This was, by far, one of the most challenging assignments I have completed. All of the creative ideas that I have had this week have relied too much upon words to convey the messages of connectivism, CoPs, and PLEs. So, I decided to go to the source of our knowledge, so to speak, as my model for non-linguistic representation. As a biology teacher, I believe the brain is a perfect model for conveying the interconnected relationships of our behaviors, learning, communities, and environments in which we share our knowledge. Branching neural pathways are routinely reinforced to encourage further neural advancement, much in the same way that social interactions branch and grow when used to share, communicate, and learn within a social network.
References:
A challenge to connectivism. (Kerr, B 2007). Retrieved September 8, 2012 from the Learning Evolves Wiki: http://learningevolves.wikispaces.com/kerr
Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and connectivism. (Ireland, T. 2007). Retrieved September 8, 2012 from the CI 484 Learning Technologies Wiki: http://ci484-learning-technologies.wikispaces.com/Behaviorism,+Cognitivism,+Constructivism+%26+Connectivism
Brown, J.S. (2002). Growing up digital: How the web changes work, education, and the ways people learn. United States Distance Learning Association Journal, Volume 16. Retrieved September 8, 2012 from http://www.usdla.org/html/journal/FEB02_Issue/article01.html.
Brown, T. (March 2006). Beyond constructivism: navigationism in the knowledge era. Retrieved from http://137.215.9.22/bitstream/handle/2263/1879/Brown_Beyond%282006%29.pdf?sequence=1
Gonzales, C. (2004). The role of blended learning in the world of technology. Retrieved on September 8, 2012 from http://www.unt.edu/benchmarks/archives/2004/september04/eis.htm
Roblyer, M.D., & Doering, A. (2013). Integrating educational technology into teaching. San Francisco: Pearson.
Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology & Distance Learning, Volume 2. Retrieved on September 8, 2012 from http://www.itdl.org/journal/jan_05/article01.htm
Thorsen, C (2009). Tech tactics: Technology for teachers. San Francisco: Pearson.
Wasko, M.M., & Faraj, S. (2000). “It is what one does”: Why people participate and help others in electronic communities of practice. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Volume 9, 155-173. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0963-8687(00)00045-7
Wenger, E. (2000). Communities of practice and social learning systems. Organization, Volume 7, 225-246. doi: 10.1177/135050840072002
