How do you connect real-world and hands-on knowledge in online learning? What should you consider to do so that learners cognitively interact in their online learning environments to develop understanding and knowledge? How do we replicate the social processes and interactions in classroom learning in online learning? These are the questions raised in Malaysia’s Higher Education 4.0 Webinar Series on 28 October, 2021 entitled Connectivism and Online Learning by a distinguished scholar in online learning and also a pioneer of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), Professor George Siemens, from the University of Texas, Arlington, USA. The webinar was moderated by Professor Ts. Dr. Zaidatun Tasir, Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. The webinar was jointly organized by Education and Human Development cluster, Academy Professors Malaysia (APM) and Faculty Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH) Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

Prof. Siemens is the founder of connectivism theory, the cognition aspect in online learning. Connectivism arises from his concern on the effect of digital technologies on learning. Prof. Siemens segmentized his talk into three parts: connectivism and theories of learning, connectivism and application; and the future of connectivism. Some highlights from the webinar, he briefly talked about the psychology of learning, and the development of technologies in online learning from pre-web to AI, specifically to highlight the development of engagement or the control of learning from teacher-to-students, to the dynamic process of learning as in Web 2.0, which  is student-centered and the collaborative process of learning via the availability of various tools and resources, that cognitively replicating the actual classroom experience. However, the development of technologies such as YouTube, ITTT, Blockchain in education has shifted the emphasis on the social aspect in the conventional learning theories. The talk continues to point out more potential areas and technologies to explore in providing richer learning experience. The talk has invited lively questions from academicians during the real-time session.

The recorded webinar is available via these three platforms:

FSSH Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/367141090487913/posts/1142700739598607/

MyHE4.0 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/101067938958541/posts/125939793138022/

Akademi Profesor Malaysia Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG1ilwCS6J0

Source: UTM NewsHub