The Importance of the Teacher in Transforming Education

The video, A Nation in Crisis: America[s Education System is Broken makes the argument that education is failing our youth, which I don't think many people would disagree with.  With increased globalization, our students need to be able to compete not just with their neighbors but with people they've never met in countries across the world.  "We are squandering a national resource," the brains and talent of our youth, with an educational system that is entrenched in tradition that is unable to adapt to the new realities of the 21st century.  The new global workforce needs to develop 21st century skills and be able to adapt and learn continuously, and our schools are simply not developing these abilities in students.

The video provides a powerful motivation for change, but does not outline a solution.  What will education that inspires students and develops the ability to change and shift look like?  What will the role of the teacher be in this new paradigm?  What is it that we need to do differently?

In a previous post, I present a worry I have about one view of the teacher role in any new paradigm.  Some people who adhere to the Plugged in Vision (PIV) for educational reform (hopefully a minority) believe that the teacher should facilitate education in a very narrow sense.  They see the teacher as simply a coordinator of the students’ experience with pre-made online curriculum.  On this model, software is selected for each subject and students work through the software at their own pace with the teacher monitoring and assisting as needed.  In my previous post I presented some of my concerns with this model.  But in regard to the teacher role, I believe this model represents a very impoverished view of the teacher role.  Teachers would not teach; they would manage.  A view of the teacher that I much prefer is presented in the video Networked Student.

In this video the teacher is vital to the learning in an environment where connections are what is important.  On this model, students learn from each other and by those outside of the classroom that are grappling with the same issues.  They evaluate and share resources, discuss both in web environments and in person.  They work together to construct meaning through connectivism.  As a final product they present their learning in wikis or other media so that their learning is shared with others.

In this much more robust vision of 21st century learner, the teacher is:

• Learning concierge
• Modeler
• Learning architect
• Connected learning incubator
• Network sherpa
• Change agent
• Synthesizer

His/her role is critical in guiding student learning.  To be proficient in this new role, teachers will need to be highly skilled in content, in web 2.0 technology, and in facilitating cooperation, discussion, and interaction.

The only question is whether the vision of 21st century learning outlined by the Networked Student video will resolve the problems presented in the A Nation in Crisis: America[s Education System is Broken.

A Community Educational Portal? Matching needs with resources.

I very much appreciate that we now have a president who is calling on all of us to make what we will of the world we live in – we are the change that we need.  He has called on all of us be better than we are.

“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. We are the hope of those boys who have so little, who’ve been told that they cannot have what they dream, that they cannot be what they imagine. Yes, they can.” – Barack Obama during his Inauguration Address

So this is just prelude to the fact that finding a way to do things better is always at the forefront of my mind.  I am inspired.  However, I get ideas, but I don’t do a good job of following through and seeing them come to fruition.  Just today, I had a random thought that I think could lead to something valuable.  I’d love to see it realized.  So I’ll do my best to pursue it.

Here’s where the real rambling begins (sorry!):

I work for SDUSD and have had the pleasure of working with several organizations outside of education through partnerships to help bring meaningful experiences into the classroom.   I’m sure there are numerous organizations that would love to work with education to help grow a competent workforce either through providing funding, lesson resources, experts, etc.  Likewise, I’m sure there are a plethora of teachers that would love to work with a business partner.  The problem is that the two sometimes need an introduction either becuase they are bashful, don’t know who to contact, or don’t know what to talk about.

So here is my thought:  With today’s technology resources, there are limitless resources for bringing people together to help each other out.  For example, NPR recently did a story on a website called USA together.  It’s a website where injured US service members can post a need that they have and community members can offer to help.  Conversely, community members can offer to help and injured service members can accept the offer.  There are many other examples of these sorts of portals where people who have a need can be matched with those who have a resource.  (Other examples:  USAservice.org, micro-philanthropy sites, etc)  Why not create a community portal for matching educational partners with teachers and schools who would love the help.  It could become a central clearinghouse for providing at least one of the types of change that we need.

So here’s where what I think is a great idea catches a snag:

• The Talent Issue – Who has the skill to design and/or manage a portal like this?  Would you use a Google group or site?  Would you use a wiki?  There must be a better way.
• The Responsibility Issue – Who should host it?  County office of education?  A local university?  Should it be national or local?
• The Money Issue – Where would funding come for such a project?
• Self doubt – is it worth doing? Will people use it?  How do you get the message out there?
• Cynicism – are community businesses, foundations, organizations willing to help?  (obviously I assumed so above because I know of several who would be, but is interest large enough to merit a larger clearinghouse or should these partnerships continue to be formed more piecemeal?)