An article in the Chronicle of Higher Education led me reflected upon my teaching practices that spanned over a decade. Teaching online has changed the ways I relate with my students.
From behaviourist teaching approach to constructivist. From a sage-on-the-stage to a guide-on-the-side. Shifting the focus from content to learners.
Ask Uncle Google anything. It will give you links to millions of content. Teaching in this digital age requires new skillsets. It’s about designing better, more effective ways of learning – using technology.
Learning in social media age
And learning in this social media age is nothing but social.
Technology has helped ‘flatten’ the hierarchy between a lecturer and students. With technology, I have learned to stay connected with my students–during and after class.
They could contact me, via FB, after class–if they don’t understand my lecture. To clarify or correct any misconception, I did short videos–simply pull out my lecture slides and do a quick screencasting. I’ve done it in my office and on-the-go. Then, the videos were posted on the FB groups where everyone in the class can watch.
Technology helps to bring people closer. It helps me and students work together, learn together. It facilitates my students to express their voices and views in an intellectual manner.
During class, teaching involves more on designing, eliciting and sustaining meaningful conversations with my students about and around a topic. It’s about learning from them as much (and perhaps more!) as they learn from me.
You missed a point (or points…)
If you think teaching is simply about covering the syllabus because most of your colleagues do that. you have missed the point. It’s not about delivering content – youtube can do that… better, faster plus can rewind😉
Of course, there’s no impact factor and H-index in teaching… there’s little academic prestige in ‘becoming better’ in teaching.
But there is when you have really missed the point.
It’s about your growth and maturity as an educator, as a person. In my view, it’s about unveiling to your students – their own gifts. Gifts that would make the world a better place. The light, the spark that you see in your students’ eyes when they ‘get it’.
That’d signal a better future for the individual, their community and the country.
Well, perhaps that’s why better teaching doesn’t carry high impact factor, H-index or much academic prestige. It’s about becoming an architect of learning.
From Me to We to Us.
Because its impact is real, life-changing and lasts forever😁
* Revised from my earlier FB post.
