Teaching Philosophy
I believe that my role as an educator is one of a guide, pointing students in the direction they will need to explore to find answers and solve problems. By instructors acting as mentors and friends to students, the students can begin to make professional contacts, find professors to aid in career plans and use for recommendations, and have an academic source to call upon when stresses of classes begin to be overwhelming.
Scott,
Great post. You are modeling the way students can use mentors in their professional lives. That is such a valuable skill you are teaching them.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Scott,
I like your philosophy and think as online educators we should all follow your lead. Establishing positive relationships will be beneficial for everyone in the class.
Jean Morrison
Jean,
THat is true and you are modeling good professional behavior that will serve them well in the future.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I wonder if Scott is thinking about Socratic dialogues? I am not sure that online courses with their intensive written structure can effectively permit a Socratic dialogue. What I have discovered from teaching online is that the courses by their intense expressed content actually prevent people from thinking critically just because there is an apparent lack of focus in the written presentation. In other words, too much written material can be overwhelming, and when it is, the student typically does not have the perspective to sift the wheat from the chaff.
I do agree that instructors should guide students, but I am not sure whether students want the guidance. What I do know that what they want is knowledge on how to do the assignments.
With the focus on the student, a student may rebel against such guidance because it does not meet their needs. I do know that care must be taken to ensure that student frustration is limited so that the rebellion does not get out of hand.
Donald,
You could do the Socratic dialogues online if designed properly. You make an important point, I find that some online courses have so much busy work as instructors are so concerned with rigor they mistake quantity with quality of work.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
