Technology has
been very influential in the way I learn and I now prefer a connectivist theory
of learning. In fact, I am convinced that without technology, it would be much
more difficult for me to manage work and school. This is because technology
allows students to be in two places at once. Students can be in their office at
work or even at a café having lunch, all while exploring information that was
recently only available at a library or in a classroom.
Differences in the
way I learn in an online environment as opposed to a face-to-face learning
environment include the fact that in an online environment, I have time to
think about my response to a discussion question, as opposed to possibly
missing an opportunity to respond to a topic in a face-to-face format. Also,
with online lectures I can pause, rewind, and replay the material as often as
necessary. This allows me to take perfect notes and retain more of the
information.
Factors that are
critical and/or non-negotiable in teaching and learning include “building
networks of information, contacts, and resources that are applied to real
problems” (Anderson & Dron, 2011, p.87). This is why I embrace the
connectivist theory. According to Anderson and Dron (2011, p. 87), “much mental
processing and problem solving can and should be off-loaded to machines” and “the
learner’s role is not to memorize or even understand everything, but to have
the capacity to find and apply knowledge when and where it is needed”. Connectivism is not going away. Teachers and
students should focus on becoming masters of this new learning theory. This
will become the prominent method of instruction for teachers. This will also
become the prominent method of learning for future college students who are
currently in grade school.
References
Anderson, T. & Dron, J. (2011).
Three generations of distance education pedagogy. International Review
of Research in Open & Distance Learning, 12(3), 80-97.
