How are communities of learning the same or different in comparison to connectivism?

I think communities of learning relative to college level education are similar to connectivism in that new information is recognized, researched and discussed.  Also in my experience teachers foster learning outside ourselves, through new development and engagement in a variety of new experiences/tools, which is meant to promote the learner making those ‘connections’ between the learner material and what may or may not be important.   In a k-12 setting, I am not sure this level of vested interest is always the same, which may make age appropriate sense depending on who you talk too.  I think in k-12 settings the focus is still primarily on students collecting information, not necessarily making connections to the information they receive. 

In college environments, reasoning and experiences are fostered and it is encouraged to know “where to get” information we seek.  Continual learning is a regular school of thought, if you will.  

Do you believe connectivism and the abundance of information has stifled or nurtured creativity and inventiveness.  Explain.

 I believe connectivism is a culmination of knowledge obtained learning outside self, making connections through reasoning and experiences, which does help to nurture the creative soul.  For me sometimes when I make a connection it is like a new discovery of the same information, but in a different way.  When I see it in a different light, it will often open new ideas and cultivate fresh avenues to explore.  I think in the long run and big picture the abundance of information is a good thing, but the ability to know where or how to find it may be the challenge at times.   Every semester of college I have learned of at least one new resource or link of information I did not previously know about.  I think the problem comes up with how can one possibly keep up with the abundance of information.  I think real-time search engines and resources, like Google and Topsy can be helpful in this instance. 

 In other words, drawing on Roy Pea’s ideas about “embedded intelligence,” how could you “embed” scaffolds in tools you might offer to students or trainees learning in a connectivism-oriented learning environment? 

Tools I may embed in the learning for connectivism I think may vary dependent upon the topic.  To make the connections in ‘embedded intelligence’ scaffold tools I may include are:  using prior knowledge, utilizing motivational context, providing hands-on examples, allowing for process of thinking aloud-maybe a blog, facilitating participation, using visual stimulation, asking questions and encouraging questions, and modeling the activity or asking for own experiences including my own.    Depending on the topic I may include a variety of the above tools to enhance possible connections.  I think visuals are really important, most of what we remember is connected with a visual image.