Module 4 responses

I have responded to: KC Davis, Margaret, Kiana, and Amy's blogs.

Module 4-Connectivism

Reflection:
How has your network changed the way you learn?

My network has changed how I learn in that I can get the information I need quickly and with relative ease. Instead of relying on personal contact for my information, I can now search globally for personal contacts that can help facilitate my learning or use digital books and web sites to satisfy my curiousity.


Which digital tools best facilitate learning for you?

The digital tools that faciltitate learning for me are Google and my graduate connections through the Walden University portal. These tools are a daily partof my learning both personally and professionally.

How do you learn new knowledge when you have questions?

When I have questions about a topic I turn to the internet for my answers. I do a general serach for the topic and determine then if I need to search further, redefine my search, or seek alternative research methods. More times than not, my answer can be found through my general searching.

Module 3 comments

I have replied to Krista, Margaret, and Eric's blogs.

Module 3

Do you believe that humans have a basic instinct to “interact and work as a group,” as Rheingold proposed in his discussion of the evolution of Wikipedia as a collectively developed encyclopedia? How can technology facilitate collaboration among learners based on constructivist principles?



Over time humans have worked to establish towns and communities all over the world. Men have come together to build houses, churches, railroads, and more. It seems that by looking at the path humans have taken over time that I believe there is a basic instinct to interact and work as a group. Technology can now help people interact all over the globe in order to reach a common goal. It is no longer important to have the builder, plumber, and owner in the same place at the same time per say. Meetings can be held via Skype and e-mails take the place of long meetings going over specifics.



Technology has the power to bring together more people to acheive a common goal. Constructivist prinicples focus on the learner making connections to their own background and building upon it. They also focus on the learner having an authentic experience in order to gain a true understanding of the material being presented. With this in mind, technology can provide a hands on experience for people to engage in virtual simulations that will allow them the experience without ever leaving their home or office. With this new wave of learning available people can now take their learning to places never thought of before.



Reference:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer) (2008). "Way-New Collaboration." featuring
Dr. Howard Rheingold [http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard rheingold on
collaboration. html.]