Here is my mind map of my learning networks. I have organized this mind map based on the major component of my life: Personal, Social, Information, Professional, Life-long learning and Career. However there is significant overlap and a number of networks impact more than one area. When I finished this mind map and previewed the image, it is interesting that the connectors around the major components create an outline, similar in shape to the human brain – complete with two analogous but not identical hemispheres.
• How has your network changed the way you learn?
I have always been an independent learner. Even before the age of computers, the internet and google.com, if I was reading a textbook and had a question, I would look it up or read parallel sources, before I asked the teacher/professor. Thus I think the only significant change in the way I learn are that the time boundaries have been removed. In other words, in the past I had to wait for the library to open or for a book to be returned, whereas with the availability of network resources, I can learn any time of the day (or night). I have even been known to wake-up in the middle of the night with an idea and I get on the computer to look it up or write it down, so I don’t forget it.
• Which digital tools best facilitate learning for you?
Online courses are an excellent learning opportunity for me. I appreciate the flexibility and independence of asynchronous learning. I have participated in online course for both formal university degrees and for continuing education requirement for my professional licensure and certification requirements.
• How do you learn new knowledge when you have questions?
I look it up. With the power of the internet and the availability of professional and scholarly literature at my fingertips, I often find myself with 7-10 open windows as I begin searching and then follow the links within the document I retrieve. Needless to say, I can start this process at 8pm and before I know it, the clock shows 11 pm and I and still clicking around the web. That is not to say, I have wasted time (OK…maybe sometimesJ), but usually I have not only answered my original questions by have found additional information, both related and on new topics, that has enhanced what I know.
Test!
ReplyDeletePosted for Mayumi Hata:
ReplyDelete"I agree with notion about time boundary been removed for searching information online. Also, I believe distance boundary have been removed by the use of internet. For example, innovation of scanning/PDF file/Emailing of the inter-library loan articles has been great help for conducting research for graduate school. In the past it has been mailed to me or give to me in paper based copy. Now with Email and PDF file, I can access those articles wherever I have access to computer and internet. Without online library and electronic documents for inter-library loan, online graduate degree would be very difficult to support evidence based research. Now I seldom use community or university library as I have access to the online library through Walden. Do you utilize library service and interlibrary loans often?"
I like the observation you make about the overlap of networks, and your graphical representation of these cross-network connections. This is probably true for everyone, too. I see so many elements that I should have included but did not. You did an exemplary job on this.
ReplyDeleteYour description of how you learn relates to my class comments that people learn how they learn, and what really changes over time are the modalities available to them. This idea is, I think, is supported by your description of the digital tools which best facilitate learning for you, as well as how you learn new knowledge when you have questions. This last point illustrates how your learning style has remained the same even as the modalities have become more technological and convenient.