This is quite a lovely turn of phrase.
“What do you do for a living?”
“Why, I’m part of creating the knowledge ecology.”
Doesn’t that sound lofty and philanthropic? A mix of brainy and organic, benevolent and smart.
Canadian George Siemens, writer, educator, philosopher, and father of Connectivism theory is quoted in this week’s readings, and coined this phrase in the context of a larger discussion about the role of instruction and instructors in supporting the non-linear aspects of learning. He goes on to say that instruction should focus less on presenting information and more on engaging the learner’s ability to navigate information and draw accurate conclusions from it.
Thinking of the teaching and learning process as an organic ecology is a wonderful metaphor for those of us working to create relevant, contextual, engaging, and memorable learning environments. Recognizing that all of the parts of learning impact all of the other parts of learning is a tremendous first step in creating educational opportunities that more closely resemble the developmental, constructivist learning process that all human beings progress through as they live. It’s an acknowledgment of the spirit and practice of life long learning that “online learning,” “learning,” “MOOCs,” etc. are facilitating and igniting worldwide.
Further, an ecological approach to learning amplifies American architect Louis Sullivan’s 1896 axiom “form follows function.” To create authentic learning experiences, we must take into consideration the context for the learning and the desired outcomes. Who is the learner? What are the ongoing objectives? What is the environment? What are the available resources? And finally, what is the result supposed to be? When design answers those questions, we create learner-centered, teacher guided, student-collaborative environments that are ultimately successful. Rereading the source quote for the well-used phrase
“It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic, of all things physical and metaphysical, of all things human and all things superhuman, of all true manifestations of the head, of the heart, of the soul, that the life is recognizable in its expression, that form ever follows function. This is the law.“
is inspirational in that it lends itself to a sense of inherent “rightness” about moving forward in such a vein. Productivity and lifestyle guru Steven R. Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People taps into this in Habit #2, “Begin with the end in mind.” This habit is all about defining what you want to happen (“the end” -or “function”), then setting everything else into place (“the form”) in a manner consistent with getting there. It feels so grounded to create and develop with the certainty that if the desired function of something is well-understood, then the steps needed to get there will reveal themselves.
We are so lucky as learners today to have access to technology tools and resources that connect us to others without much effort. We can access a smorgasbord of reference materials and opinions, primary sources of research, assessment tools, and online diaries of the experiences of our peers and mentors. The promise of blended learning is that in the hands of skilled developers, facilitators, and educators, this knowledge ecology can not only thrive. It can respond enthusiastically to the true needs of 21st century learners for years to come.
#connectivism #formfollowsfunction #knowledgeecology #blendkit2014
In a Nutshell — Perspectives on Learning and Education in the Digital Age 