Module 4 Connectivism

I am connected in too many ways.  My children say that they cannot wait until I am finished with my EdS studies so I am not always on the computer.  Although, I feel the same way and I recognize their need for me, I am afraid I am on the computer for several other reasons as well. 

I try to save my computer time for after bed time, but several personal interests have me peering into my computer for answers.  I use Google Search or Pinterest to search for new ideas for a variety of needs.  I check Google images when searching for creative ideas to carry out a new project or check for understanding of what I thought something looked like.  I can be very creative, however often times I search ideas of others before turning to my own ideas of making it my own.  I check Facebook to learn about new people I meet or friends of close friends to look into personality differences.   YouTube and Vimeo meet several needs of videos I use to show my students and my children to prove a point or teach a lesson.

I go to Google Search about 15 times per day.  I use it all the time to search questions for my students, for my own children, and of course for myself.  I have gotten into the habit of using Google Search as a dictionary by typing “define:…”  I receive an instant definition and correct spelling.   I have recently started my own personal blog as a means of chronicling my life as a parent, but also for my children as a parent journal.  I have no recollection of my childhood, so it is my hope that my children will always know where they came from and how hard we worked to be the very best parents possible to them.  I love reading blogs and viewing Pinterest ideas from other mothers as a way of networking with other parents.   

 

I commented on the following blogs:

http://dwedtech.blogspot.com/2012/10/in-looking-at-this-mind-map-of-my.html#comment-form

http://skossivi.blogspot.com/2012/10/connectivism-figure-1_697.html?showComment=1351482330590#c6657368904977902577

 

Module 3 Collaboration

I believe God designed us to be inhabitants of the earth in order to work together to preserve it. When God created Adam, He then created Eve as a “helper” (Genesis 1:26-2:25).  God designed us to be social beings.  When the explorers came to North America it was by working collaboratively with the Native Americans that allowed them to become established on this land.  They didn’t read about what to do or solely draw from their past experiences to guide them.  I do believe humans have a basic instinct to interact and work together as a group of learners in every capacity.  Rheingold referenced the OpenSource sites such as Wikipedia and ThinkCycle as two technologies that have emerged as a means of working collectively (2008).  Both of these sites draw from those that wish to participate to produce a product that will ultimately serve others.  Online encyclopedia’s offer the same product as Wikipedia, but the latter was able to provide it for free online with no overhead of “professional experts”.  ThinkCycle posts problems for anyone with knowledge to submit ideas on how to solve the problems. 

Technology facilitates this collaboration because of the ability to reach globally for anyone to collectively contribute to the idea.   Social media sites have everything visible with a click of a button for anyone to partake in.  However, other forms of technology, wikis, blogs, and websites allow others to type in keywords and instantly come to the knowledge they wish to know more about or contribute to a cause. 

This research article discusses how the “cognitive load” is easier to understand when divided up among group members and recombined as opposed to learning all individually. 

 http://www.springerlink.com/content/1h12080677778135/

Reference:  Rheingold, H. (2008, February). Howard Rheingold on collaboration [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html

I commented on the following blogs:

http://sportz75.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/module-3-collaboration/comment-page-1/#comment-11

http://kburrough2012.blogspot.com/2012/10/collaboration.html?showComment=1350190492628#c5314217351430087423