Resources for unit 3

George Siemens mapped out guiding principles that redefine how learning is understood:

• Learning and knowledge reside in networks. These networks consist of nodes, which may include individuals, digital platforms, databases, or organizations. Learning occurs when connections between these nodes are formed and strengthened.
• Learning is a process of connecting. When we build relationships with colleagues, we open ourselves up to new skills, thoughts, and ideas we might not otherwise have access to.
• Nurturing and maintaining connections are needed to facilitate continual learning. Collaborative social interaction brings people together and forms a long-term learning environment.
• Ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill. We must learn how to build a bridge to connect point A to point B. That bridge itself is a new learning opportunity.
• Accurate, up-to-date knowledge is the intent of all connectivist learning. When we work together, our understandings are constantly being reinforced and updated.
• Diversity of opinions and sources is essential. Learning is enriched when individuals engage with multiple perspectives across networks. Perspectives from a variety of sources deepen our understanding.
• The capacity to know more is more critical than what is currently known. In rapidly changing knowledge environments, the ability to access and update information becomes more valuable than what we know today. As Siemens says: “Our ability to learn what we need for tomorrow is more important than what we know today.”
• Learning can reside in non-human appliances, such as computers, artificial intelligence systems, and online repositories Learners may store information in a digital way, like in an app, social media post, or video. Similarly, a community of learners may store information in a database or forum. This reflects the increasing role of technology in storing and generating knowledge.
• Decision-making is itself a learning process. Learners must evaluate information, determine its relevance, and adapt to new knowledge, recognizing that what is correct today may be outdated tomorrow. What we know today may change tomorrow. We must accept that our knowledge will need to continuously evolve as new understandings present themselves.