Module #1 Post

Question: Critique Siemens’s “metaphors of educators.” Which of these metaphors best describes the role you believe an instructor should take in a digital classroom or workplace? Is there a better metaphor to reflect your view of the role of instructors?

Introduction
George Siemen’s wrote a paper entitled Learning and knowing in networks. In this paper, Siemens explored the requirements for learning theory in a digital age by sharing Ertmer and Newby’s five "definitive questions" that all learning theories must answer. He organized learning theories into four paradigms of learning: behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and connectivism, and discussed the changing role of educators and learners in a digital age. Siemens also discussed four changing roles of instructors that reflect the impact of the digital age on learning.

Siemen’s used metaphors for educator’s to describe their changing role in the classroom. The first two of the four was the educator as Master Artist and as a Network Administrator. The third one of the four metaphors of Educator’s explains the educator as a Concierge. The fourth discusses the educator as a Curator. Siemen’s uses the four metaphors for educators in order to assist learners in forming diverse personal learning networks for deep understanding of complex fields. (Siemens, 2008)

Siemen’s first metaphor is the educator as a Master Artists. He starts by describing how an art studio is set up with open space where students create and are able to observe the works with others. This metaphor does a great job of describing the instructor in a digital classroom because the student’s are able to gain insight from both student and instructor. (Siemens, 2008) In this metaphor the expertise is still present but not intended to lead an agenda but to inform and offer perspective shifts based on the work of the masters. (Siemens, 2008) The positives of this metaphor is that the learning and activities are student centered, the learner is practicing higher order thinking skills, and they are actually doing while being able to compare their work to others. The negatives of this metaphor are the educator would have trouble teaching fundamental prerequisite skills the learner may need to work in the “art studio.” The learner would have to already know them and/or learn them from others. In some classroom situations this could prove difficult.

The educator as a network administrator is the second metaphor Siemens used in his paper. In this metaphor Siemens shows how the learner needs help to gain skills they need to construct networks for learning, evaluating their performance, and work within that structure. This educator would assist learners in forming connections and creating learning networks. (Siemens, 2008) The negative aspect of this role of the educator is that the learner could not be as a engaged by the instructor since they hold the role as an administrator. The positive aspect is that they are learning within a network so they are learning from student-centered activities.

Siemen’s third metaphor is the educator in a concierge role. This educator’s job is to show “things” that the learner might not have known was there. The educator would help the learner to gain quick access to information, processes, learning tools, etc. shifting idealogy from learning check boxes to learner designed programs of study. This educator would give “soft guidance” which may require some lecture. (Siemens, 2008) The negative aspect of this educator could be the lack of value given to the educator since they are only there to give “soft guidance.” The positive aspect of this educator is that this metaphor leads students to learner designed programs of study.

The educator as an expert learner who creates space where knowledge can be created is what Siemens refers to as the educator as a curator. This educator’s role understands the frustration of exploring unknown territories without a map. That is why they create the space where knowledge can be explored and connected. The negative aspect of this educator is that they could possibly provide too much support for the learner. The positive aspect of this educator is that they are the total educator. They are an expert on the subject matter, they share knowledge, yet they understand the learner may have never experienced the material. Then they allow the learner to explore and connect with knowledge.

The educator as a curator best describes the role I believe an instructor should take in a digital classroom. The reasons are I believe the instructor should be an expert with advanced knowledge since they hold the title of professional. Also I believe the skills of exploring and connecting should be in the curriculum and this educator utilizes them both in their classroom. Another reason for my rationale is from another paper George Siemens wrote, Networks, ecologies, and curatorial teaching, where he discusses when the curatorial role engages the learner with subject matter, the key concepts of a discipline are transparently reflected through the curatorial actions of the teacher.

References

Siemens, G. (2007). Networks, ecologies, and curatorial teaching. Retrieved March 21, 2010,

from http://www.connectivism.ca/

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