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
6 comments:
Dolly,
I appreciate your originality of idea in coming up with the new metaphor, educator as custodian.
The image I have of a custodian, however, is someone who takes care of things, not people. The custodian in a school, for example, washes, vacuums, dusts, empties trash, etc. and isn't involved in leading anyone to anything.
Can you describe how you feel a custodian is a "keeper and steward of information, and artifacts, and protectors of learners and the learning experience?"
Lori
Dolly,
We live in an age that is characterized, above all, by the vast accumulation of knowledge. Although the role of the educator has changed considerably, I still regard educators as the custodians and imparters of knowledge. However, I do not feel that there is one specific model an instructor should or needs to take in order to facilitate learning, rather, a mixture of the models would be necessary in any classroom or online program in order to meet the diversified needs of students.
Lori,
Custodians are those who are responsible for looking after items, people, and information. Parents are custodians, schools are custodians and I propose that educators are custodians (although I'm certain my thought is not original) because they look after their students, their students' learning experiences, and share the knowledge they keep.
Quatrissia,
I agree completely. Education and instruction is not a one size fits all field. It requires skilled instructors that are able to change as the need arises. I am just proposing that educators must also function as the caretakers of students and information.
Dolly,
I see what you mean that if a custodian can also describe a parent or school toward a child, so could one also describe a teacher's role in the digital age.
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