Connectivism can be applied to WIKIPedia. In WIKIPedia, learning is a process that occurs within nebulous environments of shifting core elements - not entirely under the control of the individual. Learning resides outside of ourselves, is focused on connecting specialised information sets, and is focused on the connections that enable us to learn more important knowledge than our current state of knowledge. New information is continually being acquired. The ability to draw distinctions between important and unimportant information is vital. The ability to recognise when new information alters the landscape based on decisions made yesterday is also critical. The 8 prinicples of Connectivism all apply to WIKIPedia. (Siemens, G., 2004).
On WIKIPedia, learners can see that truth is not always constant. They can see that something they think they know to be true today may be disproved tomorrow. They can see that others can be more knowledgeable than them. What they have to explicitly learn is how to read WIKIPedia critically. WIKIPedia has definitions, contributors' knowledge, and even a forum to debate issues.
As well as the obvious which is having learners use WIKIPedia to build up background knowledge of a topic, I would use it as a tool for teaching critical literacy.
Siemens, G. (2004). Connectivism. A learning theory for the digital age. In elearnspace. Everything elearning. Retrieved July 18, 2009, from
http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm
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