Reflecting on My Reading Week 2

Cogitating on Coetail Week 2 Readings:
Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age
Interesting to say one model of cognition and learning (connectionism) is better at describing this in the digital age (than behaviorism or constructivism). It seems to me the winning model must describe learning and cognition in any context in which we learn. But OK, connectionism has an elegant sci fi appeal--the potentially seamless interface between biological and electronic networks. In reality, until we plug in, the two networks are only metaphorically connected.

Messing Around Online
I enjoyed the first section on hanging out in social media. I'm trying to hang in by hanging out. This section of the report shows how kids gradually transition from this to more intentional participation by tinkering, exploring and extending their understanding. This can be initiated by school projects, but really happens outside of school when an individual pursues and directs their own interests & learning. What's cool is how accommodating electronic media is to this. Not many other realms where a semi-novice can lurk, explore, tinker and gradually build their own knowledge and presence to take on more active participation. Imagine doing that at your local airport or hospital.

Bloom's Taxonomy
Nice wall chart of electronic activities organized under Benji's Hierarchy.

Cogitating on my own feeble attempts to hang out online this week: This week I try to hang out in Google Reader, my own PLblog & social bookmarking.

• Google Reader--So, I've set up a Google Reader in past and left it to rust. How about this time? One week down, and I've clicked on my new account twice. Maybe out of guilt, I skimmed a bit and left frustrated. Am I getting old that I have such a small appetite for quantity? I was at a workshop this week where the presenter claimed to have 500 strategies for teaching. How intimidating. Of course I wanted the binder even though I'm sure I clock up at least 182 strategies/year. But oh the thought of 500! Take me to a buffet, and it's a guaranteed belly ache. I have to sample everything because well what if I miss something? That's why I never go back to buffets and why binders full of 500 strategies sit on the shelf. I soon have a belly ache. Better to chew on one interesting delicacy. To delve into one inspiring idea, no? So, I know there's a buffet awaiting me on my reader, but where's the joy of discovering that one interesting article, one cool podcast to take home and dig into? My hard drive is full, my IPod is full. My mind is full. So, I close the reader and go back to a favorite site, pour over the menu and select just one maybe two (OK 17) articles/podcasts/whatever the format. Then I tuck in. And so it goes. Yesterday, I listened to a great podcast on how totalitarian regimes and big corporate powers are using the Internet. Although blocking and removing information or viewpoints you don't like is a time-honored tactic, someone will probably find it and post it again. So, powerful entities are using the weight of their resources to hire & crowd-source more posts, more actions, more links, more sites... touting their agenda, incorporating their spin. So maybe, I can't block the noise by closing my Google Reader. Instead, I need to get more people to make more of me-affirming noise. 555!
  

• Blogs--So, I'm posting my entries. And I'm thinking I should really get on to the following/followers bit. But really, I follow 43 student blogs plus plus, I dig around all sorts of sites for my classes, I click on how many emails/day, read all sorts of documents, create and send how many more of my own, sit through meetings...well, I'm once again overwhelmed with the buffet bellyache. If I'm going to read more, it better be worthwhile. Smart, meaty, understandable, well thought out and concisely presented by an expert.... (e.g., I don't want to read my own blog!) So what about that PLN...Networking with other learners? Following each other's blogs. Should be a democratic teacher's ideal. Let's see. How many followers/followings do I have...there's the numbers again. How intimidating! Here I am complaining about too much incoming and yet every where I go online, my FB, my blog, my Destiny bookshelf, my google friends, you name it, there's a number, usually not much greater than 0, mocking me! Remind me to invite my mom.

• Social Bookmarking/Diigo--I've got my toolbar set up. I made 1 bookmark! I told 10 teachers the clever tip of tagging with a specific term like isbg6 agriculture. Maybe at last I can begin to deal with the numbers without a bellyache. After all, these are just bookmarks and other people can make them for me. What's the danger in that?