Connectivism

George Siemens and Stephen Downes raise some thought-provoking ideas and discuss some key issues that are changing the way we teach and the way students learn today. The ideas of connectivism and the network model of learning are more relevant now than ever due to the ever-expanding array of technology that makes it easier, more efficient and more productive to learn from and with a network. Certainly, I agree with Siemens’ assertion that learning is not about stuffing knowledge into the minds of the learners; rather, as teachers, we need to focus more on developing the skills of our students to seek out and create knowledge for themselves through such means as dialoguing with experts and working with colleagues. In other words, we need to train students to become responsible participants of learning networks and to recognize that knowledge is bigger than what can be contained in any one individual’s mind.