Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age.

Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age.

http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm

This article written by George Siemens addresses the three learning theories, Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism, and how learning through these theories have been affected by advances in technology.  In the last 20 years, technology has changed how we live, how we communicate with each other and how we learn. In today’s society knowledge is sometimes measured in months due to the rapid changing technology.

Some significant changes is learning now include:

• ·         Learning and work related activities are no longer separate.

• ·         Informal learning is a significant aspect of our learning experience.

• ·         Learning now occurs in a variety of different ways, personal networks, communities  of practice etc.

• ·         Technology is also altering the way our brains learn, including the tools we use to define and shape our thinking.

Behaviorism equates learning with changes in either the form or frequency of observable performance. Cognitivism, like behaviorism emphasizes the role that environmental conditions play in facilitating learning, and Constructivism states that humans create meaning as opposed to acquiring it. (Ertmer & Newby, 1993)

The author George Siemens also stated that many questions are raised when these established learning theories are seen through today’s technological advances. Theorist continue to revise and evolve these theories as conditions have changed, but at some point further modification is no longer sensible and an entirely new approach will be needed.

I found this article very enlightening since as a future instructional designer I will also have to evaluate the informational processing theories in correlation to the latest technological advances.

Ertmer, P. A., & Newby, T. J. (1993). Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism: Comparing critical features from an instructional design perspective. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 6(4), 50–71.

Siemens, G., (2004) Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the digital age. In eLearnspace. Retrieved from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm.