Going Techness

Technology-mediated self-directed/ distance learning

So! Once you get past the tongue twisty, say it 10 times fast ordeal of the title, you can take a look at its potential.


I really liked what was said in the article about the roles of teachers and students. Because the roles of teachers and students are changing, it is important to consider what their roles entail.  "This recasting of students’ and teachers’ subject positions does more than merely suggest teachers have plenty to learn and students have plenty to teach; it’s an early step in moving both students and teachers toward a critical consciousness of their position and possibilities in an oppressive system of education". Why do we need teachers? Why do we need to have a curriculum which each child should follow? These are some fundamental questions which should be critically discussed.


Generally, many people are concerned that the age of technology causes people to be less interactive with others in a meaningful way. But there is also potential for more! There is a huge difference between social media and a platform for critical engagement, which is what technology mediated discussion can offer. It allows one to be part of a community, albeit a community at a distance. This community has the advantage of being able to connect people with similar interests and whose knowledge can feed off another's. It allows the distance to be bridged essentially, which is slightly ironic as it can take place over a distance. It provides an opportunity for people who are on different levels of the knowledge spectrum to teach others, which solidifies your knowledge, or to learn from others and when this is layered by knowledge from other people, one can begin to develop one's own sense of understanding of the topic. This often is not facilitated in classrooms because there are so many different students with different thought patters, learning methods and interests. And most often, people are able to have fun while doing this! It's a win-win!


So in my mind, following a specific curriculum is limiting the potential of the students. Yes, very often it allows the student to broaden their minds and allows them to develop different forms of thinking. One has to think about how to change your synthesis of argument in English essays opposed to an experimental analysis. This is useful. However this is basic. Are we going to stop there? Allow our students to become standardised? No, I think there should be space for students to explore. This can be accomplished by self-directed learning. Allowing the student to choose a topic which interests them, they have the opportunity to critically engage with others on a technology-mediated platform with others around the world and drives their interest in other subjects.


So not only are students familiarising themselves with the potentials of technology and how to use it effectively, which we cannot help but admit are absolutely essential in these days and times, but they are engaging with other about topics which they are interested in. This inspires, this drives and this cements knowledge. Students will be more likely to pursue information which is relevant to them and sparks their interest, students also like to be challenged, or at least they should be. And distance allows people of different cultures and backgrounds to engage. I think there are so many benefits of this type of learning.


I'm all for teachers, heck, I'd like to do what I studied to do! However I do think that we should be facilitators and testers of the knowledge which they have gained.


As always, watching the walking footprints...