Today, a learner is like a mapmaker (cartographer). In making this comparison, I hope to highlight the fact that a learner must know where to find certain information or knowledge in order to be successful. Similar to a map, a learner must know where to find information (cities) and what sources (roads) to use to access it. I think that this is the perfect analogy for today's learner because knowing where to find information has become more important than learning all the information that is needed. This notion has become a necessary part of learning in the new age of technology.
In the article, "A Learning Theory for the Digital Age", Siemen discusses learning theories of the past including behaviorism, constructivism, and cognitivism. He then proposes a more up to date theory called Connectivism which relates better to learning today and provides an answer for the limitations of previous theories. In this article he says, "The pipe is more important than the content in the pipe". By making this statement, Siemens is demonstrating the fact that it is more important to know where to find "knowledge", than it is to know certain "knowledge".
Additionally, in the video, "The Network is the Learning", Siemen discusses how networks, nodes, and the relationship between the two represent the role of learning today. "What we know today is not as important as our ability to continue to stay current... If I'm not continually learning I'm becoming obsolete in my particular field or within a particular knowledge space...A network continually evolves and continually reforms itself." By making this statement, Siemen is highlighting the fact that today's learners need to stay as current and up to date as possible because technology and the knowledge provided by it is continually changing and growing.
Overall, learners today should be mapmakers. Know where to go to find the knowledge you need!
Your cartographer analogy works very well!
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