A learner is like a puzzle
piece. Just like a puzzle piece needs the other pieces to form a complete
picture, so learners need other learners (people) to connect to in order to
make meaning out of their lives and contribute to something bigger than themselves.
In his article, “Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the
Digital Age,” George Siemens states, “meaning-making and forming connections between specialized
communities are important activities.” As a piece to this puzzle, learners need
to know how to form connections so they can make meaning and extend their
pieces for others to connect into. When we don’t become connected, we miss out
on the plethora of knowledge and wisdom we can gain from others.
Siemens addresses
the importance of connection in his video “The
Network is the Learning” with the comment that “adding a node to a network
increases the entire network exponentially.” Each person can contribute to
these networks of knowledge with their own personal expertise and experience
and thus move universal knowledge forward for the benefit of all. Therefore, we
need each other to create the bigger picture, one that can only be truly seen
when all the puzzle pieces are connected into the right pieces.
1 comment:
Your puzzle piece analogy works very well. I can envision a puzzle growing "exponentially" over time. It is never complete because learning is life-long and "lives-long."
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