Module 1: Metaphors of Educators

Today’s students have grown up engrossed in a digital world, which has ultimately lead to an expectation by students that their education is “participative, engaging, and active…”(Siemens, 2008, pg. 6). With this expectation from today’s students, it is critical that educators learn to adapt their ways of teaching as to meet the needs and habits of the “millennials” (pg. 6-7). With the need for adapting instruction plaguing today’s educators, Siemens identifies various roles the instructor should take in a digital classroom or workplace. Each of the roles presented offers characteristics that would definitely benefit the students participating in a digital classroom experience. Like with any description of a traditional classroom teacher, there is no “one size fits all” that describes the teacher of a digital classroom. As today’s educators are constantly encouraged to incorporate rigorous lessons geared to make students apply critical thinking skills to real-world problems, it is important for the teacher to facilitate student-centered instruction with the ability to intervene and redirect when the need arises.

Of the roles presented, Bonk’s (2007) metaphor of Educator as Concierge best describe the role I believe an instructor should take in the 21^st century learning environment. This particular aspect of the instructor’s role reflects that of a facilitator who takes on the role of lecturer/traditional teacher on an as-needed basis by directing students to resources that one may otherwise overlook or fail to recognize. Teachers and instructors who function as a concierge take students on a learning adventure where students are not only lead in the right direction but are able to venture out into the unknown with someone to reign them back onto the beaten path as needed. Untraditional methods of teaching can be provided using resources such as edu.gloster.com, even in the area of improving writing skills. This is most applicable to the role I play in the educational setting for middle grades students. There is a need for venturing out and discovering the unknown, but there is also an incredible need for redirection for all learners to ensure content is mastered.


Siemens’s own belief that the Educator serves as a Curator was another fascinating metaphorical description of the roles today’s instructors/teachers should fulfill. The greatest asset of the educator who chooses to function as a curator solely relies on the significance of making instruction learner-centered. This model focuses on individual student needs and creating a balance between the freedom to explore and develop knowledge while also allowing the teacher to provide structure for students who may need support and explicit instruction.


Brown’s Educator as a Master Artist is definitely a captivating thought. In this sense, the educator takes on the role of guiding students to learn from examining exemplary qualities produced in other students’ work. Educators who fall under this metaphorical umbrella would effectively use blogs in instructional practices. This particular model absolutely possesses merit by promoting creativity and allowing the learner to create his own meaning of the content. As a middle grades teacher, I find this particular model lacking the explicit instruction young children need to understand a task.


Clarence Fisher’s metaphor of Educator as a Network Administrator did not resonate with me as much as the other metaphors provided by Siemens. This particular model focuses on the teacher assisting students with making connections to form networks in an attempt to locate information. Although this particular metaphorical analysis definitely relates to the instantaneous access of information via the World Wide Web, I don’t feel that it is relevant to teaching younger children. Providing students with the knowledge to use the online resources is important; however, it should not be the sole focus of instruction as it limits the students’ ability to create personal meaning to information.


In conclusion, I think it is most important for educators to understand the path education is currently taking. Teachers should begin to exit the highway of teacher-centered instruction and begin to travel the student-centered route. Sure, detours will occur and the need for teacher-centered instruction will definitely come into play for certain situations but it should not be the primary road teachers take when instructing students. The need for instruction that engages the digitally-minded learners on today’s Digital Highway of Education must become the primary focus of instruction. Blending the various roles of the educator is encouraged as there is no perfect fit for every situation! Students must be afforded the opportunity to be in control of their learning – what better way to do this than to consider the roles described above.


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