I read Jenny’s post on the selfish blogger with great interests.
Tag Archives: CCK08
#PLENK2010 Connectivism
Below is the comment in response to Stephen’s post on What Connectivism is
Hi Stephen, After reading your excellent post and all comments from others, I am more than convinced on the approach towards connectivism, in that it could add a new dimension towards learning, and help in understanding how we learn in a networked environment, especially the complex digital adaptive ecology.
First, as you have stated in various presentations, connectivist approach encourages and builds on connections, where learning is viewed as ontology rather than a static view. Second, different views under a connectivist approach is a healthy one, which to me also encourages each of us to reflect more deeply on the values of communication and interaction, and the importance of sharing of tacit and explicit (views/knowledge) in the learning process. Your example on chess playing illustrates the importance of pattern recognition, not mere knowledge per se. I resonate your views when I played with Chinese Chess. It’s the strategy that wins and the establishment of pattern which is the fun behind, not the one or two steps that lie ahead that determines the pattern, or the “knowledge” in playing chess.
May be what makes a fundamental difference with connectivism to all other approaches or theories would be that its application in external digital and virtual social networking and educational networks in particular, where we may not be seeing each other face to face, and so all those “meaningful learning in a traditional teaching” doesn’t translate into a reality.
I could sense the friction coming out of some of the interactions above, especially with the notion of techno-communism from CatFitz point of view, which sounds interesting.
I would applaud Stephen in sharing this important message on connectivism, where technology is accelerating and enhancing the mode of learning across the networks and individuals, even if people don’t want to see or accept connectivism as a new learning theory. Time will tell.
John
Commented here.
Perception, feelings and emotions
Thanks to Heli for the link in her post on quality of connection. I think this was a very emotional talk by Dr Brown. Getting “A”s and perfection in the academia is praised as the perfect achievement of personal goals and academic success. This sort of achievement seems to be very different from our real lives after “school” where we have to live in imperfection. This reflects our lives with authenticity and that often leads to a crossing between worthiness and unworthiness amongst us as we “struggle” with life.
Shame, fear, unworthiness seem to be “natural” part of life, and an offspring of personal study, learning, career, family upbringing, parenting, and ageing. I don’t think people would share these feelings openly in social networks, in fear of personal security being hacked or an over exposure of private life to the public. These have long term implications – on personal academic studies, marriage, career and reputation in one’s life.
People likes to associate with others who could empathise their feelings and emotions, especially when they are in despair, in vulnerability. Would such feelings of vulnerability be too hard to share in academia, in social networks, or in open connections? Why? That would be perceived by others as living without perfected emotional literacy, critical thinking, in confidence, competent at work, or in personal life. People would only share academic success but not much on life “failures” because that could lead to shame and fear in his or her life. Isn’t that the dilemma between academic success and personal life struggles (feeling weak and vulnerable)?
Why would people like Dr Brown feel vulnerable? Have some of us felt that way in our life journey?
Why would we have to numb our emotions, feeling in face of adverse personal issues or circumstances? Aren’t we all looking for an optimistic way of living?
Would this be a cultural “issue” or an international phenomena? The “pretend” issue just reflect what many of us are facing – we are living in a society that is so complex, filled with complex issues, dilemmas, and emotions, and advertising memes that so often we could be both fascinated and overwhelmed with information, power and politics, and personal life struggles.
How would we deal with these in social networks? How would emotional education in our society – emotional control & intelligence help?
What strategies have you adapted to overcome those feelings of loneliness, imperfection and vulnerability?