Sunday, July 22, 2012

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.


7 comments:

  1. I had almost forgotten about Microfilm and its evil twin, Microfiche! Isn't it so much easier to do a database search and have access to the entire article immediately.

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    1. Yes, Lyle things are so much easier with the web. Those days of actually sitting in the library and checking out books to do research are just about obsolete.

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  2. Cora, I must say that you brought back some great memories about how we learned and studied while obtaining our undergrad degree. I am interested in knowing what specific websites and social network systems use are using? And, how do you collaborate with other experts in your field of study?

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    1. Wordle.net, wallwishers.com, and stixy.com are some really great sites that I want to implement into my curriculum. Facebook and linkedin are social networks that I am currently using. As for collaborating with other professionals I use email, text, and/or Facebook.

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  3. Hey Cora, and wikis and blogs are much more personal than retrieving information from the web. With these two forms of learning/collaboration, one gets a sense of talking with someone as information is exchanged and knowledge is acquired.

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  4. Thank you Daniel your input is always insightful.

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  5. Hi Cora, I love your mind map; I think you really organized it in a very useful, easy to understand way. I'm glad you pointed out the importane of evaluating and verifying online information; too many people take for granted that what they are reading is true, when really, anyone could be writing anything, true or not, on the internet!

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