This took place on 20th November
and we started by coming to an agreed understanding of what networks are.
Identifying those networks and drawing them out can be useful a map of networks
can be useful and out by mapping out our networks both professional and
personal.
We discussed the various networks we had
mapped out further. Some questions we asked were….
- Are there any crossovers between groups – are there some networks with the same members in each?
- Which networks are more important to us in our professional practice and our learning and development?
- Which networks are peripheral to us … that we are part of but not actively?
- Do we put in (contribute) as much value as we get out of the network?
- What happens when we actively contribute to a network?
Theoretical approaches to networks were
discussed as set out in the Reader for this part of the module:
- Co-operation (tit for tat)
- Affiliation (sense of belonging)
- Social constuctionism
- Connectivism
- Communities of Practice
We then revisited the networks we had
mapped out and assessed if any of the above approaches could best be used to
help us understand our participation and our activity in the our various
networks.
Connectivism led to a discussion on the location
of learning and knowledge. A question about where knowledge is located
immediately brought the response that it’s in our head. How does it get there?
It could be via having some information (from a book or a person) and linking
this with experience. Or it could be from experience alone. Therefore, looking
at a network through the lens of connectivism we tried to locate the knowledge
– it was contained in the nodes on the network. It could be that the larger
nodes have greater knowledge because they are linked to a greater number of
nodes that others.
While there are no right or wrong answers
to the above what is useful about this reader and the tasks is that it forces
us to examine our professional networks and evaluate them for improving our
professional practice and promoting learning, development and knowledge.
Thank you for posting about the campus session. Its great to know what went on as I couldn't be there. Reading the section on the connectivism reinforces my thoughts on the theory which I picked up in the reader. Also yet again you have highlighted the fact that there is no right or wrong answers its all about what works best for us to get the most out of it and learn.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for posting about the latest campue session, I am really hoping to get to the next one. I am still trying to get my head around the concepts of professional networks but am finding the reader very helpful as a starting block.
ReplyDeleteWas very disappointed not to make the campus session. So far I've found not only are they a great source of information bit also a great kick up the back side in getting the motivation flowing. It's reassuring knowing that we are all in the same boat. Thanks for blogging about the session. Hopefully see you at the next :)
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