Connectivism

Sourced: http://youtu.be/-20Oqm1GvsU

Using technology to make connections with other individuals is a form of social interaction. Vygotsky insisted social interaction and our experiences from these social interactions have a profound impact on shaping our learning outcomes. But do we actually have to experience and act on these experiences as constructivists contend to acquire learning outcomes? I think not. The digital age has allowed connections to be made with people seperated by great distances, enabling knowledge to be shared by using ICT resources to substitute for actual real life experiences. My personal thoughts are that learning theories such as behaviourism, cognitivism, social constructivism and connectivism  are equally important with characteristics of all theories present in learning outcomes thus making it important for teachers to recognise and understand all theories to benefit their learners.