Having Read George Siemens (2005) paper on Collectivism I understand that this new theory was created to address the shortcomings in previously accepted learning theories.

Behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism were created in a time before huge, always on, information networks became available to everyone. The focus of these older theories is how learning occurs and describe learning as internal to the individual.

If we are to contrast Connectivism with earlier learning theories it is clear why they are inadequate in the modern world:

• Behaviorism (e.g. Thorndike’s puzzle box)

A trial and error approach to learning in a vast data repository would be unlikely to produce a meaningful outcome. Some skill would be required to filter the information to produce meaninful learning.

• Cognitivism (e.g. Ausubel’s idea that information should be organised by the teacher for the student)

Creating new learning from distributed networked information does not seem to be compatible with this notion.

• Zenner (2009) notes that teaching using constructivism can lead to inconsistent and fragmented learning. 

Connectivism explains that knowledge can be stored outside of the individual and acquired or repurposed in a number of different ways. Chiefly:

• Making meaningful connections from disparate sources (for example querying large data sets, websites, videos or the knowledge and experience of other individuals).
• Filtering important and unimportant pieces of information. The structured delivery of set pieces of information is lost in the information age.
• Utilising accurate, up to date information. Part of filtering important and unimportant information but could be a real time data source which is continually refreshed

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Siemens, G. (2005) ‘Connectivism: a learning theory for the digital age’, The International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, vol. 2 [Online]. Available at https://jotamac.typepad.com/jotamacs_weblog/files/Connectivism.pdf (Last accessed 21 Feb 2020).

Zenner (2009). The Limitations Of Constructivism [online] . Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/nataliea/the-limitations-of-constructivism-2658207 (Last accessed 21 Feb. 2020).