Connectivism - Learning in the 21st Century

During my Connectivism research this week, I came across the following phrase regarding the principles of Connectivism that really sang to me:

"Connectivism is a learning theory for the digital age. Learning has changed over the last several decades. The theories of behaviourism, cognitivism, and constructivism provide an effect view of learning in many environments. They fall short, however, when learning moves into informal, networked, technology-enabled arena...The integration of cognition and emotions in meaning-making is important. Thinking and emotions influence each other. A theory of learning that only considers one dimension excludes a large part of how learning happens."

Source: http://connectivism.ca/about.html

There are two things that I really relate to when it comes to Connectivism; one being this notion of embracing technology in the digital age. Computer technology and - more specifically - Internet technology have become ingrained in our society. They have infiltrated nearly every aspect of our lives and it's clear that they're here to stay. The level of connectivity and sharing of ideas that the Internet has given us is truly mind boggling. Data, information and thoughts can be shared in a split second - with contributions from all over the globe! What would our forefathers think if they could only see us now?! The second thing that I really relate to is the idea that we must integrate our emotions and cognition into meaning making. Things that typically remain in my mind and in my heart the strongest are those that touched my spirit and elicited emotions. Those emotions can range from happiness to sadness, from surprise to dismay. These are the things that "touch me" and leave a lasting impression. These truly are the things that create meaning... and without meaning - how can there possibly be any learning?!

Communities of Practice

This past week after attending the CoP presentation, I have found myself searching for examples of Communities of Practice in my day to day life. I quickly determined that my department at Boston Scientific definitely fits the mold with the domain being the Instructional Design knowledge that created common ground among us, the community being all of us within our department and the practice being the focus of our group - which is the creation of cutting edge training for BSC's Endo sales force. Our practice is, at its core, our sharing of ideas, skills and knowledge.

I also see evidence of a CoP on the home front. I happen to live next door to my parents and across the street from my brother, his wife, and their seven children. We are very much like a community of practice with the domain being the successful raising of our families, the community being all of the family members and the practice being the resources, skills, knowledge & assistance we provide one another to do the job right. Examples of this range from watching out for each other (I saw a strange car in your driveway... you left a light on in your house... are you aware your two year old is outside?) to babysitting each others children... or sharing meals when we have leftovers.

It's truly a great system and I love it. I think life is really meant to be lived like this. Humans are tribal, communal beings and I believe we naturally gravitate towards this type of structure.

It seems this ideal is fading as the internet explodes and we grow more and more isolated. Personally, I find myself longing more and more for that feeling of community and I oftentimes wonder if it is only me - or if everyone has that same longing. Please feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts. It would be great to hear what others have to say about this!