Connectivism: Reflection

Connectivism

This mind map depicts the learning connections that are being used by the Stallworth and Roysters as we communicate with our cousins that we have never met.  The families originated is Tuscaloosa, Alabama with a half migrating to the Cleveland, Ohio area.  It was not practical to meet everyone, so an online family reunion website was set up on Facebook.

 

The Facebook connections started with a football card post of The Pittsburgh Steelers “John Stallworth” who is my Mother’s first cousin.  Expanding the connection, I posted John’s childhood story.  My Mother’s Aunt and the only living sibling of John Stallworth’s Father saw my post and set up a group chat with about 35 people that she believed were relatives. 

From there a family Facebook page was created, and all possible family members were sent a friend request.  I shared our family history over a chat that some read on their mobile devices.  One relative messaged that he was brought to tears as he viewed the words on his cell phone.  If not for Facebook, learning about each other would not have been possible.  Facebook made it possible for us to digitally meet cousins that we had never met or knew existed.

In sum, connectivism played a pivotal role in my personal learning network, and the Stallworth-Royster case supports the theory.   When I wanted to ask questions, the best digital method was messaging on the Facebook discussion board.  I could select individual family members to communicate with or add them all.  The tenants of connectivism were visible as we attempted to see if we all were related.  There was a diversity of opinions, and we were receiving up-to-date information. 

My Mother provided the institutional knowledge because she was there when our family originated, so I spoke with her over a cell phone to get the correct information.  She gave us the knowledge that changed the family foundation for those that are truly related to us. Those that were not relatives witnessed the rapid learning environment that had a significant impact on our “desire to know more than what was known” about our family origins.  The learning network for discovering our family history and sharing it with family members that have never met supports the central tenants of connectivism and I’m excited about the future connections we will make.