Like Mike, I feel unable to discuss the first two questions. As for my use of technology, I guess I am like Mike – my choice of tool depends on what I am trying to achieve and my comfort level with that particular tool. It also depends on my access to the supporting technology eg Second Life could become a very important tool but Internet access and broadband width limits a lot of people’s interactions with SL.

Your concept maps indicate to me that you understand the content, at least at one level, better than most. Very impressive and helpful.

My post shows I’m struggling with a different level of understanding, the perspective of the conversation.

Before the course I thought of Connectivism as a very pragmatic concept that validated and explained the huge social wave of networking that technology had unleashed on society and education. Picture hundreds of students in a lecture hall with laptops working on Facebook and doing whatever else while the professor droned on. “What is up with that?” Connectivism helps. Having Connectivism understood as a learning theory and then theory of knowledge pushes way beyond the pragmatic and I lose the perspective relative to other learning theories and theories of knowledge.

Don’t know if this helps but seems to describe where I am at the moment.

I keep looking for some entry point – a new concept I can connect with an existing level of understanding – but I’m coming up empty so far. Are you having any more luck?

Fortunately for me, I’m stubborn and don’t like admitting defeat so I’ll keep up the readings and start reading people’s blogs to see if anyone is having better luck with this

Cheers,

Mike

I’m still grappling with the first two questions you mentioned, so I don’t have much to contribute there just yet. However in terms of question 3 I do have a few thoughts.

To me the function of both online and offiline tools is to facilitate my ongoing connections with my various networks. When I say “network” here by the way, I mean it in the broader sense of all the people I interact with, and not just networks in a Connectivism sense (though there is certainly that element as well).

The purpose of the tools to me then is dependent on context and ultimately a very personal decision. Certain applications are appropriate and relevant in certain contexts but not in others.

Basically I see these tools as facilitating mechanisms for the broader purpose of interaction and discussion, rather than a destination in and of themselves. So personally my choice of tools is determined by the ultimate objective I need them to facilitate – including the people I need to connect with, the nature of the connection, as well as a whole slew of other social factors.

Certainly technical elements will be among them – including comfort levels and usage preferences (not just our opinions but those of whom we wish to connect with) – but I think these are only some of the factors that inform the final decision of what tool or environment to use.

Thats my 2 ¢ anyway

Cheers,

Mike