To me a Learner is like an unsorted pile of rocks. Like a pile of rocks it comes to class with chunks of knowledge already gathered. Some of the "rocks" were obtained as a part of formal learning and others as informal learning. People gather knowledge from a variety of places, however in this fast paced world it seems that places like the internet are becoming major influences on our knowledge. "Informal learning is a significant part of our learning", however sometimes it can lead to wrong conclusions and misconceptions. Teachers are the sorters of the rocks, keeping what is good, and tossing what is incorrect. Like a learner, the bag of rocks has empty spaces that are continually being filled. The learner is part of a "social element", which is constantly evolving. As the environment around the learner changes, so does the learner, just as a pile of rocks changes with it's surrounding environment.
Siemens, G. (2005, January). Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMcTHndpzYg&feature=PlayList&p=3E43054A8703F57A&index=0
