for Cooperation

“…According to connectivism, learning begins when a learner is connected to and engaging in a learning community (Gerard and Goldie, 2016;Reese, 2014;Thota, 2015).…”

“…The main idea is a notion that learning is based on the knowledge network (Thota, 2015). Learning is perceived as a process during which individual knowledge nodes are being interconnected (Gerard and Goldie, 2016). In a graph, this situation can be described through nodes, which represent information, and edges, which represent knowledge.…”

Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Massive Open Online Course on Real World Evidence (Preprint)

“…2) lack of social interaction between learners raises concerns about the open and diverse environments that MOOCs generally should offer [4]. 3) Not understanding how the role an educator or facilitator in a MOOC plays in promoting interaction and networking for learners [5]. Further research of how a MOOC can meet these issues is needed to facilitate more effective MOOC development in the future.…”