I waited to read my classmates blogs until I had the chance to post my saved blog. This process illuminated exactly what the articles had posed- my learning deepened with each article I read. I thought more about "connectivism" as the fourth epistemological framework/pillar and how it isn't just connectedness to other learners but also other fields. I also thought about how in the internet world I shift from learner to teacher because of the flexibility of both roles in this medium, sometimes so much more possible in the digital realm because of the power dynamics of what occurs live in the classroom.
Furthermore, I reflected about the blurring lines and two-way transfer made possible, and gave further thought to what is the role of the educator in this process. One of my classmates considered what is "an expert" as posed by the Siemens article. They emphasized that the instructor is needed so that “knowledge (is) a creation process… not only knowledge consumption” (Siemens). I agree wholeheartedly with how this addressed my concerns over uninformed and static learning communities.
While it is evident that my understanding of the article was deepened by the exposure to my colleagues thoughts, it is complemented by the questions and comments offered live in person in the classroom. This is where the technological methods used to teach matter. My learning may have deepened by reading other blogs but it needs an additional step to shape from 2-dimensional to 3-D. This last step is where the reformation of thought becomes external, and where instructor "experts" can be the catalyst.
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