Wow
I think the theory of connectivism explained by Siemens (2005) was a great way to highlight the fact that the way individuals learn is slowly shifting into something that’s more flexible, yet messy and complex. Decades ago, learning was something as straightforward as going to school, completing a degree, and acquiring a job. However, now having an abundance of resources and information available at our fingertips, knowledge can be a lot more accessible. What once was considered formal learning has transformed itself into a concept that’s a lot more intricate with individuals communicating their gained experiences across online communities and platforms. This idea may not be as obvious to the younger generations, as they’ve been growing in a digital world; however, I’m sure it can be exciting and possibly even intimidating for older adults.
Wonder
The digital age we’re in now definitely favors the younger generations—on the other hand, I do wonder how much of a challenge it is for the older generations to grasp and apply the concept of “networking”. What kind of barriers do older adults face when it comes to leveraging the internet for their own learnings and benefits? What is their approach to gaining knowledge especially when it comes to the field of social media compared to the younger generation?
riyas
12 February 2022 — 11:01 pm
Hello Mary,
I really enjoyed reading your post. I agree with a lot of the ideas you shared in the post regarding how the learning methodologies have changed so much and informal learning has become more common than formal learning. Being on my second co-op right now, I agree that a lot of learning is externally by communicating with individuals in the work environment.
Regards,
Riya
sulris
13 February 2022 — 2:48 pm
Hi Riya!
Thanks for checking out my post!
Hope that your second co-op is going well so far! Depending on the context at hand, it’s definitely a lot easier to go down the path of informal learning—for example, asking our supervisors’ questions while on co-op, at times, can be more credible and convenient than using Google’s search engine. Plus, it helps to cultivate professional relationships!
Speaking of convenience, I actually covered in my Showcase Post that it’s one of the greatest motivators that inclines us to use the internet. If you’re interested in reading more about it, feel free to check it out here: https://edci338learnings.opened.ca/2022/02/12/showcase-post-1-week-5/