Critique Siemens’s “metaphors of educators.” Which of these metaphors best describes the role you believe an instructor should take in a digital classroom or workplace? Is there a better metaphor to reflect your view of the role of instructors?
Siemens (2008) discussed four different types of educators in the workplace or classroom: Brown’s atelier, Fisher’s network administrator, Bonk’s concierge, and Siemens’s curator. Each one recognizes that the educator is an expert, but each plays a different role. The atelier points out what masters from the past reflected as well as new emerging ideas (Siemens, 2008, p. 15). Fisher’s network administrator helps students form connection and learning networks for a particular class (Siemens, 2008, p. 16). Bonk’s concierge uses lectures and creates exploration activities for students (Siemens, 2008, p. 16). Siemens’s own idea of educator as curator has the educator as guide and knowledge expert.
In addition, Ehlers (2009) believed that with the advancement of Web 2.0 technologies, learners would create their own learning environments and outcomes and the educator’s role would shift from transmitter to guide and advisor.
Clearly, the educator’s role is shifting from transmitter because learning has become learner-centered. However, the educator’s role will remain that of an expert in knowledge and learning. With the unlimited learning potential of the Internet and Web 2.0 technologies, the educator will become a little bit of all aspects of the “metaphors of educators” depending on what subject and pedagogy they are working in. Thus, for the educator, a much more creative and less rigid role is possible in digital and corporate classroom.
Blogs I posted to:
http://decdr.blogspot.com/2012/03/learning-theory-and-educational.html?showComment=1332005118661#c5785371406896830274
http://schroederedtech.blogspot.com/2012/03/educator-metaphors.html
Ehlers, U. (2009). Web 2.0—e-learning 2.0—quality 2.0? Quality for new learning cultures. Quality Assurance in Education, 17(3), pp. 296-314. doi: 10.1108/o9684880910970687
Siemens, G. (2008, January 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. Paper presented to ITFORUM. Retrieved from http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/Paper105/Siemens.pdf
I do agree that the educator's role is shifting, especially with our digital natives, however, they are not necessarily experts in their content area. I notice that the trend for education is more student-led learning, which can be beneficial in itself, but do you feel it can deter from the essence of actual processing of knowledge? Do you think that eventually, teacher's will be replaced by technology? As much as I am advocate for technology, I don't want to be just an observer. I want to be hands-on with my students learning. That is why your last statement on how the educator needs to be more creative in delivery to assure we reach each of our students, is imperative.
ReplyDeleteYou ask some very good questions! I wrote a big long answer and at the end changed my mind. I think that student-led learning may be one technique that could be used in the right situation. I am thinking of the saying, "If you really want to know a subject, teach it." I do not believe that students need to take over the teacher's job, though. I do not believe that teacher's will ever be replaced; teachers are experienced learners as all of the descriptions depict, and that experience and knowledge of the subject and related perspectives is a valuable and necessary part of the learning experience. Not only that, but learning is a very personal experience, and the real-life personal experience of the teacher is even more valuable to the students.
ReplyDeletePS Have your read "Goodbye, Teacher," by Keller? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1310979/pdf/jaba00083-0078.pdf There used to be a website with a Keller structured lesson plan that was outstanding. I cannot find it anymore. But, I really like the way the lesson was structured and you could not progress until you really understood the concept. It was beautifully designed!)
This is a great question in respect to the role of the teacher with advancing technologies; I think this depends on the learner as many want the ability to not only collaborate, but to have an advocate on the other end of the connection and/or the comfort of sage advice when needed. The same question has been posed in aviation as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are becoming more reliable and popular; still lacks consumer confidence in technology, especially when live are at stake.
ReplyDeleteDavid Miller
You make an excellent point about the social aspects of learning, which I think is another reason behaviorism can only be taken so far. I know I want someone to tell me that my opinion/thoughts/perspective needs some tweaking when I have misunderstood or misapplied a concept.
DeleteI wasn't aware there was a problem of consumer confidence with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. I believe UAVs are monitored. They aren't just programmed to fly around. I am all for them if it keeps U.S. soldiers out of danger and helps keep our country safe.
Hi Carolyn, I think this is the most "disruptive" question for education. Who are we as teachers? The whole "sage on the stage" "guide on the side" metaphors are not adequate. In this regard I really like your discussion of finding creative ways to find value in a technology driven world.
ReplyDeleteNow that I've shifted roles to Instructional Designer, I'm wondering if there are any design functions that have to happen to help promote new roles of the teacher.
Hi, Tom. Good question. I had to think about it for a little while. I think for the instructional designer, it is important to know which pedagogy to work with and to base the design concepts on that. In addition, developing with the learning objectives in mind is also important. If we, as designers, do those two things, teachers can focus more on their roles. What do you think? Pedagogy and learning objectives seem to be the central concerns for learning and teachng.
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