Connectivism

 
   

       I fell that A learner is like an iOS system which should be updated all the time from reading Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. "Our ability to learn what we need for tomorrow is more important than what we know today. A real challenge for any learning theory is to actuate knowledge at the point of application. When knowledge, however, is needed, but not known, the ability to plug into sources to meet the requirements becomes a vital skill. As knowledge continues to grow and evolve. And access to what is needed is more important than what the learner currently possesses." I am also in TESOL program. When I first took linguistic this course, I was shocked and a little bit frustrated. Because the phonetic symbols which I learned at the beginning of my English learning journey are much more different than nowadays'. I had to study phonetic symbols again on my master course.  So just as the author said that "our ability to learn what we need for tomorrow is more important than what we know today."

    I feel a learner is like a network after watching The Impact of Social Mediaon Learning. "Because our learning today is on forming networks with each other." "We need to externalize our thoughts in order to have the ability to connect with others." For example, when we have dialogues with experts from around the world or individual learners, we express ourselves to externalize our knowledge. As a result, our knowledge increases. I agree that nowadays we not only learn the knowledge which teachers bring into our brains, we also find answers by ourselves through internet. Another example is that when I made a trip plan for my dad's visit this year, I went to experienced travelers' blogs to see their traveling strategies. I also left questions on their blogs and reacted with them. Without this kind of connection, I will not have clues on our trip. And I don't think I can get answers from my professors and friends.