My Mind Map - Making the Connections

In this week’s post is a picture of my mind map. It gives you a picture of what my learning network looks like. A shift in focus to myself this week, I write about how the picture you see above describes how I learn. My ability as an individual to make connection in learning provides the opportunity to think in a wider range and think critically. I use a wide range of information presented to me in a plethora of forms for me to critically evaluate and build or modify existing knowledge.

Tools that best facilitate my learning will be technology tools: the digital age that we are in allows for a varied array of learning medium. Using the Internet to attend webinars, reading and following related blog pages, collaborations through IM and skype or Google docs and a number of communication mediums all help in facilitating my learning experience.

A question goes off in my head; a question that could have been triggered by conversations, readings, email, meetings and so on which means the call for new knowledge or time to modify an existing one. Following the map shown above, it gives you an idea of where I would go and how I would use the tools to accomplish my learning objective.

Module 3: Collaboration in the Digital Age

Working together is something that has been in existence for as long as I can remember or have read about. Humans will generally work together to collectively do good or the opposite. We see even in biblical terms that people worked together to build the ark (Noah’s ark). People worked together to ensure the smooth running of things such as the government, schools and in workplaces. In a video I saw this week for class, Rheingold discussed the word collective action what it means and how it has evolved over the years with the help of technology.

Surely human beings are naturally drawn to want to work in groups to solve a problem; be a part of a society and collectively carry out a task or an activity. In some cases you can say this not a true statement hence the selfish winners that think defeat or destroy to win at all cost. However, in modern times Rheingold discussed that the self-interest rationale is not as dominant anymore. This is were collaboration comes in and collaboration in the new age also known as digital age has helped close gaps and bridges over diverse group of individuals or organizations trying to extend their global reach or presence.

As we are aware, constructivist principles are based on progressive learning; hands on, practical and learning as an experience. Various technology tools are available to promote and strengthen collaboration among learners and such tools include skype, internal workplace chats and IM, team room for document sharing, blogs, wikis, videos conferencing, net meetings and even email are some the tools that has and will foster collaboration. Collaboration ensures workplaces maximize their potential and taps into the numerous talents of its people; challenging their ideas and strengthening work relationships amongst learners and even educators. These tools makes it possible to collaborate across the globe in a seamless manner to ensure speed in product or service delivery, quicker problem solving, life long learning, knowledge sharing and most of all close off the barriers we have in communication.

Additional Resources:

“Howard Rheingold: Way-New Collaboration” http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.htmlitional
Learning Through enhanced technology collaboration: http://cordis.europa.eu/ictresults/index.cfm?section=news&tpl=article&ID=88475