A New Pedagogy? Response to Will’s Blog

Ahhhh….Week 2…..Things are getting a bit more relaxed, like referring to the author of our text by first name. And feeling (pretty) confident that nothing will blow up when I click “submit” to post to the discussion board.

So, on to Richardson’s blog---As I scanned through his recent posts, I couldn’t help but think how different his tone is online than in his book. Did anyone else feel like you were seeing his Dark Side? The post, “If We Could Start Over, What Would We Build?” was of interest to me because I seem to share his Dark Side view that there’s not much new in reform ideas, but that getting teachers to change their self perception is key. The article he’s referring to in this post was written in 2000; ancient by our current standards of immediate, self-publishing, but it is proposing the same change in teacher function that I was presented with as an under grad student in the 1970’s. Yes, the University of WI system was known for progressive thinking, but it was the same conversation being held all over the country at the time. Most teachers would say that they’d love to start over and recreate a better model, but how many of them would say they are ready to change their own identity as the expert in their classroom, and take on the role of learner beside their students? Probably most of us would talk it, but how many of us are walking it? Facilitator is one thing; equal partner/collaborator is something else. (I’d love to hear how you are doing this in your own teaching.)

Now pedagogy is the topic, so time to bring this ‘round. I found two meanings for pedagogy at dictionary.com. The “art or science of teaching” and the “function or work of a teacher”. I don’t think emerging technologies have or will affect the art of teaching which is a combination of innate skill and passion that exists regardless of setting or tools. But for function, technology is bringing home the lip service paid to “teacher as facilitator” over the past 30 years by giving students the tools and freedom they need to truly be independent learners in a community as large as the planet — in some cases, in spite of the person running the class.