Connectivism-Learning and knowledge rest in diversity of opinions.

I sometimes read a paragraph over and over again and my brain still feels fuzzed! It is only until I connect with the information that knowledge starts to becomes apparent to the mind.  Connection is an important way to learn and that is why I can relate to the theory connectivism as I have to understand something before any learning really takes place. It took me a while to understand the meaning and nature of the theory of connectivism but then I realised I need to to use this theory to understand it! "learning is knowledge transferred from teacher (or book;webpage etc) to student needs to be modified" (The Networked professional,2010) Intelligence is a function of the number of connections learned. The wider connections you have the more you are going to benefit as there are more people which equals more experience. "Connectivism is a learning theory influenced by the spread of the Internet and digital technologies especially social media like web2.0" -Siemens,G.(2004) Being part of this BAPP course this is the way we are learning, we are using digital technologies not only to enhance our knowledge but to gain access to all our work. You can learn via blogging, facebook, web searching, e-mail etc so there are so many sources that are easily accessible that you can gain fantastic knowledge from. Also the web offers opinions,beliefs and perceptions from others which is very helpful as it inspires you to think and go for more.

Thinking back to the last campus session we looked at "nodes" as connection points. Before the campus session I wasn't aware of this mark however after the tube map feature I am fully aware of  my current connections even if some of them are in the distance. I am going to increase and develop my nodes for the future as I feel these could be stepping stones to a possible job. The connections I do have I will maintain and nuture to ensure maximum benifit. "Learning is a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources. A learner can exponentially improve their own learning by plugging into an existing network"

http://www.connectivism.ca/about.html

Cerys Dixie quoted that "On the other hand technology can be a very useful tool when it comes to learning. With the vast amount of information available to us we no longer have to experience things for ourselves to be able to learn about them" She is completely right however I feel if we are asked to learn about "how vegetables grow" then you could just type it into the computer and let google do all the work for you. Definitely computers have made our lives easier and a lot more convenient both physically and mentally. Its effortless and saves time but is that what we want in order to be well educated?

"The capacity to know more is more critical that what is currently known. Knowing where to find information is more important than knowing information" http://www.connectivism.ca/about.html

References

The Networked Professional Reader 2010/11-http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/data/files4/133682/The%20Networked%20Professional%20Reader.pdf  - Accessed- 15/12/10

Connectism-http://www.connectivism.ca/about.html- Accessed- 15/12/10

Cerys Dixie Blogspot-http://cerysdixie.blogspot.com/2010/11/theories-relating-to-networking.html- Accessed- 15/12/10

Siemens,G.(2004)-http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/data/files4/133682/The%20Networked%20Professional%20Reader.pdf- Accessed- 15/12/10

Social Constructionism- Social constructivists believe that reality is constructed through human activity!

A newspaper would read very differently depending on society, infact there wouldn't be anything to write if it wasn't for us. "The world is of course out objectively out there,but how we come to understand it is a construction or creation of our own making"(The Networked Professional Reader 2010/11) Facebook (for exp) is an absolutely massive intricate network formed due to us.This network is a large social constructivism. Everyone's connections are weaving and interweaving over one another. Everyone has there on individual network however we are all linked in some way. Some people in my network I barely no but I might need them in the future and then a stronger bond in the network will be formed. We make the choices how we want our network to be shaped, we are in control of our own development.Some of my networks don't really exist, if I need it for my professional career I can build it. We have to frame our networks, it doesn't happen naturally,we are the ones who create and form the bonds.

We create meanings, beliefs, inventions that are important aspects to our everyday life's. Nothing would exist if it wasn't for social constructivism and everyday we develop and bring to existence more. One person didn't invent the London eye did they? No social interaction would of taking place,idea's shared and of course social constructivism. "One of it's key principles is that through social interaction, humans "construct"meanings of the world and there experiences of it"(The Networked Professional Reader 2010/11)

Mark Iles mentioned in one of his blogs "I like the idea that in order to fully grasp something you have to make it part of your experience" If you think about it when you are born you aren't christened to be a plumber or an artist, you decide, you make your own future. To find that future you have to pass hurdles and learn from experience. I always think its really strange that maybe I could in fact actually be a world-class jockey, however, unless I experience it how would i actually no? or maybe a lawyer?

Ross Dunning quotes "We can’t just expect our networks to grow and develop by themselves we have to help by constructing them with new contacts, new ideas or new ways of thinking" If i didn't do all the exploring and researching then I wouldn't have a job today. You have to build, develop and maintain to succeed in this hard but rewarding industry!

Ross Dunning Blogspot-http://rossdunning.blogspot.com/2010/11/critical-reflection-on-networked.html- Accessed- 15/12/10

The Networked Professional Reader 2010/11-http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/data/files4/133682/The%20Networked%20Professional%20Reader.pdf-  Accessed- 15/12/10 

Marc Iles Blogspot- http://markgraemeiles.blogspot.com/2010/12/social-constructionism.html-Accessed-15/12/10

Cooperation-"Why do some players do better than others? Are they using a particular method or strategy?"

I'm doing panto over Christmas and in the interval today I decided to get some advise on teaching qualifications from one of the dancers. I was asking her what qualification she has that enables her to feel confident enough but also proves that she is a capable of teaching at a high standard. It took a while to get the conversation rolling as we were both aware that we do teach in similar areas, however when we realised that we both had different ways of teaching and the way we advertise ourselves it became very interesting. The conversation could of been
strategic from her side, and during the conversation I was making choices and calculated what she was saying. Analyzing the conversation cooperation was apparent from the both of us, so I feel we have both aided each other and given the confidence to aim higher in our work.

Sometimes I can be selfish at giving information away for the simple fact that there isn't much work out there and if i felt somebody treading on my toes then yes I would keep quiet. Most of the time I enjoy helping others as I no how hard it is, but I wouldn't keep providing information to a friend who didn't reciprocate.

Game theory is a branch of applied mathematics that is used in the social sciences, most notably in economics, as well as in biology (particularly evolutionary biology and ecology), engineering, political science, international relations, computer science, social psychology, and philosophy. Game theory attempts to mathematically capture behavior in strategic situations, or games, in which an individuals success in making choices depends on the choices of others (Myerson, 1991). After doing some research on the notion of cooperation and analyzing Axrolds (1984) TIT of TAT theory I understand why someone would want to succeed at another person's expense however I believe working as one can be more effective. Researching Robert Axelrod's (1984) theory I have identified that working together with friends in the business and networking with them on a regular basis can develop benefits.

I did play the prisoner's dilemma game involving the principle of tit-for-tat cooperation consisting in interacting in a cooperative mode with a partner as long as he/she does the same.I learnt that imitating another person's moves you are not learning from your own experiences so it is hard to process information. I also fundamentally feel human cooperation and trust works best for me in my professional networking community.

I found a really helpful website which includes the prisoner's dilemma game. The result's of the game are below-

There have been 11001 cooperators (1109 got 2 years and 9892 got 10 years in jail) and 10223 defectors (978 got 0 years and 9245 got 8 years in jail).

References


Prisoner's dilemma game- http://bio150.chass.utoronto.ca/pdgame/- Accessed 15/12/10

Myerson, 1991- The Networked Professional Reader 2010/11-http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/data/files4/133682/The%20Networked%20Professional%20Reader.pdf-Accessed 15/12/10

Robert Axelrod's (1984)-The Networked Professional Reader 2010/11- http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/data/files4/133682/The%20Networked%20Professional%20Reader.pdf-Acessed 15/12/10