A learner is like a scientist, there is no exact rhyme or reason to it. Learning (and science) can be messy, you may fail dozens of times, and you need to work with new data and problems as they enter the real world. There is no exact recipe for success, but we all can achieve it in our own way.
In George Seimen’s video, he states “I had a dramatically different type of a need for knowledge than what I see learners having when they come into higher education today.” A student can do more with a computer than they have ever been able to in the past, thanks to the advancements in science and technology.
In his article about the theory of Connectivism, he states “Learners as little as forty years ago would complete the required schooling and enter a career that would often last a lifetime. Information development was slow. The life of knowledge was measured in decades. Today, these foundational principles have been altered. Knowledge is growing exponentially. In many fields the life of knowledge is now measured in months and years.”
Students need to be prepared for their futures. Current facts may be refuted by the time they enter the working world. For example, when I was a student in elementary school, I was taught there were 9 planets orbiting the sun. Due to new evidence and data, we now know that Pluto is no longer considered a planet, making the planet count 8. If we capture our students curiosity and encourage creativity and imagination, they will be more willing to stay current with their knowledge and become a lifelong learner. What you learn today, may not be the same as what you may learn tomorrow. We need to be receptive of change and know that this information will only allow us to grow and keep learning.
Connectivism allows students to use their prior knowledge to create discussions with others. It draws attention to the role of social contact with technology to enhance learning. Students are now expected to supplement their learning with outside sources. Websites that allow for discussion, such as Facebook or Twitter, should be allowed to be used in the classroom. It allows student to connect with more than just their own classmates and get involved in a conversation on an important topic.
I like the idea that "there is no recipe for success, but we can all achieve it in our own way". There is something reassuring about being able to take different paths yet get where we want to go. Kids are always comparing themselves to their friends, but if they knew they could still get where they wanted to be even if they took a different path--that would make such a huge difference in the lives of many students.
ReplyDeleteI also love the clean lines of your blog. So easy to read and nice to look at!