Connectivism and Connective Knowledge

Hi Sui,

I am responsible for faculty training in technology at my university - we host about 50 short (1-2 hour) sessions during the year on technology - using our Learning Management System, Podcasting, Wikis, Blogs, etc.  and several seminars on teaching and learning with technology (general overview discussions).  Hardly any of our faculty come to our sessions - they don't have to, so they don't.  Most of the faculty here believe that the lecture/test method is the only way to teach and the only way for students to learn.  I am becoming increasingly more frustrated with this mentality.  Even when presented with data showing the error of their ways, they hold out their tenure and proclaim they are superior in their knowledge of teaching and learning.

In my own classroom (I teach to keep in touch with the students) I allow them to use the internet right in front of them to expore ideas while we are reviewing the topics for the class.  I demand participation by assigning them a current event where they go and find an article (web, newspaper, work paper, etc) on the topic, which they then bring to class and share.  The students are not as tech savvy as we'd like to think - and I feel I am doing a better service if I guide them in using information rather than make them memorize facts and figures.  It seems to be working - last year I had one class of 28, this year I have two classes with 23 and 22 in them - and some of those students have had to seek permission to join the class.  They don't seem to have a problem with me asking what they have found on the internet and working through things I don't know with them.  In fact, by the third week of class, we have formed a learning community.

Thanks Lee for your valuable information about the development in Queensland.

There are lots of professional development opportunities available in institutions (Vocational Education and Training - VET in particular).

For instance, in my organisation - TAFE (Technical and Further Education) - New South Wales, we have websites developed under My learning and e-learning, and lots of professional development activities - Assessor Networks, various e-learning conferences and frameworks, and weekly Adobe training sessions/workshops on podcasting, blogs, wikis, e-beams, etc. We have also got e-learning mentors whose roles are to support the professional development of staff in the use of information and communication technologies.

The role of the teacher could be (a to z):

(a) as an assessor (especially in the recognition of prior learning, and recognition of current competency)

(b) as a bright philosopher (an expert in philosophy or in one of its branches, who searches by logical reasoning, for understanding of the basic truths and principles of the universe, life, and morals, and of human perception and understanding of these) - George, Stephen, Dave, Anthony, Nancy......

(c) as a consultant or advisor to industry, or consultant or coach on auspicing

(d) as a course or curriculum designer/reviewer (e) as a mentor/coach (especially for trainees and apprentice or interns, whereas the supervisor or an experienced expert/head teacher would be a mentor/coach)

(e) as an expert (or e-expert)

(f) as a facilitator (facilitation of discussions and learning activities)

(g) as a gardener (as mentioned by Lisa), guardian angel (Maru)  

(h) as an hononary advisor (in case of research projects)

(i) as an education and learning innovator

(j) as an (joint) examiner or moderator (to other institutions, universities)

(k) as a gate keeper

(l) as a learning team leader/facilitator/supervisor (whereas a learning team consists of the learner(s), the supervisor, a mentor, and the teacher/leader, librarian)

(m) as a manager/administrator (self learning manager and network administrator), as a lecturer (as typical in giving lectures in those conferences or university courses)

(n) as a course or network leader

(o) as a student counsellor/carer

(p) as a learning partner (similar to the co-learner) in this course Ariel, Bob, Carlos, Dave, Frances, Jenny, Keith, Ken, Jenny, Lee, Lisa, Mark, Maru, Pat, Renee, Roy, Tom, etc. Sorry that I couldn't list everyone, but you are definitely here.

(q) as a curator (pronounced with q..)(as mentioned by Lisa)

(r) as a researcher/research leader (this may be one of the most important roles of University professors or lecturers)

(s) as an e-learning or project or subject coordinator/developer (wiki, edublogs)

(t)  as a trainer, tutor/learning supporter or guide (like a tourist guide)

(u) (you) as a challenger (weight loss education program etc), Alec, Ariel, Frances, Jenny, Ken, Dave, George Siemens, Maru, Stephen Downes, Pat, Tom, etc.

(v) (we) as a change agent (Nancy White, Stephen Downes, George Siemens etc.)

(w) as a wizard (or better a magician) (as mentioned by Lisa), and a weaver (mentioned by Lisa) - Frances, Tom, Mark, and George and Stephen

(x) as a x-man or x-woman (who could transform the education) (George, Stephen, Lisa, Frances and you?)

as a why-why questioner (always ask why?)

(z) as a ________ ( you name it)