Reflection on: Changing Roles and Pedagogy

Roles in education are evolving, we are evolving from the traditional classroom to the online classroom. Educators are learning to adapt to the online classroom. What used to be the norm:

• standing in front of the class and lecturing
• little interaction with the students
• grades based strictly on tests or reports
• using little or no technology
• teaching according their teaching style and not necessarily worrying about the students learning styles

to:

• facilitating a class
• having discussion threads where students posts based on readings
• allowing students to direct where the discussion threads go (facilitator being there to offer input and keep from going off track)
• incorporating technology
• being more aware of students learning styles

Not only are the instructors having to change but so are the students. They must:

• take a more active role in the class
• they must spend more time each week: checking post, weekly reading, assignment
• they must be prepared to discuss their thoughts and have others comment on their thoughts
• they can no longer cram for a quiz or test and then forget everything

And both the facilitator and student need to use technology. For some this means overcoming fears and self doubt. For others this means admitting that they don't know and asking for help.

What does all this mean? It means facilitator must adjust to the different learning styles of his students. And the students must, perhaps for the first time find their learning style and use it in the online course. The facilitator must take past experiences and use them to adjust to the online environment. The facilitator needs to have a good set of resources that he/she can fall back on, whether these are the IT department, mentors, or a list of good websites that he can go to for help or information.

The facilitator must also adjust to learning from the students, who will be offering input. The student must also adapt to working in a group, without ever meeting the other students. They will also have to become more involved, no more sitting in the classroom waiting for the clock to run out. And everyone must adapt to dealing with technology. It is a must in the online setting.

Is it intimidating? Yes, but at the same time it is exciting. This is just a step in the evolution of education. The online facilitator has a chance to interact with and possibly change the lives of students who might not otherwise be able to attend a class. The facilitator who embraces the changes has a chance to interact with such a wonderful and varied group of students. They can literaly be anywhere in the world.

The same goes for the student, just as my instructor is in Califormia and I am in Illinois. Image being in a class where my fellow students are from all over the country or world. Where is the instructor? The possibilities would be endless. Think of the exchange of ideas.

What an exciting time and I am fortunate enough to be a part of it.

Diane