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__**WHAT IS CONNECTIVISM?**__
Connectivism is a learning theory that provides insight into how an individual learns. It proposes that learning is not just a passive "sit and get" process but it is an interactive process between the learner and the information to be learned in the world, or classroom. Through active participation the learner makes connections resulting in learning.

Downes does a good job of summarizing connectivism with regard to both the learning and teaching perspectives. He says: "to teach is to model and demonstrate, to learn is to practice and reflect." He is talking about the student interaction with what is being learned. We all know that the best way for a student to learn is for them to interact with the information. We enable this interaction in the classroom in different ways, like having students research and produce projects.

One of the goals of this interaction is to help students see the importance, or relevance of what they are studying. Relevance is an important buzz word in current education literature and discussions. It is certainly more difficult to learn when the student does not feel a connection with the information or fails to see the relevance. According to Geroge Siemens these are some significant trends in learning: []
 * Many learners will move into a variety of different, possibly unrelated fields over the course of their lifetime.
 * Informal learning is a significant aspect of our learning experience. Formal education no longer comprises the majority of our learning. Learning now occurs in a variety of ways – through communities of practice, personal networks, and through completion of work-related tasks.
 * Learning is a continual process, lasting for a lifetime. Learning and work related activities are no longer separate. In many situations, they are the same.
 * Technology is altering (rewiring) our brains. The tools we use define and shape our thinking.
 * The organization and the individual are both learning organisms. Increased attention to knowledge management highlights the need for a theory that attempts to explain the link between individual and organizational learning.
 * Many of the processes previously handled by learning theories (especially in cognitive information processing) can now be off-loaded to, or supported by, technology.
 * Know-how and know-what is being supplemented with know-where (the understanding of where to find knowledge needed).

__**WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY/How is it a learning theory?**__
Many people do not believe that connectivism is a learning theory. According to Brenda Mergel (1998) in order to be considered a theory, certain criteria must be met:
 * “A theory provides a general explanation for observations made over time.
 * A theory explains and predicts behavior.
 * A theory can never be established beyond all doubt.
 * A theory may be modified.
 * Theories seldom have to be thrown out completely if thoroughly tested but sometimes a theory may be widely accepted for a long time and later disproved.”

A learning theory, as defined byWikipedia is “a process that brings together cognitive, emotional, and environmental influences and experiences for acquiring, enhancing, or making changes in one's knowledge, skills, values, and world views” (2011).

According to these two definitions, connectivism is a learning theory. If wecompare it to other well known learning theories, you can see how they differ.
 * Property || Behaviorism || Cognitivism || Constructivism || Humanism || Connectivism ||
 * Theorists || Thorndike, Pavolv, Watsonk, Gurthrie, Hull, Tolman, Skinner || Koffka, Kohler, Lewin, Piaget, Ausubel, Bruner, Gagne || Piaget, Vygotsky || Maslow, Rogers || Seimens, Downes ||
 * How learning occurs || Observable behavior is the main focus || Structured || Social, personal || Reflective on personal experience || Within a network, social, technologically enhanced, interpreting patterns ||
 * Influencing factor || Reward, punishment, stimuli || Schemata, previous experience || Participation, social, cultural || Motivation, relationships || Diversity of work, contact of occurrence ||
 * How transfer occurs || Stimulus, response || Copying knowledge || Socialization || Openness || Adding nodes and growing networks ||
 * Types of learning best explained || Task-based || Problem solving || Vague || Self-directed || Complex learning, rapid changing, diverse knowledge ||

__**SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW CONNECTIVISM CAN BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM:**__
Connectivism as a theory would be best applied in the classroom through group work and class discussion. The teacher would need to act more as a facilitator than an instructor as students would be acquiring knowledge and determing between facts and ficition through their interactions with one another as opposed to knowledge being dictated to them. []

This is a very interesting English/Writting lesson plan that involves Connectivism []

Multimedia lesson Plan: Lab Safety in the Science Classroom http://bcejan08pls.wikispaces.com/Multimedia+One

This is a very interesting article: **Connectivism: Do open online courses have a role in education reform?** []

In the classroom, this can be seen by using small groups and the teacher stepping into the role of facilitator. Technology may need to be included since this theory relies on sharing ideas.

media type="youtube" key="XwM4ieFOotA" height="349" width="425"In this video you can see how one person can learn so much about psychology without the use of a book or lectures from thier teacher. It also explains how teachers help with the connectivism learning student.

=__﻿Conclusion:__= We agree with George Siemems ideas on Connectivism. This new learning theory has forced us to look at the way we learn and teach.

__**RESOURCES:**__ (10 minimum)
[]

Downes, Stephen. [|"What Connectivism Is"]. []. Retrieved 2011-07-02.

Driscoll, M. (2000). //Psychology of Learning for Instruction.// Needham Heights, MA, Allyn & Bacon.

Siemens, George (2004) Connectivism: A Learning Thoery for the Digital Age retrieved at []

Kop, Rita and Hill, Adrian (2008) //"Connectivism: Learning theory of the future or vestige of the past?.// International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning OPen School BC retrieved from []

[] (**I do not know how to properly cite this wiki)**

Davis, C, Edmunds, E, & Kelly-Bateman, V. (2008). Connectivism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved July 7, 2011, from []

Mergel, B. (1998, May). //Instructional design & learning theory//. Retrieved from []

Learning theory (education). (n.d). in //Wikipedia.//Retreived July 6, 2011, from []

Drexler, W (Writer). (2008). //Networked Student// [Web]. Available from []