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November 27, 2009
Highlighted Resources
Recording - week 11
Yesterday, Stephen and I - together with a small group of attendees - tackled systemic change. Or, at least we were going to...instead, the conversation turned to democracy, freedom, the difficulty in fostering a civil society, etc. In the process, we bumped up against numerous theorists of politics, society, and even economics. I personally enjoyed the discussion. Just be aware it addressed the foundations of systemic change..rather than change itself.
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November 26, 2009 [Link] [Tags: none]
[Comment]
Contributions
Here's what course members from around the world had to say. Want to join the conversation? Submit your feed. Then put this at the beginning of your post: CCK09
Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09by Sui Fai John Mak.
Great ideas Frances,
1. Self-organised study groups -
Following CCK08, we have formed the Connectivism Ning Community Network and many of the CCK08 participants have joined it. Every one in CCK09 are invited to join. There is also a Connectivism wiki that participants could consider.
2. "Moving on Connectivism" workshop could be organised after CCK09, using various social media. We could use the Connectivism Ning Community Network to organise such workshops, with Elluminate run on a need or regular basis.
3. We have got distributed networks on Facebook, Twitters (tagged under #CCK09), CCK09 Ning, Diigo #CCK09, Google Research Group #CCK09, Delicious/tag/cck09, Friend Feed, various wiks - wikispaces on PLE/N, Wordpress (tagged under #CCK09) for us to consider....
Would a list of the links help?
Would you mind to include your links in subsequent threads?
That's my 10 cents worth 
What do you think?
November 27, 2009CCK09 What to do next?
This is a response to the posting by Frances on Moodle – Comments and Reflection on Elluminate Session Great ideas Frances, 1. Self-organised study groups - Following CCK08, we have formed the Connectivism Ning Community Network and many of the CCK08 participants have joined it. Every one in CCK09 are invited to join. There is also a Connectivism wiki that [...]
November 27, 2009
CCK09 Carina Nebula
November 27, 2009
CCK09 Stephen’s Quintet
Stephen’s Quintet is a compact galaxy group within the constellation Pegusus. Four of these five galaxies are interacting. November 27, 2009
CCK09 Beautiful space.
Beautiful pictures of the universe space. November 27, 2009
Our connectivist session
In yesterday session (the link for the recording is coming soon...) I had a confirmation: free learning happens! (or "from freedom learning emerge" or "learning from freedom emerges"...help me with the English please)
When you raise a child you are told that constrains is needed, you need to give containment for them to feel secure and grow safely. I´m raising a child right now...Is that true?
As a learner I enjoy the freedom I have in cck09. I enjoy it because I´m learning. Freedom doesn´t mean anarchy, clearly the facilitators of the course have designed this freedom enviroment for us, with not traditional constrains (are there any constrains at all? You are not even bound to participate, you can be a total lurker!)
In CCK09 I´ve learnt more than in all the courses I´ve ever done. I may say I´ve learnt more than in many cases at the University, where sometimes I had nothing but constrains.
On the forum Roy makes a distinction between kinds of constrains, ones that allow emergence, ones that don´t.
The question is not whether there were any constraints and sanctions in place in 08 or 09. There were constraints and sanctions in place in both. There are two, linked questions:
1. What type of constraints best provide conditions for emergence? In CAST terms, negative constraints, i.e. constraining what can NOT be done facilitates emergence, and, paradoxically, autonomy. On the other hand, positive constraints, e.g. "you must do 3 assignments on the following topics, in text only, with references, against predetermined outcomes", are most likely going to exclude emergence. [So, does that mean we have to redesign our curricula, completely 'upside down'? Yes, and the design of CCK08/09 goes part of the way in designing 'courses' upside down for the same reason.]
2. Constraints without sanctions are just hot air. So what sanctions should be in place, and i) how can you avoid imposing them, by offering alternatives (diversions, etc), and ii) if you have to impose them, how will you go about doing so, to ensure that they are swift and effective? - And this means there is a 'you' in the picture, (singular or plural) 'you' cant be air-brushed out. To put it plainly: 'freedom is conferrred -either by an authority, or by a consensus, but conferred it is'.
