Module 4: Connectivism

How has your network changed the way you learn?

During my undergraduate studies, I can recall going to the library and checking out informational books and looking up information in encyclopedias and on microfilm. Fortunately, with today’s technological innovations I can easily learn new information by simply connecting to the internet. This newly gained knowledge is then stored and later retrieved when that information is recalled upon.

Which digital tools best facilitate learning for you?

The digital tools that best facilitate learning for me are blogs and wikis. I find that blogs and wikis are very useful communication tools that are not only used for critiquing someone’s work, but they are also avenues for sharing information digitally through different kinds of media. My followers can also provide immediate feedback that can be very useful in directing and/or redirecting my thought process. Furthermore, blogs and wikis can store information for future use, and they create a sense of community in the traditional and virtual classrooms.

How do you learn new knowledge when you have questions?

I generally research and gain new knowledge by using the World Wide Web and its abundance of resources. I start my research process with the Google search engine, and at the click of a mouse a wealth of resources instantly appears on the screen. I take my time reading and comparing the information that is retrieved and decide on its creditability and authenticity.

Module 3 Responses

Daniel http://daoprish.blogspot.com/2012/07/module-3-constructivism.html?showComment=1342061497319#c4731900945863815140

Laura http://wojoedtech.blogspot.com/2012/07/module-3-our-connected-world_10.html#comment-form

Module 3: Natural Instinct to Collaborate

Do you believe that humans have a basic instinct to “interact and work as a group,” as Rheingold proposed in his discussion of the evolution of Wikipedia as a collectively developed encyclopedia?

Speaking from my personal experiences, I believe that humans have the basic instinct to “interact and work as a group” as stated in Rheingold’s video. I find that when I am in a group it is less of a challenge to accomplish a goal when I can collaborate with my peers. I also find that when my students are in a challenging situation that it is natural for them to look around and find a peer who does not feel that the assigned task is a challenge. Often times, the students begin to collaborate in order for them to successfully accomplish the assigned task. The Metiri Group conducted a study on the impact of collaborative learning the results revealed substantial gains in academic achievement. For more information about this study you can visit http://www.cisco.com/web/about/citizenship/socio-economic/docs/Metiri_Classroom_Collaboration_Research.pdf

How can technology facilitate collaboration among learners based on constructivist principles?

According to the Driscoll (2005), a constructivist acquires knowledge as they “attempt to make sense of their experiences” (p. 387). So we as teachers need to provide students with learning experiences that will allow them to build on their prior knowledge and connect it to their newly acquired knowledge. In this setting, students need to be actively engaged in collaboration and working in cooperative groups. The role of the teacher is to provide “an environment for spontaneous research, understanding the social and collaborative nature of learning, helping children construct knowledge and initiate problem-based, project-oriented work” (Nanjappa & Grant). As a result, technology is used as a tool to engage learners in meaningful task that will assist them in acquiring, interpreting, and organizing knowledge.

References

CISCO (2009). The impact of collaborative, scaffolded learning in k-12schools: A meta-analysis Retrieved  http://www.cisco.com/web/about/citizenship/socio-economic/docs/Metiri_Classroom_Collaboration_Research.pdf

Nanjappa, A. & Grant, M. (n.d.). Constructing on constructivism: the role of technology. Retrieved http://ejite.isu.edu/Volume2No1/nanjappa.htm

Rheingold, H. (2009) Way-new collaboration retrieved fromhttp://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html