Image made by me, Parmis Banihashemi, Made on Canva, (October, 2025)
Connectivism is a new theory of learning that tries to explain how people learn and create knowledge in a world connected by technology. Connectivism isn’t focusing on how we learn as individuals, it’s more about how knowledge exists in networks, not just in our heads. Essentially, it argues that knowledge lives in connections, it’s not stored in one persons’ brain, but spread across many “nodes”. Different forms of nodes can be websites, organizations, databases, and people. Learning happens when you make new connections between these nodes. As cited in the textbook section 2.6, Siemens 2005 quote says “ the pipe is more important than the content of the pipe”, I thought this was such a clever way to put it, he is saying that knowing where and how to find information is more valuable than memorizing facts and content. The author also says that with connectivism, knowledge is chaotic and I agree, knowledge is meant to be chaotic as information flows in and “nodes” come and go.
The concept of connectivism reshapes how I think about online learning and where knowledge actually lives. According to Trembley (2025), a learning management system (LMS) is a software created to track and deliver online learning, education, and any form of online training. The instructor organizes materials, sets due dates, creates quizzes to assess online learning, and controls the flow of information. Traditional learning management systems (LMSs) such as what we use for our courses here at UVic (Brightspace), are usually built around a structured, top-down model of education. LMSs have more of a contstructivism approach where students have the opportunity to develop an understanding from the materials provided within a closed environment.
However, with connectivism, knowledge isn’t only within us as individuals or the institutions we attend, but within the networks of connections we create and this is how it can challenge LMSs. In today’s digital society, we can make meaningful learning connections when we are able to navigate and make sense of diverse sources of information which exist outside an LMSs. From my perspective as a student, a LMS like Brightspace for example, can be very limiting because it focuses on the tools and information given on that system instead of encouraging students to go beyond and explore the web of knowledge that exists outside of it.
A networked approach to online learning would mean using tools like social media or discussion forums to better reflect connectivism principles. As cited in the textbook, some principles include diverse learning, being able to see different opinions, and the ability to find, evaluate, and connect information across multiple contexts. Using this approach, makes learning less about memorizing static content or “the content of the pipe” as Siemens said, and more about building a dynamic personal network of ideas and tools. It supports lifelong learning and helps strengthen the ability to connect new information sources which is more valuable than any single piece of knowledge.
Reflecting on my own experience, I notice that when I engage with my peers through online communities, follow experts on social media platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok, and explore readings online, my understanding of the material deepens. When information is presented in different forms, it helps me, as a visual learner, understand the material better. These networked connections help me see relationships between concepts and apply them in real world contects which is exactly what Siemens and Downes describe in the textbook as the essence of connectivist learning. While the LMSs provide structure and organization, it’s the networked interactions that push me to think beyond the classroom and make my learning more personally meaningful.
Good online learning needs a balance between the structure of a LMS and the flexibility of a networked environment. Lms offers a very solid base, but connectivism shows that real learning happens when we go beyond it and connect with others while exploring new ideas.