I think that the only limits I have on CCk09 are my own, all I didn´t know and what I don´t know yet. I am learning because I can get over the overwhelmed fase and go to research and to learn from others adn make connections, and hold back my anxiety and keep going at my pace.
So, learning on cck09 is very challenging for learners, i like that because i can learn with big challenges. The question is what happens with learners with learning problems? (And with "learning problems" I mean mostly what I think is the big problem -and a politic issue-: the real learning disability is feeling so confortable within limits made by others).
Freedom works with learning desabilities? May be we can be surprised.
Discussion Forum
These links are comments posted to the Moodle Discussion Forum, Week 9, Week 10 and Week 11. If you want to participate in the discussion, but don't want to set up a blog, then you can post here.
Re: Second Paperby roy williams.
Kerry, great paper. You provide a clear, articulate response to the issue (IMHO).
Theory: Most of what I learnt about education I learnt in a Montessori classroom (as an adult), and she had a wonderful approach to theory. When asked "what is the Montessori method?" she repeatedly said "there is no such thing, follow the child". Her theory - and there is plenty of implicit, tacit theory in her practice, and she created some of the best learning objects ever (e.g. the trinomial cube) - was subservient to observation, and the most crucial part of Montessori training is training in observation, not theory.
And the Rohr paper you link to is the best I have ever seen on Montessori - many thanks for that.
"This process can only be successful if it takes place in freedom, whereby freedom is
understood as going hand in hand with discipline and responsibility. Children possess an
intuitive understanding of the forms of self-realization by means of independent activity."
Montessori could almost have been talking about web2.0.
November 27, 2009
Re: Second Paper
by Richard Jones.
I am a big fan, also. My wife is the President of the Manitoba Montessori Teacher's Association. 
She wears other hats, too. Certified in ABA, a Level 2 Orff instuctor and an ECE II, the Montessori philosophy underpins everything she does in the classroom. Children thrive on it and it is particulary effective in dealing with children who have special needs.
Dr. Montessori was the first female doctor in Italy and nominated three times for the Nobel Prize.
Her learner-centred approach, though seldom acknowledged for it, continues to have a profound impact on the way our children are educated. Right down to the pint-sized tables and chairs.
Cheers,
/RJ
Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09
by Heli Nurmi.
I am very happy but tired - still after sleeping one night. It was almost midnight in Finland during the session and I became so activated that I couldn't sleep after it. So I dreamed about your presentations 
all the night.
My brain works slowly with spoken English and it took all the night to understand what you said Now I am seeking for the recording in order to listen .. after repeating the experience I can say what happened.
But great it was, surely. You are gorgious people and I trust you and we respect each other. So the experience empowers us and we get energy.
When I get my mind into a better order I'll begin my narrative case study in my blog where is now only the slide from yesterday. It is streched but I don't care, the text can be read. The slide shows my intention and my direction. It is not very far from others who presented I suppose.
The habit to use Elluminate blank table and share it, work together, it is fine. It worked in Frances Bell session (teacher disappearing) and it worked now.
Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09
by Leila Nachawati.
I agree it was a great experience, the atmosphere created by the facilitators managed to encourage a lot of participation. I really liked all of the presentations and was particularly inspired by Heli´s psychological approach and her "find your own voice" motto. I felt very self-conscious about my microphone issues though, but that´s another lesson from connectivism for me: I wasn´t that familiar with the very simple concept of a microphone connection and didn´t know that with a USB microphone I would have done better. Becoming more familiar with all kinds of hardware and software is a requirement in new learning enviroments, an invisible requirement until it becomes an obstacle for communication. So I´d better get to know my computer like the palm of my hand (can you say this in English?)
November 27, 2009Re: Google Wave
by Leila Nachawati.
I´d like an invitation too, just to try it. I´ve been reading about it but it keeps surprising me that Google Wave seems to arouse such intense passion or anger. Has using it become an ideological issue? (either you´re in or your out, with us or against us). I´ll try it for a while and decide for myself 
Re: Google Wave
by Leila Nachawati.
Eduardo has just offered to send me an invitation, thanks!
November 27, 2009Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09
by Frances Bell.
(Grrr!! just lost a long post - happens to me occasionally in Moodle )
Thanks for all who participated and presented - I thought it was a really good session.
