Information Overload

In the last two days I have heard about so many new online tools that I am realizing with all the blogs and feeds at our disposal, we might be able to read, listen and write more than ever before, but information isn’t knowledge. And the task of creating it into knowledge still remains the same.

For instance, just because information flow has increased, human physiology hasn’t. The chunking rule of 7 + 2 still applies. 

After reading all the moodle and blog posts I am now convinced that Connectivism is a new learning theory that needs proper definition. People are focusing too much on the larger concept of building “personal knowledge” rather than the task of building “professional knowledge”.

Personal knowledge can be completely controlled by each individual—to access whichever resources they want—an open-ended learning experience. Professional learning/growth, alternately, is a close-ended, goal-oriented task and the purpose of the CCK08 course is to understand better how we can use social networks to enhance and assist professional learning.

For instance, social networks help:

-Reduce the burden of memory storage

-Allow the creation of PLE’s (increasing learner comfort)

-Increase technical skills (online tools are now freely available)

-Convenient and informal Blended Learning modules

After Week 1 let’s set clearer objectives for this course. But for right now, it is great fun to hear the various opinions and learn about the plethora of tools people are using to feel “connected”!