Gatekeeper
One of the things that I have always discussed with other educators is my view of myself as the gatekeeper to knowledge, rather than the teacher. Modern technology provides information virtually instantaneously, and thus an instructor cannot be the person who gives the knowledge to the student. They can, however, help to lead the student to where the information is, and how to apply that knowledge to everyday situations.
Cory ,
and help them learn how to use these resources. This generation is very tech savy for entertainment, but not always necessarily for function in careers.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I agree we are the gate keepers of the knoweledge however more importantantly we are the voice of the carreer that they are going into. We not only need to help them get the resources but we must prove that the resources are valuable to them.
Well put! We are gate keepers of the knowledge, but opening the doors to "resources" allows the students to learn which "gate" opens to what knowledge.
Stephen,
and this can be a real challenge to many of us as we are used to being the expert, but the more we can be this gate-keeper the better.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I really like the "Gatekeeper" analogy. It is an open-ended concept that presents a course facilitator as a friend that stands at a crossroads for the purpose of encouraging positive potential directions that students can take as they successfully progress through their own self-guided experience with the thematic material of the subject-matter they are focusing on.
Clint,
This is a great point & statement & you are right on. With technology we need to embrace our role as facilitator of knowledge not just purveyor .
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
