Week 3: Networks (1)

I 'm copying here the entry I posted to the Moodle forum because I think it illustrates how this "entity, ME" is trying to learn about networks:

"Hi, George and Margarita:

Well, the amount of new information is really huge and I'm trying to follow the schedule but I'm a week behind it. At this moment, I didn’t have the time to post the ideas for the 3 week. Maybe later I will post them. I’m still reading about networks…As I posted in my blog, http://sonni2007.blogspot.com/ on week 2, I feel the pressure and I’d like to have more time. Although I have experimented with communities, the readings are demanding.
What I have been doing is organizing my ideas in the best way for me to learn. Maybe I don’t make deep reflections, I decided not to participate in the forums, I’m a lurker, I only participate when I feel I can contribute to a positive discussion because I’m in another level: I’m absorbing the information, maybe later I will have time to reflect. I found myself in what I call “input phase”. I would like to take part in the live sessions but at that time I’m working. On week-ends and at night I have listened to some recordings .Something that I do is printing the readings so I can carry them with me and read them ( not online, “stealing” some moments from my work) , because I like to highlight the key ideas or insights that resonate with my own experiences.
Something else I have found myself doing is not following the suggested order and sometimes I have gone back to previous readings because I need change, I got bored if I have to read about the same topic all the time. And let me tell you, that I have started to make connections.
So I usually go to hub, check the information in the course blog, check the activities, print the readings, watch the videos with the presentation for the week. I confess I prefer watching the videos than reading. I love this feature of the course. I found videos adapt better to my learning style.
Margarita, I understand your difficulties if you aren’t fluent in English but I think in this course you have to make decisions and prioritize what is more important for you. How about posting in your blog in your native language? Relax, be patient with yourself and try to learn as much as you can. Hope some of my words could help you and motivate you to continue.
I‘m here for the learning experience, the challenge and the generosity of our facilitators to give us this opportunity free of charge".

Week1: What is Connectivism?(1)

http://elearnspace.org/media/WhatIsConnectivism/player.html

After listening to George’s audio I’ve been thinking that the best way I can help myself understand Connectivism is by summarizing the main points presented. I know that I learn a lot by intuition so I' m going to get the input and ,in due time,I don't know exactly when, the connection will be made and I will grasp the concept of Connectivism which I think I know by experimenting with virtual communities but I can not express right now with words.

Well, there are five principles that conform the foundations of any learning theory:
· the need to externalize to make sense: ways to express ( words, art, tools)
· The need for structures frameworks for sensemaking
· The need to socialize and negotiate around knowledge: dialogue
· The nature of our mind to note, recognize and draw patterns from situations/environments
· The desire to extend our humanity through technology: overcoming our limitations with the use of tools and innnovation.
In Connectivism:

• knowledge is essentially networked and distributed
• the experience of learning is one of forming new neural, conceptual and external networks. “Knowing” is to be in a particular manner of connectedness.
• Learning occurs is complex, chaotic shifting spaces.
• The principles of exploring, interacting with others and building knowledge is mediated by technology.