Connectivism: Etymology/Term, Meanings and Concept
Connectivism: This term was coined in 2004 by George Siemens and Stephen Downes, drawing inspiration from the interconnected nature of information and learning in the digital age.
Meanings & Concepts:
- Learning is a Network: Knowledge doesn’t reside solely within individuals, but forms connections throughout networks of information and people.
- Emphasis on Connections: The ability to form, recognize, and utilize connections between diverse information sources is crucial for learning.
- Technology’s Role: Digital tools facilitate access to information, communication, and collaboration, enhancing learning opportunities.
- Continuous & Personal: Learning is an ongoing process driven by individual needs and fueled by constantly evolving information landscapes.
- Learner-Centered: Learners actively build knowledge by seeking new information, evaluating its relevance, and integrating it into their existing understanding.
- Importance of Pattern Recognition: Identifying patterns and relationships within information networks plays a key role in constructing knowledge.
- Openness to Change: Knowledge and understanding are fluid, requiring adaptation and re-organization based on new information and experiences.
Connectivism: Definition of a Theoretical Term
Connectivism is a learning theory that emphasizes the importance of connections and networks in the learning process. It suggests that learning occurs through the creation and navigation of networks of information, both within the mind and in external resources like the internet. Connectivism views learning as a dynamic process that is constantly evolving as new information is acquired and as connections between different pieces of information are formed and adapted.
Connectivism: Theorists, Works, and Arguments
| Theorist | Major Works | Main Arguments |
| George Siemens | Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age | Siemens introduced connectivism as a learning theory, positing that learning is distributed across networks and emphasizes the role of digital technology and social networks in knowledge acquisition. |
| Stephen Downes | The Future of Online Learning | Downes explores the transformative potential of online learning, emphasizing the importance of digital networks in reshaping educational paradigms and fostering collaborative learning environments. |
| Siemens & Downes | Various articles and blog posts | Their collaborative work delves into the practical applications of connectivist principles, advocating for decentralized learning resources and the utilization of digital networks for knowledge dissemination. |
| Rita Kop | The Challenges to Connectivist Learning on Open Online Networks: Learning Experiences during a Massive Open Online Course | Kop examines the practical challenges and limitations of connectivist learning in open online environments, highlighting issues such as information overload and the need for effective network navigation strategies. |
Connectivism: Major Characteristics
- Networked Learning: Connectivism emphasizes learning as a process of creating and navigating networks of information.
- The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman: Friedman discusses how advancements in technology have facilitated global interconnectedness, analogous to the networks in connectivism.
- Digital Environments: It highlights the significance of digital technology and online platforms in knowledge acquisition.
- The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr: Carr explores how digital technology is shaping the way we think and learn, relevant to connectivism’s focus on digital environments.
- Decentralized Knowledge: Connectivism suggests that knowledge is distributed across networks and emphasizes the importance of accessing decentralized learning resources.
- Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations by Clay Shirky: Shirky discusses how the internet enables decentralized collaboration and knowledge sharing, reflecting connectivism’s emphasis on decentralized knowledge.
- Social Learning: It underscores the role of social networks and collaborative learning in knowledge acquisition.
- Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams: The authors explore how collaboration and social networks drive innovation and knowledge creation, aligning with connectivism’s emphasis on social learning.
- Adaptive Learning: Connectivism views learning as a dynamic process that adapts to changing information environments.
- The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg: Duhigg discusses how habits and behaviors adapt based on feedback and environmental cues, similar to connectivism’s view of adaptive learning.
These literary references help illustrate the major characteristics of connectivism by drawing parallels with real-world examples and discussions about technology, networks, and collaborative learning.
Connectivism: Relevance in Literary Theories
| Literary Theory | How Connectivism Applies |
| Reader-Response Theory | Connectivism highlights the active role of the reader in co-creating meaning with a text. No single interpretation is definitive, as knowledge is constantly evolving within the networked landscape. Background, experiences, and the connections the reader forms within and outside the text all influence the reading process. |
| New Historicism | Connectivism emphasizes the interplay between a text and its broader historical and cultural contexts. These contexts are not fixed, but continuously shaped and reshaped by multiple interconnected nodes of power, cultural knowledge, and individual perspectives. |
| Digital Literature | Connectivism illuminates how digital and networked technologies reframe our engagement with literature. Hypertext, interactive fiction, and social media platforms expand possibilities for non-linear narratives, collaborative authorship, and fluid reinterpretation of texts. |
| Postcolonial Theory | Connectivism challenges the dominance of established literary canons and Western perspectives. It encourages seeking out diverse voices and recognizing the value of knowledge residing in non-traditional places. Digital tools can amplify marginalized perspectives and facilitate connections across geographical and cultural divides. |
| Cultural Studies | Connectivism aligns with the idea that literary texts aren’t isolated artifacts but reflections of societal dynamics and cultural practices. Understanding literature requires examining the web of power structures, ideologies, popular culture, and everyday experiences that form the context in which it emerges. |
Important Considerations
- Connectivism doesn’t replace existing literary theories. Instead, it adds a new lens to how we understand the production, interpretation, and dissemination of literature in a digitally connected world.
