Connectivism Theory: What it Means for Educators

Connectivism is largely based on the connections made, and the ability to stay current with the information we immerse ourselves in. Based on the article by George Siemens, "Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age", I feel that a learner in many ways is like a spider. Bare with me here. Spiders as we know, spin webs which act as their home, as well as their means to food. Like a spider, students create their own "web" consisting of many different strands. Each strand is equally important and without an individual strand, there is a hole that is formed. Each individual strand represents a connection made between "fields, ideas, and concepts" (Siemens, 2005). With every strand that is missing, these connections are lost or unobtainable. However, spiders like students are able to "fix" the strands in their web by "Nurturing and maintaining connections [that are] needed to facilitate continual learning" (Siemens, 2005).

For spiders, the web acts as a means for survival in which it catches or captures new food everyday. The web that a student creates is similar in that it catches incoming information, and like a spider students should be picky about what they receive. "Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality" (Siemens, 2005). The web in both the spider's case and the student's catches something new everyday and it is up to the occupant to understand and determine whether it is the right find.
The video The Impact of Social Media on Learning by Siemens references the uses of Facebook, Flickr, blogs, wikis, and Myspace as means to engaging in Connectivism. Being able to connect with each other and share our ideas is a very effective way to stay current and explore new concepts and ideas. They provide growth and knowledge in a way that is unique and engaging to students. They also allow us to "Express ourselves and externalize our knowledge" (Siemens). This also gives purpose to the student. They are sharing their ideas and thoughts to "someone with a face". There is purpose behind the learning and in return, students are strengthening their connections and staying current.
Siemens uses the term "pipe" and for my analogy purposes I will use web in place of it. "The [web] is more important than the content within the [web]" (Siemens, 2005). Without the web there would be no information available which further emphasizes the importance for a strong web.
The Impact of Social Media on Learning
Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age