In my final course in this graduate program, I suffered through a text with dated references and prolix writing. The text seem to begin by asserting a new pedagogy was needed for online instruction, leading at least this reader to believe that the authors would present this new pedagogy. Instead, the authors spent long, tedious chapters revisiting what I already knew from dozens of literature reviews - the instructor needs solid teaching ability and online instructional skills.
That being said, I did walk away with powerful "aha" moment. One single chapter in this book addressed the evolution of a learner in an online environment from taker of information to giver of insight. Therefore - this role of facilitator - revealed in a single sentence buried in the test - the urgent need to develop digital literacy skills in students.
Now, digital literacy has been around for ages. As far back as 2003, I worked with Boys & Girls Clubs of America teaching digital literacy to both family and youth members. That wasn't the aspect of the text that led to an "aha" moment. Rather it is the understanding that students need digital literacy skills in order to find answers independently. Like students of Socrates, online students are asked to continually refine their ideas and develop their own solutions. This can only be done well, if they can be connoisseurs of information.
Ultimately, the excitement of this moment came from my understanding of the power of self-realized learning. Teaching a man to fish instead of just feeding him fish. It was fuel on the fire that drives me to bring excellence to the blended programs I design.
That being said, I will end my final post a quick video summary of my favorite points from the text I mention above. And, I will wish you, my readers a journey that brings you fuel to your fire.
Happy learning friends.
