Which is it? A learning facilitator or a teacher? Which of those would better serve the future of education? The future of today’s students?
I have been pondering over this question since I read and loved the post by WM Chamberlain who wrote “…I evolved. I am a better teacher … My students have a better opportunity to succeed … In a few short years I have become less of a teacher and more of a facilitator for learning. My students are taking a responsible role in their own education.”
So here is the thing: I am not a teacher. I am a parent. I consider myself an educator, and I know I am a good facilitator of learning. But I am not a teacher. So what does distinguish people like me from teachers? Is it enough to facilitate learning?
I’ll start at the end. Some kids really do not need teachers. At least not for all topics. Not all the time. Some of the way they can do by themselves. But I wouldn’t start closing teaching academies yet. I have enormous respect for teaching methods, instructing, guiding. Even when discussing facilitating learning – there are different ways to do it. A parent-facilitator will never be the same as a teacher-facilitator. But somehow I feel there might be some things in common here: first, the credit a facilitator offers his students. The trust in the students ability and motivation to learn. Second, or perhaps this is the main thing, the ability to see the individual learner, and not a group, a class as one.
In a few years of web evolution, the importance of the individual has grown, starting with personalization features about a decade ago, and discovering the importance of the individual in huge social networks, that would not have existed without individuality.
Still, when it comes to education, no real development is happening. Wavy movements of for and against homework, recurring pressure regarding class sizes, the status of teachers, new books and booklets, replacing old books that looked so similar.
Our hope is really such unique teachers like Mr. C., who take it upon themselves to evolve professionally and bear a promise to change the future of education.
I appreciate the fact you are looking at this as a parent, since most of my focus is on the professional educators. Actually, it does sound like you are one of “us”. You seem to understand the debate that is going on in the education community.
I agree most students can and do fend for themselves with learning. Often what they want to learn is not part of the school curriculum, but it is still learning. Obviously, the teacher/facilitator’s role is to guide the students toward what society deems important for them to learn.
Something I have learned by changing the way I work in the classroom is that my students have many different talents and abilities not generally recognized in a traditional classroom setting. How great is it to encourage students that typically have less successful school careers!
Mr. C
Mr C., you are an inspiration. I wish there were more teachers like you.
I concur that Mr. C is an inspiration. When I grow up, I want to be just like him.
You have really inspired me today!
I agree with you that some kids do need a parent-teacher figure, but one of the 21st C teacher’s new roles is to facilitate their students with all the tools and guidance for learning. Last night I heard Michael Wesch said that one of the new challenges for teachers in this digital age is to produce Knowledge-able students and not just students who are knowledgeable. In other words not just students who know or memorize information but students who are able to create, analyze, and share such information. I have always considered myself more like a “madrich” (guide) in my classrooms. I actually chose not to have a desk, and I divide my curriculum into 3 or 4 major projects, where I let students to explore and find the best ways for them to record the information they research (under my supervision of course.) I guided to get the “big
picture” or the “big ideas”.
Just today, during a mock trial presentation with my 6th grade Judaic Studies class, I witnessed one of my students find his vocation as a lawyer. After his passionated presentation, I told him how proud and impressed I was with his critical skills and agile mind and asked him if he was considering going in to that direction for his education, he answered: Morah Nomy, now I do. Needless to say that he made my day!
I believe that my two best students are my son (12) and my daughter (7). I chose to become a teacher 23 years ago, but I am certain that I became an educator with in my journey in raising two multicultural and multilingual digital savy kids who still find joy in reading a book before going to bed.
Keep up your work! You are a great.
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