Would that mean connectivism refer to theory of learning of what’s imaginative or creative? I am wondering if it is “describing” the present state of “informal learning” whereas people are looking for fun (games), socialising.

“Indeed, after adrenaline junkies finish the parachute jumping, someone has to inspect and fold the chutes. Many jumpers pack their own, I hear, but for the sake of metaphor, let’s say that might be what CCK09 participants are doing.”

I love your metaphors here, so vividly described what might be the thoughts in mind of some of the “adventurers” and “explorers” amongst the parachutists. I would like to learn those skills of “flying in the air”, and don’t find it easy OOHS.. Lurking is safer. But it is tempting too to pack the parachute.

May be that’s why it’s hard to apply at work, as people may think of day dreaming.. and I wonder if Chaos and Complexity Theory could is still about the butterfly, or teaching/learning..

Wonderful post. Thanks
John

Hope you and yours are well and happy. Elise and I and ours are alive and well and living in Mizsippi.

A futurist, and not a Facebooker? How can this be??

All the best–
–Rick

What a great post. I am fascinated by the use of storying as a didactic opportunity. Your description is so vivid.

For me engagement with teachers has been triggered by their excitement in learning and their ability to share their passion. As a teacher and coach I have aspired to engage learners regardless of the specific technologies available … it is ultimately an educational technology approach that leads me.

I am fascinated by learning biographies and teachable moments. You and Jenny through her comments to you have given me another opportunity to reflect.

When I saw your post title I was brushing up on my semiology!

Your description of the library being locked made me laugh. Schools were and I think still are very rule bound. I remember having to negotiate with a headteacher in a school I worked to break the school rule that all children went out into the playground at playtime. I had a group of children who had formed a club based on ‘Lord of the Rings ‘ (the book – this was before the films came out). All they wanted to do was write about this, perform plays, do art work etc. It wasn’t in the school curriculum and the only time they could get together was at school playtime. It was difficult convincing the headteacher to break the rule that all children should ‘go out to play!’ Where did all these rules come from?

I think teachers are so constrained by all these rules. They use a whiteboard often because it is a requirement. Similarly with ICT in general and also with libraries. The curriculum is so overloaded and tied down that they have little time to think about what might be best for learning, particularly early in their careers when they are also learning to teach.

I’m not sure what the answer is.

Jenny

What a great post. The ethnographer in me revelled in the detail you provide here.

My hope is that teachers and parents do commit to the different ways of supporting learner development you discuss here.

Many years ago I read a fascinating paper entitled ‘Teaching as an act of love’. It had a profound affect on me as a teacher. The birth of my children accelerated my treatment of all learners as my family and my desire to work in small schools and small classes. I believe that it is the closeness of relationships in pedagogy that transform rather than reproduce culture.

Fortunately I have never had to teach a national curriculum or ‘teach to standards’ and so my teaching has been free to explore the flourishing of the human spirit that you discuss here.

Thank you for starting my day here in Australia with such a thought-provoking, smile-producing post.

My very best wishes for 2009

Keith

I hope to get round to blogging again next year!

Jenny

I believe the Latin word for baggage is ‘impedimenta’. I wonder whether baggage impedes or speeds a learning journey.

Picking up luggage at a carousel after a flight is a very public statement about how people travel. Reading blog posts like this gives an insight into a fellow traveller.

I am left pondering whether we should be concerned about other people’s willingness and readiness to change. I think modeling change invites others to consider their possibilities for action.

You have sent me off on another line of enquiry. Thank you, Carmen.

PS Is it just me or does everyone become disconnected with their baggage on airline flights? I remember an old advertising campaign for Concorde … Breakfast in London, Lunch in New York. Someone had added graffiti to one poster … and luggage in Los Angeles!

I’m also contemplating the need for better definitions of openness and privacy than are implied in my use of these terms here; I suspect that these are not necessarily different ends of a spectrum, but perhaps blended qualities that reside in different parts of different quadrants defined by vertical and horizontal axes… still thinking on this;-).

Thanks for the comments!
Carmen

In a pure connectivist framework, there is also no inherent value judgement in what you write or share (or if you decide not to). However , in practical terms, individual psychology, culture and a thousand other myriad factors shall impede total open-ness, autonomy and diversity.

It’s complex, after all we humans have the knack to complexify almost anything