Educational Origami

This is a blog that was recommended - the blue skunk blog  -  by Doug Johnson This is a very good post and a couple of part of it really struck me. Doug talks about Pedagogy and teaching. Here is the quote

“Believing that one’s teaching style need not change to take full advantage of technology.process expert asking questions like – where did you get that information, how do you know it’s accurate; why is it important, how can you let others know what you discovered, and how can you tell if you did a good job? The world has changed and it is rank stupidity not to recognize it and change as well. Using technology to simply add sounds and pictures to lectures is stupid. Smart technology use is about changing the roles of teacher and student. The computer-using student can now be the content expert; the teacher becomes the process expert asking questions like – where did you get that information, how do you know it’s accurate; why is it important, how can you let others know what you discovered, and how can you tell if you did a good job? The world has changed and it is rank stupidity not to recognize it and change as well.

6. Ignoring the intrinsic interest of tech use in today’s kids. Kids like technology. Not using it as a hook to motivate and interest them in their education is stupid.”

I have to say I agree with all the points he make but especially these two.

I have seen schools where the extent of integration of technology is a change in the mode in which content is delivered. Before the introduction of laptops and projectors into the classroom the content was provided to the students via Over Head Transparency and the students wrote down the notes, now the notes are delivered by presentation software and the students write down the notes. Previously students received photocopied notes and now they recieve a soft copy of word processed notes.

Delivering content electronically is a good start, but it is only a start, a beginning point. Its the bottom point to grow from.

So how a teacher teaches must change. They are no longer the sole source of content – here is a great example – The Chemistry Book – http://thechembook.com/index.php/Main_Page

So what is the value of a teacher? Teachers can deliver content in a variety of modes that suit learning styles, deliver it using analogies that suit the students/age group/ability of their learners; they can faciliate discussions, activities and experiment to build and reinforce learning and process; they motivate, enthuse and organise and manage. They are the personal touch and build relationships that are vital, are crucial to learning.

What does the teacher do with technology? All of the above, these things have not changed. But there is more, the teacher can see end points and uses for technology that students can’t see (They are visionaries); they can adapt and modify to suit the learning outcomes and process (They are adaptors); they know what has to happen to reach the outcomes to achieve the learning (They are leaders) .They can use technology to faciliate higher order thinking (Bloom Digital Taxonomy). They enable collaboration, they communicate and moderate (They are communicators and collaborators), they have vision and feel they can take chances, risks and let the students take the lead (they are risk takers). They are the 21st Century Teacher

The 21st Century teacher is …

And the students will help you to do it too!