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connectivism, information overload and contact overload November 15, 2006

Posted by kieslinger in : Uncategorized , trackback

I just came across this post by George Siemens on Connectivism vs. constructivism:http://connectivism.ca/blog/2006/11/connectivism_vs_constructivism.html

and some of what I read here brings me back again to my refelction son our natural limits:

…For me – call it whatever you want – connectivism, social constructivism, navigationism (pick your own)…learning today must be seen as social, knowledge distributed across a network, capacity
enhanced by enlarging the network, learning/knowledge as multi-faceted and complex, incorporating technology, etc. I’m generally not in a mood to argue against other learning theories (though, at times, it’s
required simply to achieve a frame of reference). I’m much more interested in arguing for effective learning representative of what learners require in order to stay current today. Evangelizing connectivism is a secondary concern as compared with discussing effective, relevant, “sustainable” learning.

The challenge involves creating models in order to cope with information overload and complexity. For example, ineffective models of learning function are not noticed for their weakness when they are not under pressure. When, as we are seeing today, the climate of knowledge and information changes, then the weaknesses of those structures are more pronounced. Connectivism is simply about forming connections -
between people and with technolgy. Constructivism, for example, relies on social dimensions of learning as a means of internalizing knowledge – i.e. in the end, constructivist knowledge ends up largely situated in
a persons mind, while using the social space as a means to mediate and define the knowledge…..

So, ok. We – at least some of us – agree that we need to find new models in order to handle the information overflow and complexity. To me, however, the opportunities that information and communication technologies, and especially social software, provid me for establishing social contacts and for expanding my social network also brings me into a new dilemma. How many contacts can I deal with? Forming social connections takes time, and establishing trust and confidence takes time. I like to “live” in networks, but I think this need a specific approach and mindset, not only towards learning, but it effects us more generally on all levels. Work, Leisure, …..

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