What worked for me?
- short presentation slots from brilliant presenters
- live slide feedback
- warm and listening audience who were pleased to hear from a diverse range of presenters
- technology - it would be great to have a technology that easily let us present ideas and engender discussion - I don't know what that would be!!
- participation of course organisers- this is difficult as they are giving their time freely and George viewed the recording - the question here is how to connect self-organised activities to the development of the phenomenon of connectivism - it's great that they recognise their learning about connectivism but participants are hungry for knowledge how their real-life experiences contribute to theory development.
- empowerment of participants - it would be great if technical and social support enabled maximum engagement of participants so they know their contribution is acknowledged and 'makes a difference'
I think that our model could be rolled out in two ways:
1. self-organised study groups working together to discuss, refine and bring their ideas back to the wider course
2."moving on connectivism" workshops where a mix of participants and GS/SD have workshop + plenary format to tease out themes/issues
Well that's my twopennorth - what do you think? November 27, 2009
Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09
by Ken Anderson.
Hi Roy. Read the wikipedia definition of Troll you provided. There seems to be two major ingredients required to achieve this classification:
1. ...someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, with
2. ...the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion...
How was it determined that Catherine's intent was such? Who labelled her a troll?
Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09
by Richard Jones.
Hi,
By all accounts, it sounds like the event was a rousing success. I wanted to take it in, but I was at work. I am looking forward to playing back the recording, though I am sure it would have been much more stimulating to attend synchronously. I will have to make do. C'est la vie.
Cheers and congrats!
/RJ
Re: Google Wave
by Gus Goncalves.
I sent you a Google Wave invitation as well.
November 27, 2009Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09
by Sui Fai John Mak.
Great ideas Frances,
1. Self-organised study groups -
Following CCK08, we have formed the Connectivism Ning Community Network and many of the CCK08 participants have joined it. Every one in CCK09 are invited to join. There is also a Connectivism wiki that participants could consider.
2. "Moving on Connectivism" workshop could be organised after CCK09, using various social media. We could use the Connectivism Ning Community Network to organise such workshops, with Elluminate run on a need or regular basis.
3. We have got distributed networks on Facebook, Twitters (tagged under #CCK09), CCK09 Ning, Diigo #CCK09, Google Research Group #CCK09, Delicious/tag/cck09, Friend Feed, various wiks - wikispaces on PLE/N, Wordpress (tagged under #CCK09) for us to consider....
Would a list of the links help?
Would you mind to include your links in subsequent threads?
That's my 10 cents worth
What do you think?
November 27, 2009Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09
by Sui Fai John Mak.
One of the challenges in holding synchronous event such as Elluminate is that people/participants all over the world are living with different time zones.
So, it would be:
4 pm in Winnipeg of Canada
10 pm in London of UK
9 am in Sydney of Australia the next day etc.
If the event is organised at a time where people have to attend a mid-night session, then those people would surely have to miss out from the event.
On a few occasions, I have attended Elluminate sessions held at 1:00 am or 2:00 am (not with CCK08/09) and one at 5:00 am with CCK08. It was very difficult to focus, and I lost sleep on that night.
Have you experienced similar problems?
What would be the feasible solutions to overcome such time zone problem?
(a) Would the holding of (same or similar) events with 2 time slots help? This would allow people from the same regional area to attend.
(b) Or would the organising of event be based on the needs of people in certain regional areas? Would networks be "grouped" on such basis to allow online sessions be run?
Would that also explain why some events have huge crowds attending, whilst others haven't?
What do you think?
November 27, 2009Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09
by roy williams.
Hi Ken, Troll is as troll does. I have no insights into troll intentions, so I use the term when the data in front on me indicates that not only the trolling, but also the responding goes off-message into negative and personal 'flaming'. (Could be worth a wikipedia edit on 'intent', no?)
As I said above, some of her comments and critiques were worth reading and responding to, so the DNFTT rule was difficult to apply, particularly because it needs to be communicated, and it needs a consensus to work. And, of course, someone needs to call the troll a troll, the troll knew the rule, and part of her provocation was to dare the instructors to call it, which they declined.
