As I reflect upon the rapid changes in technology, which has created an abundance of networks that consist of people learning and communicating whereby, providing people the opportunity, and the ability between forming networks, that integrate technology and social networks, which has provided a massive formal of diverse information in a global environment. The kind of network that allows me the capability to acquire new knowledge, by expanding my resources, and its influence has allow me to adapt and change the way I learn. Learning for me consist of a range of different resources. "Google" happens to be one of them, in a simple form. The accessibility that we have to obtain information is Hugh. I do not have to go through an encyclopedia, or run to the library to do research. I have a network of knowledge and data that is arms length away.
The computer is the best digital tool to facilitate my learning, my son is his apple i phone. And now "Blogs" , I find them interesting and a new learning tool, not just to acquire knowledge, but to voice peoples' opinion, and the points of view of whether you agree or disagree, like a debate, a form of a forum or open plateau. I have acknowledged a different approach to adult learning. And how I gain new knowledge, which has facilitated me to become more inquisitive and question matters more frequently. Frankly, I had not given it some thought prior to reading the article from Adult Learning from Emerging Perspective on Learning, Teaching and Technology, on Malcolm knowles and his description of Andragogy, which he consider " the art and science of helping adult learning". The five assumptions he underlines and the principles that knowles used would be more manageable approach toward gaining new knowledge in my perspective.
George Siemen's Theory of Connectivisim emphasises on the importance between the interplay of networks, and the complexity of its "half-life" of knowledge. Assimilating the ways my personal learning network support the central tenets of connectivisim and its components, in reference to its Chaos Theory, which is when studies are linked together or connected to create a pattern that is important. However, the bottom line is finding balance, or a equilibrium, some kind of flexibility of the events that are constantly changing, therefore, adapting to the changes positively. There are different impacting factors that combine the interplay self-organized, or self-directed. The interacting components of the diverse population, or community of people who interact in a functional global connecting organized structure of patterns, and behaviors which can make matters more complex. The decisions that will be based on today's event's that are constantly shifting, may not well be the actuality at another later time. New information alters the decisions made yesterday. The viewpoint of the abundance of information, and moving forward with the "digital age," has facilitated the concept, and provided the opportunities to nurture the connections needed to motivate continual learning. The principles of Connectivisim, people gathering together their skills and knowledge by interacting at a larger scale and capacity connecting is of preference on my book.
Conlan, J., Grabowski, S.,& Smith, K. (2003). Adult learning. In M.Orey (Ed.), Emerging perpective on learning, teaching, and technology.
Davis, C., Edmunds, E. & kelly-Bateman, mV. (2008). Connectivisim. In M.Orey (Ed.) Emerging perspective on learning, teaching, and technology.