"Connectivism"

A new "ism" for the social studies department to teach?

When new concepts are connected to prior knowledge, one increases the effectiveness of grasping the new concepts. Oh teacher, be mindful that the learner does not make such a tight grasp on a concept that the lesson becomes rigid. A classroom example is the assignment of "defining" terms. At its root, definition means finite, finale, the end, dead. I had an instructor in graduate school who encouraged the use of the word "characterize." This, he said, keeps the concept fluid (actually he was British and used the word plastik). Fluidity enhances learning.

Siemens (http://knowingknowledge.com/), (2006+) states that learning IS making connections. He takes this concept further and describes a type of learning which takes place when a network of knowledge is formed. He calls this 'connectivism.' He writes that the ability to see connections is the core skill for individuals today. Fluidity enhances connectivism by allowing the movement necessary for network forming to take place. Movement also opens the way to forming new capacities. The capacities to learn more, and the connections that enable us to learn, are more important than what is currently known. Siemens and I and my graduate professor agree.

The knowledge available in this Age of Information is vast, complex and moving at a rapid pace. Whereas this can easily overwhelm the individual, a network can share in the receiving and interpretting of information and progress as a team. As a team, the knowledge of one individual becomes the knowledge of another. The sum - greater than the parts - is connective knowledge.

A principle of connectivism is that learning and knowing are constant, on-going processes. "We must learn to dance (engage and interact) with knowledge in order to understand what it is." (Siemens, again) and I agree, again ~ dancingkaren.