This is always a matter of judgement. Individual participants and instructors will have different views on whatever judgement is made. The data we have in our research in CCK08 is, by the nature of sampling and self-selection (in and out), incomplete. However, the data do indicate that autonomy was diminished, in one sense at least.
There is no 'value judgement' in that, per se; it should stand or fall as a descriptive statement. What is pertinent and interesting is that the way autonomy is operationally defined is itself 'emergent' within the practice (not theory) of a particular learning ecology, as it runs/flows (we need better terms here too - I would not like to use 'develops' either, as that has its own built in teleology, which we need to guard against when we start talking in terms of 'learning ecologies').
So autonomy is as autonomy does, too. No guarantees and no simple answers.
Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09
by roy williams.
Frances, great idea. I'll come back to you on more detailed response.
Its a bit like speed-dating (which I havent tried), but only far better, I would imagine.
A new interactive meme? (the meeting of minds, not the connecting of computers?)
Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09
by Frances Bell.
I take Sui Fai John's points about the Ning and the time zone issue but there is something about the Speed presentation aspect that is important and was in the post I lost.
Synchronous sessions enable better performativity and interactivity IMHO.
With some great colleagues, I have run 'Slam' (based on poetry slams) workshops for the last few years (and have used something similar for extended Induction activity). Workshops are based on a topic or theme, introduced by short presentation(s). Participants then work in groups to produce a brief performance piece (that we can video), then watch each other's and vote.
Here they are:
http://web2slam.wetpaint.com/
http://digdivslam.wetpaint.com
I think it might be possible to do a version of this that combined synchronous and asynchronous. So I am thinking that groups could work together synchronously to produce their Slam, publish it by a certain date when forum discussion could explore it, followed by some sort of plenary event that drew together common threads.
Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09
by Ken Anderson.
Hi Roy. Thanks for taking the time to respond and lay out your position so succinctly. I do not have the depth/breadth of on-line experience that others in these courses appear to have, so the use of terminology like 'troll' and 'flaming' is quite foreign to me. So I acknowledge that you believe Catherine was a troll, but I still can't accept that label being applied to her conduct, nor do I like it much. I find it disturbing to stereotype behaviour, and I think that to label a person a troll is troll-like in itself. Catherine appeared quite upset to have been labelled so. But again, please view my position in the context in which it exists: My experience of this behaviour and terminology is limited. I would never have thought to label Catherine or anyone else a troll, the term meant nothing to me and I still struggle with understanding it. I would rather have described her approach as: direct, provocative, confrontational, stamina-tical.
Now, Catherine was one also to apply labels; for example, I believe she labelled Steven and George techno-communists. I think she got George wrong on that label.
Further, by other definitions proferred about troll-behaviour, it seems to me that there may have been others exhibiting 'troll-like' behaviours in cck08. Frances' you-tube video seems to illustrate Stephen shutting down discussion/discouraging novice participants.
I was confronted by Catherine on at least one occasion. After I recovered from my emotional response, upon reflection, I determined that she was more right and I was more wrong in the respective positions on the issue. I was appreciative that she had taken the time to address the issue I had spoken about. It did not deter me from further participation. In my view, resilience and a tough-hide are welcome attributes in forum-like debate.
How good (objective) is your data? Survey, wasn't it? I had a quick look at the questions when released. My initial reaction after reading the questions were that they almost suggested certain responses i.e. there was an element of subjectivity in the questions that may skew the responses. I didn't submit my responses, as a consequence. Again, context: I am not a researcher by trade, my research experience is limited, but I was taught to question the perspective of any research offered: 'where are the researchers coming from' in the sense of 'do not consider any research to be fully objective'. This questioning of course does not lessen the import of any particular research, rather, it frames it.
...all the while acknowledging that it really doesn't matter who considers who a troll, and that name-calling really doesn't help...
(WOW- I really exceeded the word-count this time!! 
)
Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09
by Ulöp O'Taat.
Hi Ailsa. Thanks for tolerating my silly questions/statements! I don't understand causality very well.
November 27, 2009Re: Comments and reflection on Elluminate Session on 25 Nov 09
by Ulöp O'Taat.
