Connectivism in the Classroom

"Over the last twenty years, technology has reorganized how we live, how we communicate and how we learn." Because of this, I believe teachers must redefine their teaching methods. The old ways of teaching were beneficial for a time when we did not have so much information at our fingertips. However, these days, a student can learn just about anything just by doing a quick internet search. Also, within about 18 months, information typically becomes outdated and no longer is applicable. So, what does a teacher's role become if it isn't to teach content? We must now be able to teach students HOW to learn. We must create a highly structured and loosely organized learning environment for our students. By giving them freedom to learn, yet still have specifics learning targets to meet, we are giving them to tools to be successful life-long learners. When the children in schools today enter the workforce, they likely will not stick to one career path for very long, like their parents and grandparents have done. On the contrary, they will be moving from job to job and crossing career paths possibly several times. Because of this, it will be imperative that students know how to learn and are able to connect with others from around the world to gain knowledge and understanding.