In the article,
Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age, the author, George Siemens, discusses that old learning theories are not relevant in today's technology driven world. Siemens says that
Connectivism is driven by the understanding that decisions are based on rapidly altering foundations and that
new information is continually being acquired. In today's information age, one has to constantly search for updated information. This is why I made the analogy that a learner is like an explorer. Learners must continuously search for updated information as the life of knowledge according to Siemens, is now measured in months and years instead of decades, as it used to be.
In the Video,
The Conflict of Learning Theories with Human Nature, Siemens says that old theories of learning are at odds with a human desire to externalize. He says,
we need to externalize our thoughts to connect with other individuals. A learner must explore various ways of networking with others because as he says,
learning is a function of a network. Networking with other individuals can foster this human need to externalize in social spaces and help learners grow.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in watching the difference between giving students a task and telling them to work alone and then having the next class come in and giving them the exact same task but telling them they can work with a partner or a group. The result is impressive. They are thrilled at the chance to be be sharing information.
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