• What is Connectivism
• What is the special Meaning for eLearning?
• Which eLearning Tools make use of Connectivism and in what point exactly?
• References
• Other Learning Theories

What is Connectivism

1. Many learners will move into a variety of different, possibly unrelated fields over the course of their lifetime.
2. Informal learning is a significant aspect of our learning experience. Formal education no longer comprises the majority of our learning. Learning now occurs in a variety of ways – through communities of practice, personal networks, and through completion of work-related tasks.
3. Learning is a continual process, lasting for a lifetime. Learning and work related activities are no longer separate. In many situations, they are the same.
4. Technology is altering (rewiring) our brains. The tools we use define and shape our thinking.
5. The half-life of knowledge is rapidly decreasing while the amount of knowledge is rapidly increasing.

1. Learning and knowledge rests in diversity of opinions.
2. Learning is a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources.
3. Learning may reside in non-human appliances.
4. Nurturing and maintaining connections is needed to facilitate continual learning.
5. Ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill.
6. Currency (accurate,_up-to-date knowledge_) is the intent of all connectivist learning activities.
7. Decision-making is itself a learning process. Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality. While there is a right answer now, it may be wrong tomorrow due to alterations in the information climate affecting the decision.
8. Our ability to learn what we need for tomorrow is more important than what we know today.

"The pipe is more important than the content within the pipe."

Also watch the audio-visual presentation below of Siemens himself for more details.
http://www.elearnspace.org/media/connectivism_Web_2/player.html

What is the special Meaning for eLearning?

Which eLearning Tools make use of Connectivism and in what point exactly?

Collaborative tools make use of Connectivism, which are based on the assumption that learning derives from the connection of learners and their combined knowledge. Examples are blogs, wikis, social software like delicious.

References

http://www.connectivism.ca/
http://www.elearnspace.org/
Bernhardt, Thomas ; KIRCHNER, Marcel: E-Learning 2.0 im Einsatz. Boizenburg: vwh, Hülsbusch, 2007.
Siemens, G. (2004). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning. Retrieved on November 12, 2006, from http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm

Other Learning Theories

Behaviorism (Pawlow, Skinner and Instructionalism)
Cognitivism (Bandura, Piaget)
Constructivism