A Theory for Knowing in the Network Society: Connectivism

Rapid changes and developments in the information and communication technologies have led to societal transformation and emergence of new social structures. In consequence of these, information has become a vital necessity for every individual in the 21st century, and the social structures have been shaped within the framework of processes for diffusion of information. Moreover, technological and societal changes gave rise to the changes in the nature of information (formation and diffusion) and in the process of having access to the information. In this study, changes in the nature of information and knowing are being discussed on the basis of the theories explaining societal change after the industrial revolution. The study will refer to the characteristics of the learning theories and theoretically assess Connectivisim, which is suggested to be a theory for the contemporary era. This paper discusses Connectivism as an approach which explains learning within the social structures of the Network Society and the Post-Industrial Society based on the review of the theories.