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?!
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