Saturday, July 20, 2019

Redefining the Role of the Teacher

What does it mean to learn? How do we learn? Technology has thrown a wrench into the theory of learning. Throughout history, educators held all the knowledge. They were the experts on biology, english, math, history. If you had a question, you asked a scholar. So, what's new?

Well, we already know that answer, the internet. Since the dawn of the internet, we no longer need a wise sage to get the information, we can simply consult the vast community of scholars online. The true change in the access of knowledge, is the smartphone. Almost every adult and high school student has immediate access to all the answers. This presents a problem for some educators, namely that they can now be proven wrong. But it also begs the question, "Should this change how we teach?" I think the better question is, "Does this change how we learn?".

The theory of connectivism address how technology has changed learning. The source of our knowledge is this vast interconnected web. To me, this is exciting! Twenty years ago, if I wanted to learn a new skill, I would have to either find a really good book, or some who is a master and has time to teach. Two years ago I decided I wanted to learn dipped pen calligraphy. So, I consulted the internet, found a blogger who gives instructions and started my journey. The students we are teaching can learn almost everything through YouTube. So, what's the point of a teacher?

Within this new model of connectivism, the teacher must step off their stage, and become the guide. Students have access to all the knowledge they could possibly want, but do they know how to use it? Without the proper guidance, do they know how to process it and what do do with the knowledge? The teacher becomes a guide to the knowledge that's available. The role of the teacher is to ask probing questions that lead students into making connections.

We cannot ignore technology and its impact on learning. So how do we embrace it, without it taking away the teacher? As teachers, we cannot let the internet serve as a substitute, but we must redefine the role of the teacher, adapting to the new age of learning.

1 comment:

  1. Great post Meghan! I appreciate your optimism toward the Connectivist model. Do you see any potential downfalls to this theory? And separately (but related), how do you think we as new educators can bring this digitally oriented theory to our colleagues who aren't digital natives?

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