Becognorism

The acquisition of knowledge is the result of exposure, reinforcement, application, interpretation, recollection, etc, etc, etc. With so many components and so many variables like cognition, development, motivation and so on, it is inappropriate to select a theory such as behaviorism or cognitivism as the be all end all.

Behaviorist approaches may work best with spelling and multiplication tables and cognitivist approaches may work best with comprehension and health but what if rote memorization isn’t the way that Johnny will learn to spell and what if Ana, who can explain the correlation between dental hygiene and heart disease, forgets to take a shower? Instead of taking a one theory fits all approach to instructions, we must look at which theory best suits the learning objective, the learner, and the immediacy of application. We may then find that a marriage of learning theories is far more appropriate than an all for one, one for all approach to classroom instruction.

I believe that this is especially important when considering the impact of technology of on teaching, learning, knowledge, and communications. But that is a discussion better had after introductions to constructionism and connectivism.


http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html

http://karlkapp.blogspot.com/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational.html

Online educators as...

Online educators as master artists, network administrators, concierges, and curators are accurate metaphors for educators in online environments (Siemens, 2008). These various metaphors address educators’ roles in guiding, facilitating, directing, and connecting learners toward the learning objectives and resources even when the resources are the educators themselves. Siemens’ (2008) educator as curator goes so far as to describe the role of educator in creating a space “in which knowledge can be created, explored, and connected” (p. 17) but doesn’t address a need especially relevant to the K12 online classroom, safety.

Void from these metaphors, these descriptions, is a mention of the responsibility of online educators to provide a safe space for learning and a sense of security amongst learners. That is a primary need of learners of all ages. Learners must feel safe to express themselves, to push themselves beyond their current level of understanding, and feel secure enough to admit they just don’t know. Failure to do so generates learners who have sought only to solidify their own understanding of academic concepts and the world as opposed to learners who are free to explore and generate completely new knowledge. Therefore I propose the metaphor of custodian for educators in online environments.

Educators as custodians may or may not be a new concept but I propose that in the online environment, these educators are keepers and stewards of information and artifacts and protectors of learners and the learning experience.

Resources

Five lessons from the nation’s best online teacher: Nonprofits create first-ever awared to recognize excellence in online teaching. (2010, September 13). eSchool News: Technology News for Today’s K-20 Educator. Retrieved from: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/09/13/five-lessons-from-the-nations-best-online-teache/?

Pierce, D. These Traits make online teachers successful: Clarity, creativity, and compassion are key characteristics for online instructors, says UCF researcher. (2008. November 7). ). eSchool News: Technology News for Today’s K-20 Educator. Retrieved from: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2008/11/07/these-traits-make-online-teachers-successful/?

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