Connectivism

In 2011, the respective roles of higher education institutions and students worldwide were brought into question by the rise of the massive open online course (MOOC). MOOCs are defined by signature characteristics that include: lectures formatted as short videos combined with formative quizzes; automated assessment and/or peer and self–assessment and an online forum for peer support and discussion. Although not specifically designed to optimise learning, claims have been made that MOOCs are based on sound pedagogical foundations that are at the very least comparable with courses offered by universities in face–to–face mode. To validate this, we examined the literature for empirical evidence substantiating such claims. Although empirical evidence directly related to MOOCs was difficult to find, the evidence suggests that there is no reason to believe that MOOCs are any less effective a learning experience than their face–to–face counterparts. Indeed, in some aspects, they may actually improve learning outcomes.

perhaps not the "ultimate" but a good short introduction

A good intro to MOOC's.  Next best thing in education?

It is my view that one of the most significant statements made by George Siemens is this one: "As knowledge continues to grow and evolve, access to what is needed is more important than what the learner currently possesses." 

The role of teaching (and learning) then needs to shift in several ways to support this. How do we support students in selecting, discerning, organising this information and critically reflecting on it? How do we support students in creating new ways of evidencing their learning? How do we encourage students to create content themselves that adds to this growing and evolving abundance of information and knowledge generation?

"The Network is the Learning"....another of George Siemens' statements that resonates so well with me.

Connectivism is the integration of principles explored by chaos, network, and complexity and self-organization theories.

In a knowledge economy, the flow of information is the equivalent of the oil pipe in an industrial economy…

The pipe is more important than the content within the pipe. 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 known 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, access to what is needed is more important than what the learner currently possesses.

Learning basic digital skills through use of a network is somewhat of a contradiction.  Hence, I have commented on Siemens’s key principles in the context of this most fundamental learning in a networked world.  In the developing world, the most basic of digital skills (keyboard, mouse, logging on etc.) have to be learned before more valuable skills (searching, publishing) can be developed.

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