Hello World! says the earnest blogger from his insular blog-press position, deep in his own thoughts, scratching his own itch…
I just finished reading Sui-Fai’s nice post http://suifaijohnmak.wordpress.com/ on metacognitive skills and blogging and after I finished I reflected upon what he said, and wondered what would happen if an individual did not practice or have these skills or those of critical thinking, a similar competency. One word came to mind, which I have used as the title for this post. We would behave as sheep.
The connection of this to ‘connectivism’ is apparent to me. Let me slide into a little soap-box stumping for a bit, and posit the caution that we (humans) must be careful of being herded like sheep into the use of these engaging yet addictive web skills, and think about what it is that we are doing while we are ‘connecting ‘ away on-line to other humans, machines, nodes etc. and/or connecting off-line to other machines of our own making.
Perhaps ’sheep’ is what some elements of our societies would like us to be. Witness Facebook’s retraction of its intent to own pictures etc. placed on its sites by members. To trust the proliferation of tools, often privately-owned, that are available to most is perhaps to surrender an element of individualism and freedom to the greater collective network(s). The term ’Techno-communism’, as raised by Catherine the Great in the Moodle forums of CCK08, comes to mind.
To suggest that ‘knowledge or learning lies in the connections’ and positing connectivism as a learning theory seems only to glamourize the usage of these machines and tools, when perhaps what is needed is a more in-depth and meta-cognitive understanding of their effects and usages.
…the earnest blogger steps down from his soap-box, and awaits debate…
I participated in the connectivism CCK08 course and loved learning about networks and learning theories there, and at the time I fully supported the connectivism as a theory for learning as you can see from some of my previous blog posting below. But now that I have had more time to reflect on it, I am not so sure I agree with what I read posted in the moodle forums and in some of the individual blogs. It seems that maybe some of this Connectivism theory is getting a little far-fetched.
Does anybody else see it this way?
Seems much fuss is made about the amount of information (data) available through multiple sources in the ‘information age’, and theories like connectivism laud the ability of any one individual(s) to access this info.
What about data overload? When will the focus be on data reduction, instead of data proliferation? Will there be a time when too much info (TMI) is considered the norm, rather than the undesirable exception?
Well, it has been quite a while since I last wrote anything here of any size. But I am excited now. Sui Fai John Mak http://suifaijohnmak.wordpress.com created a Ning network http://connectivismeducationlearning.ning.com/ (I had no idea what this was) to continue some of the networking and discussion that we left off from in the CCKO8 course http://ltc.umanitoba.ca/connectivism/
A lot of the people that participated frequently in that course have joined this Ning in the few short days since it started. I hope it continues to be successful. For me, discussing educational issues with the high calibre of people from CCKOO8 and now in the Ning is very inspiring and very valuable. If you are interested, come and joine us. All are welcome, and it is just starting up, so it should promise to be an exciting journey!
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Why do students enjoy this delivery method so much?
Hello. I will miss the connections I made in the CCK08 course. I especially will miss the words of Stephen as he described the new world to us, and helped us firm up our resolve to bring on the changes that he sees us needing. I listened hard to the elluminate sessions at the end of the course, and agree with the strident approach of Stephen. Whye do I like this approach? It is time to bring the future to the present, it is time to connect everyone in the wolrd of learning and bring on the bright future that beckons all of us. Stephen is right to insist on his way, his way is the best way to get things changed quickly. Out with the old, andin with the new, which is fitting with a new year just around the corner. Let’s bring in the new year with a strident approach to changing learning, let’s connect and be one in the way of Stephen’s theory. I will miss CCK08 and hope that there will be another one of these so that I can register again and listen to Stephen and participate even more next time. I am sad that this one is ending.
