Fitting the Pieces Together

My view on learning has expanded through the various theories that I have learned about. I have been able to gain a new understanding of how media effects learning and how ones perspective through their environment can alter their understanding of material being taught to them. I've realized that adult learning effects everyone regardless of their age, computer or media experience or life experience. I used to think that because I grew up having the opportunity of experiencing the major changes in technology first hand that I would have the upper hand in being able to apply most of these techniques to my form of learning but in actuality, with all my experience, there are many means of media and technology that I have yet to have direct experience with. I have learned that one will never have the experience or knowledge with all the forms of media. For example, with social media theory and elaboration being my learning style, I found that this learning style would not be as effective without the different type of media provided for someone like me that learns through experiences and or examples. I am a person that learns through visual examples and with media forms like YouTube, I am able to share my perspective and yet learn of others through forms like these. In blogging I have been able to view the thoughts of others in a different viewpoint. Though they may not be considered as credible as a primary resource like a research article, it is important to take the ideas of others that have first hand accounts on different subjects and acknowledge their different experiences with it. To understand and provide education on subjects, one must be willing to be open to learning about all experiences regarding them. Even though before I felt that I was very open minded about people and their forms of learning, I feel more accepting in regards to how others may disregard my perspective or others and based on their reasoning for it. Even if I am not in agreement with them, I am able to take their perspective and reform it to something that I can learn from and teach other about while being respectful on the bias of it. 

Reflection of my Connections

I feel as though I am living through a time where there is the most drastic changes in gaining knowledge and expressing opinions. One part of my network that has changed the way I learn is the media through the form of the internet and its access through cell phones. There are times where I am outside and talking with friends and when they bring up something that I may not have a great understanding of I can just look it up on my phone or if I am working on a course project, it is easy to find examples on how to do the projects at hand. I feel as though this takes away from the creativity that one can provide in trying to make the project on their own. But it also helps provide a better example of how it should be done so I see pros and cons in how media can and does effect my learning. The best mediums that facilitate learning for me are through visual media such as clips, journal articles and discussion forums or boards. When I need to ask questions I try to ask through emailing or posting questions on discussion boards since i'm so shy, its hard for me to express what I want to ask sometimes in fear that I will not express or say ti correctly. I believe my form of learning completely supports the tenets of connectivism. Because I believe that knowledge is everywhere and depends on the experience of the individual and their ability to combine the two I feel that this is the essence of connectivism. Blogs provide personal and in some cases professional validation and information on certain subjects. Online education facilities use media and help push its uses to its extreme while allowing the students to learn its efficiency while learning from them as well. And Interacting with friends and family provides examples that can make the material more relative and personal which can help change or support the understanding of the material at hand. 

Connectivism

Izzi's (Isadora) Learning Connection Mindmap