As Richardson
One of Richardson
(p. 129) resonates with me personally. Although I am somewhat of an auditory learner, I have found over time that I do actually understand more after I’ve had the opportunity to discuss the learning with colleagues. Gone are the days when the teacher was the ‘sage on the stage’ lecturing to large groups of students who sat scripting everything, and welcome are the days that students can engage in their own learning by accessing multiple sources for understanding!
Today’s technology has opened the field of education to one that empowers the learner! As Siemens (2002) indicated, collaborating, having conversations, and making connections are simply starting points to learning and the ideas generated by networks propagate further discovery and understanding. Students become active participants in the design of their own learning and we, as educators, are preparing them to be more involved in their own futures.
I see this with my own practice as a professional developer with new teachers! I even feel guilty for what I made those new teachers 10 years ago endure! I am a MUCH better “collaborator and conversation facilitator” than lecturer! AND, the resources, tools, and strategies I am learning from others in the PLS “Building Collaborative Environments” course is the best example of teaching and learning I’ve witnessed since being a part of my blended doctoral cohort! This has definitely shaped me as an educator and as an educational leader, and I value continuing opening many more windows for future learning, sharing, extending, and probable ‘shifting’ of my own!
References:
Siemens, G. (2002, Dec. 1). The art of blogging. Elearnspace: Everything elearning. Retrieved November 19, 2011, from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/blogging_part_1.htm
We seem to think so much alike, Linda! Big Shift #4 resonated with me, too!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I have experienced exceptional collaborative conversation with colleagues in my doctoral program. The experiences and perspectives of other learners in my classes has truly made the classes more meaningful to me. I am sold on the belief that learning is a conversation!
I liked this Big Shift, too. Like you, I used to "beat myself up" for lecturing (to students). However, I have discovered that I haven't totally ruined those former students. . . so I have let that go.
ReplyDeleteYou say you are 'a MUCH better “collaborator and conversation facilitator” than lecturer!' I would have to agree that many of us are. Learning often times is, or can be a conversation.
I hear ya Dr. D.! You referenced the way you used to address new teachers. I think back to how I taught my Algebra students 10 years ago! Oh those poor children. First of all, they had to read my handwriting from the chalk board - a definite weakness of mine. Second, it was lecture, lecture, lecture. I know my students 10 years ago understood the information, but I also know my students now have "learned" and have a much better more in-depth (higher on Blooms) understanding. They are able to communicate their understanding and apply, which is the whole purpose of learning.
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