Reflections on Connectivism

Reflections on Connectivism

"The starting point of connectivism is the individual. Personal knowledge is comprised of a network, which feeds into organizations and institutions, which in turn feed back into the network, and then continue to provide learning to individual. This cycle of knowledge development (personal to network to organization) allows learners to remain current in their field through the connections they have formed." (Siemens, 2005).


Sharing knowledge, in most organizations, is both normed and expected from all members of a team. However, I have seen learning organizations in which personal knowledge is more closely guarded, and having a skill that others do not have is beneficial. In the field of education, most are open to sharing and distributing their personal experiences with others, and most relish in the passing-down of information. With this in mind, the concept of connectivism (especially in the ed-tech world) resonated with me. In an ideal situation, personal knowledge is being cycled and acquired by the leaders, the teachers, and the students. These shared goals and consistent knowledge flow link the student with their teacher, and the educator with their broader professional network.  

I am a relatively new teacher- I have been in the workforce less than 5 years, but have already seen the demonstrated impacts of technology in developing and maintaining a professional network. I have lived in three states in four years, and connecting with similarly-minded professionals is a priority to me when I move somewhere new. By reaching out to new members of professional networks, I have gained access to new knowledge through the connections I have made. In Massachusetts, Montana and Vermont, I have shaped my experience through establishing relationships and connections with those I would like to learn from.

A personal shift for me will be to think of "my team" as not only my colleagues and community members, but my broader community on sources like Twitter, Blogger and other virtual sources. There is always more to learn, and the education community is generous. I can't wait to see what more I can gain and give to the virtual communities I participate within.


"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.



Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age International Journal of Instructional Technology & Distance Learning, Vol. 2, No. 1. (2005) by George Siemens