Connectivism - Why it works

A learner of today is like today's cash register. The function of a cash register is to hold money, but there are so many different types of money from tangible dollar bills, electronic funds, or gift cards. Yet, the cash register still process all these different of cash from either making change for dollars or deducting money from your bank account. A learner is similar in the fact that are supposed to hold on to knowledge, yet there are some different kinds of knowledge present in our social environment. Learners are in constant interaction with new knowledge and attempting to fit it into our existing schema. George Siemens, the create of the connectivist theory, states in his article Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age from International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning that

Connectivism 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.

This quote explains the fact that as a result of our constant interaction with new knowledge, learners are refining their own mental system to make sure that knowledge reflects what the current environment emphasizes or utilized. Learners cannot use antiquated knowledge. Siemens clarifies this point in his video entitled The Changing Nature of Knowledge. He says:

Knowledge is rapidly evolving. It's not just what we know today that's important. It's our ability to stay current as knowledge changes.

Just like the cash register from 50 years ago is a completely different system that today's, knowledge is also changing. What we know know may not have been known 50 years ago. Therefore learners need to be able to recognize and acquire new knowledge while it is still novel.