I haven't blogged for over a year and now "I'm back!"
This was all sparked by an article I read this morning on Twitter called "Deconstruction of the
American Teacher". It led me to start thinking about educational
reform and how I would answer the question, "Should I become a
teacher?"
Education has shifted with society over
time. Society has asked many things of schools over the years and the
21st century is changing faster than ever. In my role as a 21st century
instructional specialist I work with teachers on instructional design and
pedagogical approaches that infuse technology in a meaningful way. I
focus on how these technology infused approaches will support their
instructional goals.
In this work I have realized the need for
teachers has not diminished, but has increased exponentially. Here are a few thoughts on why teachers are needed more than ever in the 21st century
classroom.
Relationships:
The part I miss most about being in the
classroom is the relationships I built with my students. I had the
opportunity to mold 25-30 learners over the course of the year. In their
eyes I was a "mentor", "cool", or for most "tall"
(I taught third grade and am 6’4). Technology can never replace
relationships and as Salman Khan describes in his Ted talk in 2011 it
can actually humanize education. He references how an unforeseen impact
of Khan Academy was providing a "higher ratio of student to valuable time
with the teacher ratio." This allows teachers to reinvent classroom
time to focus deeper on student needs both emotionally and academically.
Blended learning environments provide more time for that teacher to build
valuable relationships with their students.
Architect:
I have been reading the book Teacher as Architect which dives into what it means to
be a "Modern Teacher." In this book it discusses how teachers
are more than facilitators, but "architects of learning." We
are called to design and personalize learning experiences for all students
while allowing them to have some choice over time, path, pace, and place.
Technology makes this process more efficient, but I feel it makes the
need for teachers even greater. There are thousands of resources
available online, but the teacher knows their learners best and is the best
person to architect experiences that allow each child to flourish in their
classroom. They know their learners and each year a new set of learners
walks through their door with a unique set of needs. Technology can only
diagnose some of those needs, but the teacher is a vital part of providing the
necessary learning support so that all students thrive in their classroom.
In the book Blended the
authors discuss how many online schools have transitioned to a blended
environment because students wanted that face to face contact and interaction.
Should I become a teacher?
Teachers are a vital part of the modern
classroom. They will not be replaced by technology, but only enhanced.
I am not currently in the classroom, but I get the opportunity to work
with hundreds of talented educators who are impacting our students of the
future. I chose my current path to make an impact on education on a
larger scale, but I know I could return to the classroom anytime. Being a
teacher is hard, but rewarding work.
