We used to constrain learning in a big square box––the classroom. At that time, learning was didactic, drilling and rote. However, as the development of varied theories, our understanding of learning has significantly evolved. Learning is no longer a behavior that can happen only at school; knowledge can be acquired through every-day experience.
This perspective on learning align with Kolb’s (1984) theory of experiential learning. It claims that learning is a process in which an individual transforms experience into knowledge. The theory of experiential learning has freed learning from a physical space. People can learn without taking classes and doing homework. As we experience, we learn.
Connectivism further expanded the definition of learning. According to Siemens (2005), connectivism believes that learning is a build-on process in which knowledge can be connected and intertwined with experiences. Therefore, an individual do not have to acquire knowledge all by oneself, but learning can occur when connecting with the world and interacting with others.
I think the theory of experiential learning and connectivism compliment each other. Both of the theories emphasize an idea of “learning by doing” and extend learning into a life-long journey. And as the development of digital technology, people have become unprecedentedly connected. Siemens (2005) pointed out the trend that technology enables an infinite world for us to learn and explore.
Wenger (2006) illustrates that communities of practice are formed by people who share an interest and come together regularly to help each other improve. In the digital world, there are numerous communities of practice where learning happens every moment. Our ORLD 5063 course is a good example of a community of practice. We come from varied fields of professional, but all of us are interested in online teaching and learning. We are connected with the Internet, having video synchronous lectures. We participate in online discussions to share experiences and opinions with each other. Through the interactions, we learn from each other and make progress together.
There are billions of communities of practice like ours in the digital age. People who have access to the internet have access to learn. For individuals, online communities of practice blur the boundary between learning and experiencing, so everyone can acquire different information and knowledge through different interactions. Largely speaking, digital technology is building shared intelligence that all human beings contribute and take advantage of.
References:
Kolb, D.A. (1984). Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development(pp.20-38). Prentice-Hall Inc.
Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. ITDL.
Wenger, E. (2006). Communities of Practice, a Brief Introduction.
April's Blog 