Group+C+Against+-+Karisti,+Susan,+Julie

[|Connectivism] // (as defined by Wikipedia) //
 * Critiquing Connectivism **

[|What is "learning"?] To begin exploring learning theory, a good starting point is examining what **//learning//** really means. In this article M.K. Smith lays out some interesting concepts to define learning. (Smith, M. K. (1999) 'Learning theory', //the encyclopedia of informal education//, [|www.infed.org/biblio/b-learn.htm], Last update: June 18, 2009).

[|"What is a theory?] (Mergel, B. (1998) 'Instructional Design and Learning Theory' http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/mergel/brenda.htm, Last update: May 1998)
 * A theory provides a general explanation for observations made over time.
 * A theory explains and predicts behavior.
 * A theory can never be established beyond all doubt.
 * A theory may be modified.
 * Theories seldom have to be thrown out completely if thoroughly tested but sometimes a theory may be widely accepted for a long time and later disproved."

[|Current Learning Theories:]can be explored on this site.

**Questions & Concerns about Connectivism**

**Critics of Connectivism**
Plon Verhagen - "Connectivism is pedagogical view, not a learning theory." Verhagen, P. (2006) "Connectivism: A New Learning Theory?" http://elearning.surf.nl/e-learning/english/3793, Last update 11 November 2006.

Along with Plon Verhagen, Bill Kerr has also raised some concerns about Connectivism:
 * [|Where learning occurs?]
 * [|Where this theory really fits with others.]

Does Connectivism explain how humans learn?
This question is key to the discussion revolving around whether connectivism is a learning theory. In stride with the fact that connectivism is a pedagogical view and offshoot of constructivism, the position is held that connectivism is not a learning theory. Unlike the learning theories of constructivism and cognitivism, which contend that learning takes place in social settings and contend that learning takes place within the human mind. The mind which is different for every human, thus making learning individual to the person and their perception of the material. Connectivism does not address the question of: How do humans learn? To be a true learning theory, this integral question must be answered within the theory itself. It is not sufficient to simply state the criteria or conditions necessary for learning to take place. Is connectivism a theory or is it an extension of Vygotsky's Constructivism? Is it only an expansion of the skills necessary in this digital and technological age? []

A Comparison
How does connectivism compare to other learning theories? How does it differ from established paradigms? The chart below illustrates both the similarities and differences between connectivism and three major philosophical perspectives on learning. [|To view this table in a Word document, click here.] (Ireland, 2007, para. 7) Image from: **Clarissa Davis, Earl Edmunds, Vivian Kelly-Bateman** Department of Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology, University of Georgia []