Having spent a lot of time reading about online teaching this week, I've noticed some emerging trends. In past weeks we've read about online programs and funding for online programs. Several of those articles touched on the fact that there is a high level of scrutiny and accountability in online learning programs - more so than in the brick and mortars. Similarly, in reading about the standards and demands of online teachers, the same point was made. There are higher demands made, and requirements of online teachers.
This seems true across the board of teacher responsibilities. In terms of certification, both online teacher training and certification for each state they provide services to are required. Turn around times of both communication and feedback to submitted work is required to be much faster than f2f teachers. There is extra importance and challenge to building a community of learning, and keeping up with new technologies and learning how to use them effectively.
Interestingly, while teachers of online programs seem to be held to higher standards - or at least higher requirements - and face extra challenges, they are simultaneously being undermined as evidenced by a quote in Professor Lowes' article where a commercial course developer said they were under pressure to make courses "teacher proof."
I find this really sad. I became interested in this field because I know we can do a better job educating our kids and that technology affords us the opportunity to revisit the way we deliver education and bring to the next level. At the same time, while I know there are teachers out there who could do a better job, I also know there are a lot of really great teachers out there. I think the best teachers are the ones who are really invested in each individual student and helping to develop them into critical thinkers. One of my kids teachers said to my husband and me that her teaching style was to be short on explanations and long on time. Her approach is to sit with the student and help them think through their questions so they can arrive at their own answer, rather than just telling them the answer. That is something that technology can't replicate.
The idea that technology is being used to try to minimize the role teachers play is really disappointing and misses the point. In my view, the point of technology is to give students a dynamic platform in which to learn, where they can see things from a different perspective which might resonate for them - and to support and empower teachers to be able to take their skills even further. We need to work in partnership with teachers, not minimize their involvement with the practice of teaching.
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"Teacher proofing" caught me the same way. Very troubling.
ReplyDeleteI think technology should be used to make teachers more efficient and effective at their craft.
"I find this really sad. I became interested in this field because I know we can do a better job educating our kids and that technology affords us the opportunity to revisit the way we deliver education and bring to the next level."
ReplyDeleteI am a new teacher and I see several related problems. The first is that schools are highly compartmentalized. I get to meet with other teachers infrequently. We only have time to update each other on students and can't really help each other improve or develop related curriculum. After time, the second issue is pedagogical and curricular expertise. If I wasn't in grad school, I would not know how to make myself or my class better. The last issue if that nobody actually manages the whole process. It should be the principal who should be in control of quality control and take the necessary steps to continually improve.
I wonder to what extent social media can play a role in building communities involved with collaboration of best practices and professional development?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that with Andrea that "the idea that technology is being used to try to minimize the role teachers play is really disappointing and misses the point".
ReplyDeleteIn fact, in my job, people misperceive that we want to make technology the lead and teaching as supporting. This is so wrong as my program vision is "to empower people to realise their potential through the use of technology". While we patiently explain to principals, about strategic planning or how teachers should be trained to integrate ICT into lessons to make them more engaging, principals can totally miss the point by asking for X number of donated computers, etc at the end of our discussions... in some cases, they do not even have electricity!!
I guess there is still much to do to educate people about this.
On a more comforting note, I spent this week with a group of deans from various Asia countries for a workshop to engage teachers' college building their capacity to lead education with ICT. And, I am glad that all these deans clearly understand the point about ICT being an empowering factor and not the end solution to every challenges they face :)