Imagine!
We live in a world of multiple-nets. What it means for education,
online and distance education! We make connections in a variety of ways
throughout our life. We also make links between various things, ideas
and in multidisciplinary frames.
“If you want to be smart like Einstein, it’s all about having the proper connections”
The Brain – The Ultimate Guide (pg.69)
In our teaching, learning, self-study, inventions, internet interactions,
The
research in the field of cognitive neuroscience and education
interactions has gained a lot of attention in the recent years. Making
connections between various parts of the brain is leading to many
research pathways. Culture also plays an important role in this context.
The fascinating world of making connections has a range of inner and
outer frames. Research networks from various dimensions and perspectives
can be viewed from multiple lenses to compare multiple-net factors.
This step can open doors for further analysis for the dimensions of
theory, research and practice in a broader framework. In the world of
online and distance education the role of making connections is
extremely important. The educators and learners bring their own
multiple-nets and through the lens of multiple nets we live in we can
open doors to make multiple connections.
The
research on metacognition has emphasized on thinking about self
learning and identifying self strengths and weaknesses in understanding
something. If we apply our power to self analyze our learning,
creativity and distance learning, we will notice a world of making
connections, nets and links are in and around us. We make many nets,
knowingly or unknowingly, and if we expand our metacognition to this
multiple frame (visible or invisible) the possibilities are enormous to
enrich our potential. Imagine if everyone involved in education,
distance education and online learning is thinking about how well we are
making connections of various types, it will be an inspiring cognitive
journey. Opportunities for creativity will be many folds. A hypothesis
is to collect data and see when the learner and teacher both are working
with a cognitive awareness of making connections of various types; the
learning environment can be enriched to a certain level. Research from
various subject specialists can bring rich data to understand the depth
of making multiple connections. Our creative awareness of living in
multiple-nets can empower some hidden potentials. In the field of
distance education and online learning the emphasis on making best use
of learning through connecting with the learning environment can reach a
new frame by thinking about how are we making nets of various types!
How are we making connections? What are some new possibilities for
making connections? Do we consider metacognition of making numerous
forms of connections? Our insight can reach a magnificent level—it is
time to think about metanetcognition (Meta Net Cognition). It is
observed in many situations that we provide information consciously and a
problem is solved unconsciously.
We
also live in multilingual nets. Multilingual cities have a power for
making strong linguistic connections. People with more than one language
fluency can contribute in many ways. People with education from more
than one country can also bring variety of perspectives. A pathway to
connect with specific language groups can make education highly useful
and inspire learning. If these dimensions are transformed in online and
distance education, the multidisciplinary impact can make new nets.
Linguistics-net and internet with a new geographical and cultural power
can enrich distance education net.
Through
theory, research and practice, we can explore more about multiple-nets,
in the expanding universe of nets around us. Everyone has their own
ways of creativity and effective education can provide opportunities to
flourish it. Forming cognitive-nets & social-nets can inspire creativity with the power of cognitive diversity.
By- Altaf Qadeer (Ph.D.)
