Social Networking: Creative Expression of CoPs, Connectivism, and PLNs

The above creative expression is a math problem that solves for the variable L. In the end, you get the math formula that L = I + M + P + R + T + W. As you can see in the picture, it tells you that L represents the learner and all of the variables in the end make up the learner. I thought an equation was a great way to represent the major elements we have discussed. The equation originally needs to be evaluated and solved for L to see the final outcome. Considering how there are a variety of pieces that make up a successful learner using the three main elements we have read about, (communities of practice, connectivism, and personal learning networks), I thought an equation could be the perfect way to represent how all three of those come together to make the individual learner a successful one.

The variables that were used within the equation came from our three main elements: communities of practice (variable X), connectivism (variable Y), and personal learning network (variable Z) as well as some key words that stuck out to me when reading on each of the three main elements. If you look at each main concept alone (X = , Y =, Z =), it’s the learner without all of the elements together so in the beginning, the learner is not fully successful.  It is not until you plug all of the variables in that you can begin to develop the successful learner.The variables M and P were chosen for communities of practice. The variable M represents membership because learners have to take ownership and commitment of being a part of the community and the variable P represent participation because the learner must play an active role and be engaged within the community(Wenger, n.d). The variables T and W were chosen for connectivism because through reading and learning about it, those two words were used throughout articles. As one article stated, the World Wide Web can be used to share and learn from one another using online tools such as email, social media sites, and more (Connectivism, 2015). When reading about personal learning networks, one of the pieces that really stuck out to me was how Carter and Nugent describe the learner as a self-initiated system (represented in the equation by the variable I). It puts the learner in control of initiating their own learning and I think that is a huge element within the personal learning network (Carter & Nugent, 2011). Another piece that really stuck with me about personal learning networks is the multiple resources one can have access to within their network and how the learner can then use those resources to gain knowledge (Neubauer, Hug, Hamon & Stewart, 2011). Resources were represented in the equation by the variable R. In the end, it can be seen that all three elements play a huge role in becoming a successful learner.

Carter, T. J., & Nugent, J. S. (2011). Personal Learning Networks: Implications for Self-Directed Learning in the Digital Age. In Encyclopedia of Information Communication Technologies and Adult Education Integration (pp. 226-240).

CONNECTIVISM (SIEMENS, DOWNES). (2015, June 1). Retrieved June 5, 2017, from https://www.learning-theories.com/connectivism-siemens-downes.html.

Neubauer, B. J., Hug, R. W., Hamon, K. W., & Stewart, S. K. (2011). Using Personal Learning Networks to Leverage Communities of Practice in Public Affairs Education. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 9-25. doi:10.2307/27919545.

Wenger, E. (n.d.). What Are Communities of Practice? Retrieved June 5, 2017, from http://www.ncddr.org/cop/whatiscop.html