Comments posted for Module 4: Connectivism

Posted comments to:

1. Nicholas Lapoujade


and


2. Steven Zollinger

Module 4: Connectivism

1. How has your network changed the way you learn?   It has given me a vast number of resources to consult when I have questions.
2. Which digital tools best facilitate learning for you?   The digital libraries provided by Walden University and Capella University have been extremely helpful.  The use of a wiki and sharepoint systems within TVA have helped me learn a lot about the corporation.  Facebook has been helpful with maintaining relationships with many of my friends and family that I do not associate with on a daily basis.
3. How do you learn new knowledge when you have questions?  One method is to consult those within my networks who may have had similar experiences in those areas I have questions about.  I may also be referred to someone or somewhere else based on recommendations made by those within my current networks.

Module 3: Collaboration

Do you believe that humans have a basic instinct to “interact and work as a group,” as Rheingold proposed in his discussion of the evolution of Wikipedia as a collectively developed encyclopedia?

Yes I agree with Rheingold.  I believe humans are social in nature.  Look at how we exist in communities.  We group ourselves.  The person who lives separated from society is considered to be not normal.  I believe the continuing development of new technologies is allowing us to grow closer together and will continue to help us work more collaboratively to solve problems.

How can technology facilitate collaboration among learners based on constructivist principles? 

With a background in science, I like how the constructivist principles are modeled after the steps in the scientific method.  I believe technology allows learners more ways to experiment.  The Internet is very well interconnected.  Any type of experiments done will require a large interaction with multiple users.  The use of wikipedia as mentioned by Rheingold is a good example.   

Find a current research study that has been conducted in the last 5 years that supports collaboration as an effective tool for learning. Include the link and reference for this study in your blog.

http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED527148.pdf (Boling, et al., 2011).

References:

Boling, E,. Holan, E., Horbatt, B., Hough, M., Jean-Louis, J., Khurana, C., Krinsky, H., &  Spiezio, C. (Dec 2011). Using Online Tools for Communication and Collaboration: Understanding Educators' Experiences in an Online Course. Online Submission, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Literacy Research Association (LRA) (61st, Jacksonville, FL). 17 pp.

Rheingold, H. (2008, February). Howard Rheingold on collaboration [Video file]. Retrieved from  http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html