I am studying an article titled “Connectivism: A Teaching Approach for the Digital Era” by Jamie S. Switzer of Colorado State University, published in Journal of Media Education. I plan to discuss the connectivism approach in the textbook I’m writing titled “The Journalism Student of the 2020s.” George Siemens, a professor at Athabasca University, first proposed the theory of connectivism in 2005. “Connectivism,” Siemens said, “is the integration of principles explored by chaos, network, and complexity and self-organization theories …[it] is driven by the understanding that decisions are based on rapidly altering foundations. New information is continually being acquired. The ability to draw distinctions between important and unimportant information is vital. The ability to recognize when new information alters the landscape based on decisions made yesterday is also critical. The theory considers the potential that technology brings to education in the digital era.” 1. Athabasca University is in A. Iran. B. Paraguay. C. Canada. D. the United States. E. Germany. 2. ___ is/are not ubiquitous. A. Technology B. Air C. Cell phones D. Cobras E. Motor vehicles 3. posit [PAH-zit] A. to dispose or set firmly in position B. to postulate C. to assume or affirm the existence of D. to propose as an explanation E. to suggest Let’s see how well you’re doing. Now in its 50th year, Athabasca University is in Canada. No. 2 is D. Cobras are not ubiquitous, that is, they are not everywhere (thank heavens). All five are correct for posit. Connectivism posits that knowledge is distributed across networks of connections, and that learning occurs when a student develops the ability to construct and traverse those networks and actively create meaning. 4. purveyors (pur-VAY-urs) A. writers B. those who promote or spread ideas, views, etc. C. cynics D. innovators 5. The word “myriad” should not be preceded by “a” or “the.” A. True B. False Vineet Kaul was quoted in Switzer’s article: “The basics in journalism remain the same: the ability to report, write, and edit accurately and objectively, and to be able to think critically. Innovations in information and communication technologies, however, have created the platform for a free flow of information, ideas and knowledge across the globe and myriad ways in which changes and challenges are brought to the purveyors of the news.” No. 4 is B. No. 5 is A. Editor’s Note: Dr. Don Rodney Vaughan is the pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church near Eupora and is on the faculty of East Mississippi Community College, Golden Triangle Campus. Contact him at dvaughan@eastms.edu.
