Blog Post # 4

 “Connectivism presents a model of learning that acknowledges the tectonic shifts in society where learning is no longer an internal, individualistic activity.  How people work and function is altered when new tools are utilized,...”  Siemens

A learner is like new laptop.

Why:

               A new learner and a new laptop have a lot in common with each other.  A new learner comes to a class with preconceived ideas and notions of what can and cannot be learned, while a laptop comes preprogrammed with what it is and is not able to do and accomplish.  However, both can be changed with the correct input.  So, as teachers we need to provide the correct software for the correct learner type.  Furthermore, “Learning is a process that occurs within nebulous environments of shifting core elements – not entirely under the control of the individual” (Siemens) showing that students are a changing environment (system) that needs to be continuously monitored and given the correct input for their changing systems.

          Another aspect of this analogy is that there are different types of laptops and different types of learners.  So, instructors need to provide the correct information to the learner to produce an ideal learning environment for the learner.  Just like Krashen’s theory of “i+1” the instructor needs to give input at the level the student can handle or as a laptop they will not be able to handle the workload and will slow down in their learning progress.  Looking into Siemens views on learning teachers need to have “The ability to recognize and adjust to pattern shifts is a key learning task” because “the network becomes the learning, the network that learners create” is constantly changing.