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?
With emerging technologies and varied teaching methodologies in this era, traditional way of teaching, which is teacher centered is gradually being replaced by student centered learning environment. An educator is a scholar practitioner in the teaching profession. Today, technology enabled learning environment has varied educator and learner roles. The roles are focused on what learners are able to achieve through personal efforts. In the light of this, diverse scholars have come up with the notions on how best to describe an educator. According to Siemens (2008), an educator is a master artist, network administrator, concierge or curator amongst other plausible metaphors.
To a large extent, these metaphors are acceptable. However, some of the metaphors might not have a high positive impact on learners in this technology era, where the expectation is that learners take ownership of their learning. Acquisition of knowledge would have better value when an educator is a “guide on the side” and acts as an inspirer or mediator when need arises rather than being a “sage on the stage”.
On this premise, an instructor in a digital classroom or workplace should take the place of a curator. A curator is an expert with a sound knowledge base of the subject matter. A curator provides an enabled learning environment in which learners get connected, explore and construct their own knowledge of the subject matter. The limitless access to explore would hone their higher order thinking skills. Learning is a lifelong activity. When learners cannot construct their own knowledge, it limits what they know. Irrespective of the metaphors used to describe an educator, an educator must be an inspiration to learners. Setting up an exceptional learning environment with adequate resources to encourage learners to contribute their best is part of the ways to inspire. When you inspire, you teach, mediate, coach, and mentor. From this perspective, educator can reach out to all learners amidst many teaching and learning challenges.Reference
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
Ronke,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your description of a 21st century teacher. In this world of "information overload" it is important to reach our students using current research based methods of instruction (Thornburg, 1996). Gone are the days when the teacher was the main source for information and knowledge. Today we are charged with facilitating and not directing the course of learning. Technology - particularly the personal computer and the World Wide Web have opened the door to global learning and global learning communities in which students and teachers engage in learning not only across cities and states but far reaching into other countries.
Reference:
Thornburg, D. D. (1996). Campfires in cyberspace. San Carlos, CA: Starsong Publications.
Thanks for your insightful post.
Candice Jones
Sherman response to Aderonke Module 1 Posting
ReplyDeleteAs I read over Siemens’ (2008) metaphors of educators, I could see where all metaphors discussed can be applied to educators in a digital world. I too, however, felt that the metaphor of educator as a curator was most applicable. I make this judgment based on my own work with 21st-Century technology in the classroom. I strive to create learning environments in which I am able to provide expert assistance as a guide. My students are routinely responsible for acquiring necessary knowledge to complete a task in this manner. Great post.
Reference
Siemens, G. (2008, January 27). Learning and knowing networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. Paper presented to ITFORUM. Retrieved from http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/Paper105/Siemens.pdf .
LaPollo response to Aderonke Module 1 Posting
ReplyDeleteYou make a valid point about the nature of educators Aderonke: they must inspire -regardless of the metaphors. I see the value of being a curator especially in the online environment, but I see the master artist as the most effective (provided it can be done). With the advances in technologies and the host of asynchronous and synchronous communications, I believe it is possible to be any of the metaphors, maybe its the artists in me, my right brain leaning into my thoughts, but I see the master artists as the most beneficial - and perhaps the one that requires the most ability?
Thanks for sharing!
I appreciate your responses. It is a herculean task to deal with multicultural learners because the line of thoughts must differ. However, we must all achieve the set goal of reaching out to all learners. If LaPollo from the perspective of an artist can be an agent of change in the lives of learners, then the best metaphor that suits him would be Master Artist.
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