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 (2005) defines the metaphors of educators as a master artist, network administrator, concierge, curator, and instructivist/constructivist. Educators as a master artist in the classroom are like an art studio with open space. In this open classroom environment, students are encouraged to permit their creative side to flow freely and unrestricted. In the open classroom environment, students interact through innovative methods such as blogs and twitter. A teacher as network administrators’ role is to help students make connections between concepts, ideas, and thoughts. As concierge educators provide that extra soft push needed to encourage students to identify and utilize those hidden talent, skills, and abilities for learning and creating. The role as curator is creating opportunities and space for creating, exploring, researching, and connecting knowledge nuggets and resources. Finally, as instructivist/constructivist providing the learner with the ability to blend and connect learning opportunities and activities.
In a digital classroom, I believe the role of curator is most important. In this role, educators are responsible for encouraging the learner to create, explore, and connect information in a matter that is engaging, inspiring, and motivating. Educators no longer need to serve only as the dispenser of knowledge, but as a facilitator.
References:
Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.
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
Hi Joyce,
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed reading your blog posting. I would like to comment on your statement about educators are no longer dispensers of knowledge. This is a very profound statement that I sometimes have to remind myself. In obtaining a specialist degree that was my thought and I knew I had to possess more knowledge concerning technology or I would lose my students due to boredom. My goal is to make learning creative so students will not become bored. Your posting help me to remind myself of that.
Joyce,
ReplyDeleteIn reading your post, I got a clearer understanding of the roles of teachers in the metaphors listed by Siemens (2008). I do agree that the role of the curator is most important in a digital classroom. The most important word that you used to define the educator is a facilitator. Through doing so, students feel more of a sense of control of the modes to which they access information and learn. Having the ability to share their creativity through the use of technology is definetly engaging and will ensure that students realize their role in their learning. Although it is nerve-wrecking to think of handing over control to students, they must begin to be held responsible for their own learning, yet still given support and guidance.
Tiffany Harrell
Joyce,
ReplyDeleteI agree that educators' role as facilitators is an important one. There are endless resources available to students, and it is our job to teach students how to find, evaluate, and synthesize this information.