Connectivism

My network has opened my world to new ways to obtain information.  When I was young, my learning network consisted of teachers, peers, and libraries.  Information took longer to obtain and learn.  By the time I was able to apply the information it may no longer be of use because the information may have become outdated ( Davis, Edmunds, & Kelly-Bateman, 2008).  However, in the nontraditonal learning resources of my network, I must be more self-directed and take an active role in my own learning (Conlan, Grabowski, and & Smith, 2003).  The growth of technology has allowed me to search for and learn information at a quicker rate.  The digital tools available today provide a more flexible way to gain new information.  People can look up information when it is convenient for them.  We no longer have to work around a school's or even the public library's schedule.  We can write emails and even post questions on blogs.  We can join social networks that cater to our personal interests where we can interact with others on the topic that concerns us.
My learning network supports connectivism.  I must be willing to continue my learning and make it a daily part of my life ( Davis, Edmunds, & Kelly-Bateman, 2008).  Technology within my learning resources provides a way for me to interact with information in a whole new way.  I must decide what is important and not important so I do not spend more time than necessary on information that I may not need.  Being a member of a social community gives me an opportunity to make connections between fields and how the information can be applied to my field of study (Davis, Edmunds, & Kelly-Bateman, 2008).  On-line resources also help me to stay connected with the most current research or discussions on most topics.

Resources:
Conlan, J., Grabowski, S., & Smith, K. (2003). Adult learning. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Adult_Learning
Davis, C., Edmunds, E., & Kelly-Bateman, V. (2008). Connectivism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Connectivism