Mixing novices and experts?

Yesterday a topic in the Daily impressed me.
“One aspect of connectivism is the mixing of novice and expert in the same environment. All very well (says Stephen), but this can become very irritating for the expert”
I think this aspect is one of the most important in Connectivism, especially in order to be considered a learning theory.
How, in fact, could we consider connectivism a learning theory, if the learning environment was made only by experts? It would be a sharing of knowledge, not a theory of learning, which should suit to everyone, and not only to those who already know. I have not yet read the readings this week on the difference between networks and groups, and therefore this is only a sensation, but I believe that a body of experts only could be defined more group than network.
A minimum of prior Knowledge is needed,of course, particularly prior skills, i.e. the ability to interact with a computer-mediated environment.

An environment that mixes novices and experts cannot be “irritating” for experts who experience connectivism. Because it gives them the chance to try out its effectiveness.
Stephen says: “
The ability to draw distinctions between important and unimportant information is vital. The ability to recognize when new information alters the landscape based on decisions made yesterday is also critical.”
And “Decision-making is itself a learning process”. So, all this can be done only in a mixed environment..


Using a good metaphor I read, a connectivism environment properly must mix fishes in the water and fishes out of water. The last ones will soon learn to swim…