Connectivism - a new learning theory?

This post is a bit different - but I include it because there may well be new teachers out there engaging with the various theories of learning or even experienced teachers who are starting to wonder what will be the impact of new technologies on teaching and learning in the future...

The link Connectivism - a new learning theory? - takes you to an audio stream of a lecture by George Siemens (35minutes long) with slides. It uses 'Articulate', which I haven't met before, but worked well combining the slides and audio.

This presentation covers many of the current discussions around learning technology: personalisation, social networks, connectivism and syndication tools like RSS.
As he summarises it,

'the interplay of people, society and technology'

He describes something different to the traditional content-provider/consumer model of teaching and learning with the emergence of a different relationship enabled by Web 2.0 a set of tools that increasingly put end-users in control.

Another important concept covered - 'networked individualism' i.e. connections with others based on interest not geography. Learning as making new meaning with others -not, he argues, an isolationist process. but an 'aggregated perspective'.

Siemens argues this reality of learning is now at the doorstep of educators. Tools are already (and easily) available e.g. blogs, wikis, VOIP, aggregators etc.

The web is seen as a platform, rather than a collection of sites - users can create and contribute.

But, he acknowledges the issues this raises:

• can result in 'amateur' contributions ie variable quality. It is important that the end user has skill levels that allow them to determine the validity and quality of material.
• The 'echo chamber' effect - ie the tendency to 'listen' only to those sources we agree with. We exclude any moderating voices if, essentially, we only hear of what we approve.

Have to say I found much to think about in this presentation, give it a try.

More at http://www.connectivism.ca/