Connection Reflection

This week I have been thinking about connectivism and the mind map I created of my various networks. The more I visualize those little boxes and circles connecting to this and that, I get an understanding of how big my networking system is. I am ultimately a little dot. The more I think about it I realize the more little boxes and circles that need to be added to really map out my connections until eventually the screen will become a haze of color blending with one another and without any real separation. Is this were our society is going? Information is so free flowing; it is taking on the consistency of an unlimited supply of liquid seeping here and there, taking and dropping information along the way without boundaries.

Taking online courses, teaching courses, staying connected with family, keeping appointments, and just the daily navigation of my adult life, I have become a technological slave. Is that a good thing or bad? I am not sure. Just the other day I thought I lost my iphone; panic seeped into my being…It has my contacts, documents, my schedule, even my logged miles of running for the week. I vaguely remember when I was about 11 or 12, I heard the term “The information Super highway” I thought that sounds cool and quickly dismissed it. Fast forward about 20 years, now I am dabbling into the potential, but a little apprehensive, because of frustrating operating systems, losing data. Fast forward 10 more years; the information highway is my usual commute, so many aspects of my life have come to depend on it. Enter Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter; the social connections have exploded and yes we learn from these contacts every day.

I must admit I do like the information at my fingertips. When I write for a class or prepare for a lecture I have that little device right there to define an unfamiliar word or even provide me with the correct pronunciations and even help clarify a thought and back it up with a reference and seek additional information. We have so many sources were we get information and learn new ways to retrieve: it is simply mind boggling.

Connections are at every turn and they introduce new concepts, reinforce learning and even dispute or help us alter previous knowledge. For instance, you go to the doctor and learn something about a condition or the lasted research to prevent a health issue. Then out with your friends you bring up the information and boom they have heard it also, but their take may be a little different. Conversation continues and negotiations occur, thus allowing us to learn things without consciously being aware. Social networking are powerful mediums and can be effective both in a physical and virtual situation.