January 11th
So, here I am, trying to be a better teacher. In the modern world people have more freedom of choice, which makes them more selective in all fields of life: food, living place, education, carrer, friends, entertainment, etc. The more choice there is, the less valuable is a particular option. For instance, if I do not like some school or college, I can go to another one, or if I do not like that teacher, I can choose a more attractive one. What is more, nowadays you don't even need to go to an educational institution, you can complete a course and receive a certificate while sitting at home and looking at your computer screen . In this case the role of a teacher is not so important. I have never taken or offered an online course, but it is obvious that this method brings some changes to our educational paradigm and remoulds teacher identity. This process has just started, but we can already see the outcomes of it. Knowledge is not the privilege of educators any more, as it can be acquired by everyone online. Moreover, people don't need any communication skills to gain new knowledge, rather some basic understanding of how to search information on the internet. What is the function of a teacher in this case? And will we need a teacher in the future at all? Hmmmm.......
I can understand your apprehension about losing the all-knowing-centered identity in all-gadget-oriented modern world. I myself is a late bloomer in terms of using technology. You'll be surprised to know that I started using a computer when I was 25! However, I feel some of your ideas a little cynical. Why don't you look at the online course you're undertaking now and focus on the positives? People do need communication skills to gain knowledge. We aren't just clicking the links provided by Courtney, we're communicating within the group for better understanding and sharing our knowledge and diverse situations.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I do see lots of positive sides in online teaching, but I am trying to stay critical so as to provoke some discussion :) I agree that we still need communication skills to gain some information, but if we do not get it from other people we can find it ourselves online, it will just take some time. This is our choice. In the past people didn't have such an option, communication was the only source of information for the majority of them.
ReplyDeleteI guess this is for the better! Not depending on others but depending on the self and on the Web. ;)
ReplyDeleteBut there's obvious difference between gaining information and learning.
On a serious note, all the articles for the third week reading put emphasis on human-to-human contact in terms of language learning.
Interesting remark- 'difference between gaining informtion and learning', thank you.:) Don't we learn by gaining information?
ReplyDeleteI think we learn by applying. :)
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