I thnk that the world needs some new direction, a new relationship with the spiritual nature of humankind. What would this relationship be? Why do we need a new relationship? I think that the world religions, although wonderful in their efforts and time, and needed for the development of spirituality, would benefit from a new way of looking at things, a new understanding.Connectivism is that way, it can pull together disparate views of the worls, and humankinds place in it. It can be the method to improve on past ways, for example, it can be the new Tao, the new way. How is this possible? Connectivism means that eventually, if all of humankind acieves access to open knowledge, then all of us will be equal in our abilities, there would be nothing in the way of anyone of us gaining all the knowledge that is available. And as science advances, and old beliefs are replaced with new beliefs that emerge from better scientific undestandings of our world, then old beliefs will be slowly revised and replaced with the knew knowledge. as the new knowledge is learned and shared, then old wives tales will be dropped and we will have a new path forward, based on realistice interpretations of our world. In order for us to be comfortable with these advances, we will have to have faith in our science and our goals as a species, and connectivism can help us with this faith, until we develop to the point where faith is no longer required. I think that our species is underdeveloped inthe area of faith, we still cling to our beliefs, even when we can’t substantiate them, and reassure ourselves that having faith is an eternal human condition, when it is possilbe that it is only a transient human condition awaiting the release from it that scientific advance will provide. And while faith changes, and evolves, connectivism can provide the belief system for the transition to an un-faith human condition, where faith is no longer required, as we then have knowledge and substantiation for the unknowns that require us to have faith in the first place.
I posted the below in SuiFai’s blog in response to one of his posts. I think his work is inspiring, challenging us to think about our behaviour as individuals and societies. Why is this so important? It is always critical to examine what we do and think, and see what our path forward should be. without looking at our path forward, there can be no chosen destination, just allowing to be swept along in the flow. On the other hand, when I studied eastern philosophy I learned that 
“A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” But I am not sure I agree with this, we need to plan where we should arrive. I will think about this more. For now, here is the blog post and my comments that I referred to:
I think this is an inspiring post. Great thinkers may have some use to society, but the pursuit of degrees for merely selfish purposes must be considered unethical. One should pursue community interests, in the the spirit of communion and cooperation. This is where Stephens 4 principles come in to the picture: openness, autonomy, diversity and interactiveness our businesses should start thinking about the collective needs of the society, and work towards sharing more. Stephens view of free education, and no accreditation requirements, along with breaking down the walls of corporate culture and freeing up the knowledge held captive there is a great rallying point for the new age. The internet and its connection will be the method by which these goals will be attained. I agree with you and Stephen about this.
I have enjoyed reading all the literature and posts about connectivism that I have read so far in the connectivism course CCK08 and I have a long way to go with this. I think that I have determined how connectivism will be of assistance to humankind. I believe the religious overtones to this concept should be emphasized. The world is changing rapidly, and is in need of a new belief system, for humankind to advance as a species both on this earth, in this universe, and in the spiritual realm. Connectivism is this system, it is the new path, the new Tao for the digital era. The originators of this religion are the channels by which humankind has been connected with the concept. They have much to be proud of, and we, the followers of this new religion, are thankful for their efforts and lending themselves to this cause. Why do I consider this concept to be a religion? Many reasons, it seems that there is a change coming in how the world is views, and a lot of old beliefs and folklore and old wives tales are being discovered by science to be false, for one. And with globalization, and the connection of countries, opening of trade and borders, sharing of ideas and knowledge, it is clear that the global village is becoming one, and with that, we need one religion, one set of beliefs about our spiritual destiny, spiritual essence, values, morals and the like. And none of the current religions are likely to permit one of them to take on the role of global religion. The only way is through a new one, and what better belief system that one that is founded on the connectivity of people? There is no better one, and that’s why I think this will prove to be a concept and religion that grows exponentially, we will see another application of Moore’s Law within this different context. Other religions wil still proper and grow, and the new one will be a partner to them in our growth as a species, and our will to survive on this planet through tough economic times such as now and through the coming tough environmental times headed our way through global warming.
This is my first blog and I am excited to get started with it! I hope you will enjoy coming here and reading my stories and I hope you will share your comments with me!
-U
