Downes

Downes' presentation was useful in that it raised important issues relating to ICT and also provided links to further reading. My feeling is that it was at times a little vague, but the links aided in going deeper into the issues he was raising. Presentations such as this are useful learning tools in that they are interactive, student centred learning and are located in a place where they can be referred to at any necessary time.

Slide 5 raised the issue of Connectivism and stated that knowledge lies in a diversity of opinions. This has obvious links to what we are doing in this blog activity in that we are reflecting and commenting on eachothers blogs and aiding eachother in our learning. Similarly slide 9 talked specifically of the benefits of blogging in that it is user generated teaching and learning and referring to the benefits of a community of learning or a 'network of interactions'. The personal and opinionated touch that Downes refers to allows students to reflect on others ideas and forumulate their own opinions and ideas and share them with others. It is thus an environment where a student can become both teacher and learner.