Connecting Learning to the Power Grid

A learner is like a node in a power grid.  As each power plant adds power to the system, the whole network becomes stronger, and each node has access to more power.  

This is true for learners, as well.  In George Siemens seminal article, Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age, he presents the concept that "connections that enable us to learn more are more important than our current state of knowing."  He privileges the networks learners form in order to access information over the information a learner simply knows on his or her own.  He states that "learning is no longer an internal, individualist activity," and that "[o]ur ability to learn what we need for tomorrow is more important than what we know today."  All these comments from his article suggest that he is aware that, in our highly technological society, if we have the right networks we can answer nearly any question within a short period of time.  We simply need access to a network that has someone in it who can provide that information.

Further, Mr. Siemens has gone on to speak about this aspect of connectivism.  In his video The Network is the Learning (see below), he speaks to the relative power of these networks.  He points out that we can stay connected to people around the globe more effectively than ever before, which allows us to stay current with information and learning.  But, he emphasized the need to constantly evaluate the nodes or links in our network, decreasing those that don't serve us well.  However, when we connect with a new, powerful node, "the entire network is amplified."  That new connection "casts light on the rest of the network." not just on our node alone.

For these reasons, I think that a learner is like a node in a power grid.  In New York State, the power grid stretches from Niagara Falls down through New York City.  The entire grid is flooded with power from all the generating stations.  When one station goes offline, the entire grid dims.  When another station comes online, the entire network is brighter.  If NYC needs more power it can access it through the grid, taking power from generating stations in other cities.  That also works in reverse.  To me, this is like a learning network.