Thanks for explaining complexity Roy. I do wonder if we are still describing emergent 'properties' as being unpredictable only because we have not yet developed the capacity to make the predictions. For example, an early human viewing the procession of heavenly bodies might initially have thought that phenomena/system to be 'complex' and beyond prediction as well? Until someone mapped the bodies better? And created astrology/nomy?
The emergence you are talking about seems to be related to courses? as in we can predict that not much emergence will occur under positive constraints (dictated assignments), but the probability of emergence emerging increases under negative constraints?
Re: Net Pedagogy and Acupuncture?
by Nicola Avery.
Hi Jane, yes - I have encountered lots of similarities such as the whether chi exists, whether it is an internal or external energy - which is very similar to Western technology thinking and I hope to explore the Eastern origins of it further. I love both your and MaiJann's ideas about energy.
I once asked one of my instructors about chi and he said that's a discussion that takes hours or days or weeks or months or years. He said that whether or not anyone believes in chi and whether it is internal or external - its useful to remember that a lot of people do and that there is a lot of discussion around it.
Yes, re responsibility - a black belt "dan" means the beginning. Learning martial arts has definitely helped me see connectivism in a completely different way than I expected. From everything I have read and understood in both areas - it is not important whether you learn lots or learn a little, just important that you learn 'enough'
I look forward to looking at the presentation - I am completely behind on everything - hope to catch up tonight.
Post in Twitter and use the hashtag #cck09 to be listed here. (These should be fresh. Still working on improving the Twitter display.)
CCK09 - meeting here in Elluminate in 15 min: http://bit.ly/3ib0jB Topic: Systemic changeInspiration for #cck09 & @gsiemens topic tonight "if i had my way, i would burn this building down" (systemic c... ♫ http://blip.fm/~gwsa9
RT gsiemens: CCK09 - meeting here in Elluminate in 2 min: http://bit.ly/3ib0jB
RT gsiemens: CCK09 - meeting here in Elluminate in 2 min: http://bit.ly/3ib0jB
@leilanachawati RT gsiemens: CCK09 - meeting here in Elluminate in 2 min: http://bit.ly/3ib0jB
@anitsirk RT gsiemens: CCK09 - meeting here in Elluminate in 2 min: http://bit.ly/3ib0jB
No #cck09 for me, it's too late, have to rest. Did not much today. Hope I feel better tomorrow. Good times. Bye.
Talking Heads - Burning Down The House: http://blip.fm/~gwwi6 via @addthis #cck09 more inspiration
CCK09 Where to go next? « Suifaijohnmak's Weblog http://bit.ly/6S1mii
I #followfriday #secondlife twitters and #cck09 Twitterers
Responses to Connectivism recording now available http://bit.ly/4vr7UV details of session here http://bit.ly/7CKVE0 #CCK09
Anyone familiar with DimDim? http://www.dimdim.com/ #cck09
RT @francesbell: Connectivism recording now available http://bit.ly/4vr7UV (expand) details of session here http://bit.ly/7CKVE0 - #CCK09
RT @francesbell: Connectivism recording now available http://bit.ly/4vr7UV (expand) details of session here http://bit.ly/7CKVE0 - #CCK09
@dean_jenkins Nellie Deutsch has used DimDim quite a lot #cck09
Starting Responses to Connectivism (v participative) in Elluminate in abt 30 mins http://bit.ly/8JzRK more here http://bit.ly/7CKVE0 #CCK09
Waiting for the Elluminate session with @francesbell and other "classmates" from #cck09
Ready for our connectivism Elluminate session http://bit.ly/8JzRK, #cck09
Ready for our connectivism Elluminate session http://bit.ly/8JzRK, #cck09
right now. RT: @emapey: Ready for our connectivism Elluminate session http://bit.ly/8JzRK, #cck09
"our connectivism session" is right now. NICE listening to peers in session #cck09
Talking about positive effects of constraints in networks (like twitter or sms number of characters limit) on our elluminate session #cck09
Beautiful contribution of Heli on #cck09 session: "Finding your own voice is the goal" http://helistudies.edublogs.org/
example of a great conference that encourages participation: @gsiemens @ RT @emapey http://bit.ly/5PZ8RX #cck09
Terminó mi presentación en inglés en Elluminate para CCK09 Estoy satisfecho. Creo que me fue bien aunque todavía devo mejorar mucho
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