I had not noticed it before, but my network has had a noticeable effect on the way that I learn. Since the rise to prominence of social networking and portable personal electronics, I have found myself much more prone to reach out to associates in search of knowledge and answers. Having the ability to write freely, knowing that fact checking tools are a few clicks away, has allowed me to work at a much faster pace and a lot less pressure than when I used “primitive research methods.

 

There are several tools that I have found that facilitate learning for me: My desktop, my tablet and my smart phones. I recently purchased a new desktop computer in order to run the Adobe Creative Suite; I am running three monitors, which has opened up a new world of productivity for me. I am able to work on one screen, open reference material on the second and have my course page open on the third. Working is much faster and smoother using this set up. My tablet allows me to take all of my class work with me wherever I go. I read my course texts and type assignments easily and save everything to the cloud for editing when I get home. I use my smartphone to listen to audio-casts from my classes and to read articles, whenever using my tablet is not appropriate. A good technological network can increase your productivity exponentially, if you use your tools correctly.

Gaining new knowledge has naturally become an issue with a cyber-solution. As I am sure most people do in 2011, I turn to the internet.  The sheer volumes of blogs, web sites and wikkis provide an almost limitless supply of facts and figures. If you screen your sources appropriately, you can find a legitimate answer for virtually any question that is thrown at you. The half-life of knowledge (Connectivism, http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Connectivism) is probably one of the most accurate educational ideologies that I have ever been exposed to. Case in point, I am typing this blog post on my tablet, referencing articles on my Android phone and reviewing the assignment details from my iPhone. A decade ago, this would be unheard of. Modern technology allows you to be connected to information (both factual and professional opinions) almost as fast as you can think about it. With the customizability of web sites, knowledge on the internet can be updated quickly and easily, unlike books and other sources of print. Connectivism is a valid and accurate assessment of today’s learning environment and ID students and professionals would do well to familiarize themselves with it.