“Knowing is becoming more and more like the person doing the teaching…..”

Stephen Downes – Week 25 Presentation: Change 11 – http://change.mooc.ca/index.html

In this presentation [you can view the recording of the webinar using the link on the page above] Stephen Downes leads you to think deeply about the nature of knowledge and of learning.  This quote has stuck in my head – and wanted to capture it.  Around 38 mins 20 sec.

Downes then commented that you are not teaching your students – you are modelling how to learn to your students (49:00).  He is really arguing that he does not see learning as shared – that it is a personal experience that you derive from being involved in a network with others.

So – I think that means – if you are a teacher, you are creating a network, an environment in which people can derive personal learning.

He proposed that communities don’t share anything except connections with each other.

Collaboration <=> Group

Co-operation <=> Network