Synonyms
Introduction
Connectivism is a learning theory which has been gaining ground in higher education in recent years. Its currency could be attributed to the rapid development of emerging technologies, which has impacted on the ways in which knowledge is produced and accessed (Downes 2005; Siemens 2004, 2009). As a theory, connectivism is often referred to as networked learning involving more than just the technology used to achieve the end result (Darrow 2009). Connectivism assumes that “knowledge is distributed across a network of connections and knowledge nodes” (Downes 2012). Social media can be used to connect to some of these nodes of knowledge and facilitate further knowledge development on the premise of collaboration and sharing.
Although much has been written about connectivism since it was first coined by Siemens (2004) and Downes (2005) as a new learning theory, not much has been written about the...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Adria M, Rose T (2004) Technology, pre-processing, and resistance – a comparative case study of intensive classroom teaching. J Educ Bus 80(1):53–60
Bell F (2011) Connectivism: it’s place in theory-informed research and innovation in technology-enabled learning. Int Rev Res Open Dist Learn 12(3):98–118
Bower M (2008) Affordance analysis – matching learning tasks with learning technologies. Educ Media Int 45(1):3–15
Bryant P, Coombs A, Pazio M, Walker S (2014) Disruption, destruction, construction or transformation? The challenges of implementing a university wide strategic approach to connecting in an open world. In: 2014 OCW Consortium Global Conference: Open Education for a Multicultural World, 23–25 April 2014, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Callaghan N, Bower M (2009) Learning through social networking sites – the critical role of the teacher. Educ Media Int 49(1):1–17
Church K, De Oliveira R (2013) What’s up with WhatsApp? Comparing mobile instant messaging behaviours with traditional SMS. In: Mobile HCI 2013 – collaboration and communication. ACM, Munich, pp 352–361
Conole G, Dyke M (2004) What are the affordances of information and communication technologies? ALT-J 12(2):113–124
Darrow S (2009) Connectivism learning theory: Instructional tools for college courses. Master’s thesis, Education Department, Western Connecticut State University
Day D, Lloyd MM (2007) Affordances of online technologies: more than the properties of the technology. Aust Educ Comput 22(2):17–21
Del Moral M E, Cernea A & Villalustre, L (2013) Connectivist learning objects and learning styles. Interdiscip J E-Learn Learn Objects 9. Publisher@InformingScience.org
Downes S (2005) An introduction to connective knowledge.
Downes S (2012) Connectivism and connective knowledge: Essays on meaning and learning networks. National Research Council Canada
Dunaway MK (2011) Connectivism: learning theory and pedagogical practice for networked information landscapes. Ref Serv Rev 39(4):675–685
Gee JP (2014) Collected essays on learning and assessment in the digital world. Common Ground, Illinois
Gibson JJ (1977) The theory of affordances. In: Shaw R, Bransford J (eds) Perceiving, acting, and knowing: Toward an ecological psychology. Wiley, Hoboken, pp 67–82
Gibson JJ (1979) The ecological approach to visual perception. Houghton-Mifflin, Boston, MA, USA.
Johnson L, Adams B S, Estrada V, Freeman A (2014) NMC horizon report: 2014 higher, Education edition. The New Media Consortium, Austin
Madge C, Meek J, Wellens J, Hooley T (2009) Facebook, social integration and informal learning at university: ‘it is more for socialising and talking to friends about work than for actually doing work’. Learn Media Technol 34(2):141–155. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439880902923606
Ng’ambi D, Bozalek V, Gachago D (2013) Converging institutional expertise to model teaching and learning with emerging technologies. Progressio 35(2):9–36
Ngunjiri FW, Hernandez KAC, Chang H (2010) Living autoethnography: connecting life and research. J Res Pract 6(1)
Norman DA (1988) The psychology of everyday things. Basic Books, New York
Pettenati MC, Cigognini ME (2007) Social networking theories and tools to support connectivist learning activities. Int J Web-Based Learn Teach Technol (IJWLTT) 2(3):42–60
Raab D (2013) Transpersonal approaches to autoethnographic research and writing. Qual Rep, 18: 1–18. http://www.nova.edu.ssss/QR/QR18/raab42.pdf
Rambe P, Bere A (2013) Using mobile instant messaging to leverage learner participation and transform pedagogy at a south African University of Technology. Br J Educ Technol 44(4):544–561. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12057
Rambe P, Nel L (2014) Technological utopia, dystopia and ambivalence: teaching with social media at a south African university. Br J Educ Technol. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12159
Rowe M, Bozalek V, Frantz J (2013) Using Google drive to facilitate a blended approach to authentic learning. Br J Educ Technol 44(4):594–606
Seaman J, Tinti-Kane H (2013) Social media for teaching and learning. Pearson Learning Solutions, Boston
Selwyn N (2012) Social media in higher education. http://sites.jmu.edu/flippEDout/files/2013/04/sample-essay-selwyn.pdf
Siemens G (2004) Connectivism: a learning theory for the digital age. Int J Instr Technol Dist Learn 2(1):3–10
Siemens G (2008) Learning and knowing in networks: changing roles for educators and designers. Paper 105. University of Georgia IT Forum. http://www.it.coe.uga.edu
Siemens G (2009) What is connectivism? https://docs.google.com/document/d/14pKVP0_ILdPty6MGMJW8eQVEY1zibZ0RpQ2C0cePIgc/preview
Stevenson M, Hedberg JG (2011) Head in the clouds: a review of current and future potential for cloud-enabled pedagogies. Educ Media Int 48(4):321–333
Wang Z, Chen L, Anderson T (2014) A framework for interaction and cognitive engagement in connectivist learning contexts. Int Rev Res Open Dist Learn 15(2):121–141
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Manzira, F. (2020). Affordances of Technological Connectivist Tools in Higher Education. In: Tatnall, A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Education and Information Technologies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10576-1_231
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10576-1_231
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-10575-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-10576-1
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceReference Module Computer Science and Engineering