A social network used to mean nothing more than a group of people linked together via common interests or a pattern of social relationships. Similarly, a professional network referred to a group of people tied together by professional relationships or career-related interests. These days, nearly any type of network that exists in the “real world” can also exist in the “virtual world,” which expands the connection possibilities exponentially. Although Facebook is typically associated with social relationships, Twitter with information-sharing, and Linkedin with the virtual Rolodex, these platforms embody the same principles: building online communities and sharing information. In the academic world, traditional campuses are slowly learning how to engage online learners by following the same principles. Read more →
Daily archive: January 23, 2012
Minimally Invasive Education
Education and learning are not always the same thing. Sometimes the formality of the educational system makes us forget that learning is a natural human behavior. The best educators cultivate an attitude of wonderment in their students; they do not force their students’ attention, but rather awaken a dormant curiosity within them and stimulate their innate problem-solving abilities. I believe it was Piaget who stated that all learning stems from a state of puzzlement; a natural curiosity about one’s environment that fosters an attitude of “active experimentation.” In this TED talk (thanks Mary for bringing this to my attention), Sugata Mitra presents research from his Hole-in-the-wall experiments, which demonstrates how curiosity and collaboration can facilitate learning. Professor Mitra calls this Minimally Invasive Education.
