What is learning today? Presented to Western Sydney Institute George Siemens

Agenda 1:30 – 2:30 – Theory and Overview 2:30 – 3:30 – Examples: Web 2.0 & Connectivism 3:30 – 4:30 – Discussion: Directions and implications

Some Changes Decentralizing Democratizing Distributed Changed dynamics of what it means to know Acceleration (of everything)

Information Growth Some contradictory figures –Berkeley Study: global information doubled between –ASTD: Knowledge doubles every 18 months –Other sources state between several months to seven years We feel it in our work (regardless of exact figures)

Learning is… Multifaceted Contextual –Corporate training vs. a child learning to write –Environment (stable vs. adaptive) Social Varied method –Classroom, elearning, blended

Whats happening? Interplay: people, society, technology: –Mobility, interoperability, convergence, divergence, integration, richness of content, collaboration, open source, decentralized

End-user in control Networked individualism (Wellman) Participative Co-content and meaning creators Aggregated perspective (Downes/Surowiecki) Data recombination Personalize

20.html Web 2.0 Meme Map

Does this align how we currently use learning/technology? No Content and courses still viewed as starting point of learning We are focusing on content tools: LMS (as they exist today), CMS, LCMS We should be focusing on connection- forming tools All content started as a connection…

Connectivism Learning and knowledge require diversity of opinions to present the whole…and to permit selection of best approach. Learning is a network formation process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources. Knowledge rests in networks. Knowledge may reside in non-human appliances[i], and learning is enabled/ facilitated by technology.[i]

Connectivism Capacity to know more is more critical than what is currently known. Learning and knowing are constant, on going processes (not end states or products). Ability to see connections and recognize patterns and make sense between fields, ideas, and concepts is the core skill for individuals today.

Connectivism Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) is the intent of all connectivist learning activities. Decision-making is learning. Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality. While there is a right answer now, it may be wrong tomorrow due to alterations in the information climate affecting the decision.

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