Does connectivism add something not covered by existing theories of learning?

Does connectivism add something not covered by existing theories of learning?

Yes! A bit…

The goal of learning through the years has not changed. People learn to grow. If we did not want to grow, we would not learn. But how we choose to learn evolves, based on the resources available to us.

Learning through socialization—whether driven by a network, or whether provided within a pagan community that sits around a banyan tree chatting—is still the most effective learning resource.

The progression or differences I see in all the 4 main learning theories—Behaviorism > Cognitivism > Constructivism > Connectivism, is one of transparency. I don’t think any theory is that new from the other, but rather builds on the previous theory, or provides are more transparent view of learning–something that the older theory danced around but could not quite pin down. 

While I don’t think it tells us anything new as a standalone theory, it does tell us something new by comparison. That now socializing, sharing information and learning have moved from control to chaos. And this to me is very important from the view point of reaching the millennial learner in an environment on chaos.

CCK08

Shalini Gogia