Learning in the Linked Enviornment

Learning has been, still is and will always be an important human activity. What needs to be learnt,how to learn, from where to learn may change over time, and they do, but need for learning remains as long as individuals live and human race lasts. Progress in human society, or evolution as some prefer to call, has always necessitate learning new things, in novel ways and in newer environments (hunting in forests, cultivating lands, building forts to name few).

Periodically, the advent of technologies have changed and sometimes altogether altered the very process of learning and have demanded a new category of learning skills. The invention of printing press for instance, made learning from books (as contrast to learning from a teacher in a face to face mode )a possibility in the beginning and a necessity later. A well read man is example of both showing the importance of learning from books and personal achievement.

Contemporary technological developments have again changed the learning landscape. They have transformed learning environment and are posing new learning challenges. They demand new skills (as book did with reading and made literacy a necessity) - network skills to be more specific. Online resources are replacing traditional books and libraries and are becoming more accessible through multiple channels such as web, mobile and even TV. It is a growing experience for many that it is far easier to search on the web than to do the same on one's own desktop or in traditional library.

Learning in the new linked environment-as I cal it demands a new approach and warrants the acquiring of new basic skills. First and most important learning skill needed is ability to search - how and where to find learning resources on the linked environment (web). Second skill is the ability to filter relevant material from heap of results obtained through search and thirdly an ability to read resources online and finally to mark them for future reference. I shall touch of all these in future posts. Mean while you may know your learning styles.