- It emphasizes the dynamic, evolving nature of meaning. Texts are always open to new interpretations as readers interact with them and form new connections with other ideas and knowledge sources.
- Connectivism recognizes the blurring of boundaries between author, reader, and the cultural environment that shapes literary works.
Connectivism: Application in Critiques
1. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet
- Diverse Interpretations: Connectivism acknowledges that there’s no single “correct” reading of Hamlet. Diverse interpretations can be found through online resources, academic commentary, and theatrical adaptations
- Historical Context Revisited: Connectivism encourages exploring beyond traditional analyses of Elizabethan England to connect Hamlet with contemporary discussions on themes like mental health, political corruption, and family dynamics.
- Performance as Connective Node: Analyze how different performances (film, stage, etc.) shape the meaning and connect to specific cultural moments or movements.
2. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah
- Diasporic Networks: Explore how characters like Ifemelu and Obinze use digital tools to maintain connections with their Nigerian homeland while navigating American society.
- Challenging Single Narratives: Connectivism emphasizes how Adichie’s novel subverts monolithic portrayals of race, immigration, and identity through online blogs and diverse character perspectives.
- Reader as Participant: Consider your own biases and experiences as you connect with (or are challenged by) the novel’s themes, reflecting on its place within broader cultural conversations.
3. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale
- Social Media Resonance: Track how the novel (and recent adaptations) connect to online feminist movements, political discourse around women’s rights, and discussions of dystopian fiction.
- Historical Parallels: Explore historical examples of societies that mirror the power structures in Gilead, emphasizing that Atwood’s dystopia isn’t entirely fictional.
- Fan Culture as Extension: Examine how fan-generated art, discussions, and activism contribute to shaping the continued relevance of The Handmaid’s Tale.
4. Rupi Kaur’s milk and honey
- Accessibility and Spread: Explore how kaur’s use of Instagram and accessible language creates a wide, connected readership previously less engaged with traditional poetry.
- Collective Experience: Consider how readers’ shared interpretations, personal stories, and online discussions shape the experience of reading milk and honey.
- Critique of Form: Connectivism invites us to examine the limitations of the form as well – does the brevity oversimplify complex emotions? Does the online aesthetic shape or detract from the content?
Connectivism: Relevant Terms
| Term | Concise Definition |
| Node | A point of connection (person, idea, resource, device). |
| Network | System of interconnected nodes. |
| Chaos | Unpredictability of knowledge in a complex network. |
| Emergence | Patterns arising from complex node interactions. |
| Self-Organization | System adapts without centralized control. |
| Diversity | Multiple perspectives enrich learning. |
| Openness | Free flow of information and ideas. |
| Decentralization | Power distributed across the network. |
| Autonomy | Learners direct their own learning process. |
| Adaptability | Ability to adjust to evolving knowledge. |
Connectivism: Suggested Readings
Foundational Works
- Siemens, George. “Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age.” International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, vol. 2, no. 1, 2005, pp. 3-10.
- Downes, Stephen. “An Introduction to Connective Knowledge.” 2005, www.downes.ca/post/33034.
Deep Dives into Connectivist Principles
- Kop, Rita, and Hélène Fournier. New Directions in Self-Directed Learning. Routledge, 2010.
- Cormier, Dave. Rhizomatic Education: Community as Curriculum. Innovate Journal of Online Education, vol. 4, no. 5, 2008.
- Davis, Brent, and Dennis Sumara. Complexity and Education: Inquiries into Learning, Teaching, and Research. Routledge, 2006.
Practical Applications of Connectivism
- Ravenscroft, Andrew. “Dialogue and Connectivism: A New Approach to Understanding and Promoting Dialogue-Rich Networked Learning.” International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, vol. 12, no. 3, 2011, pp. 139-160.
- Hew, Khe Foon, and Cheung Wing Sum. “Use of Blogs to Support Learning in Higher Education: A Case Study.” In Handbook of Research on Web 2.0 and Second Language Learning, edited by Magda St. Amant, pp.144-161. Information Science Reference, 2009.
Connectivism and Technology
- Bell, Frances. “Connectivism: Its Place in Theory-Informed Research and Innovation in Technology-Enabled Open and Distance Learning.” International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, vol. 12, no. 3, 2011, pp. 98-118.
- Kop, Rita, and Adrian Hill. “Connectivism: Learning Theory of the Future or Vestige of the Past?” International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, vol. 9, no. 3, 2008.