About the techno-realist badge...
I’m a TEL professional with a background in senior management, research and practice (earned in the opposite order).
The most important thing about my perspective is this:
Yes, a techno-realist pedagogophiliac (important that you note the “gogo” bit!) By this I mean that I’m aware of the potential and limitations of technology, and that it’s the teaching and learning that really gets me excited. I designed the badge above in 2001, following my completion of the Open University MAODE.
Techno-realism is the best place to start in e-learning practice. Technology must be put in its place. It’s pedagogy, “the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept“, that excites me about TEL – and it’s pedagogy that must drive e-learning. Pedagogy ultimately determines the effectiveness of TEL.
In my first E-Primer I defined e-learning as “pedagogy empowered by digital technology” (p.2). Since 2008 my personal definition hasn’t changed. Of the two, pedagogy is by far the most important multiplier of effectiveness. Across my practice the things that have most impressed me have been thoughtful pedagogies, even where the underlying technology has been extremely basic.
An important caveat, though. Pedagogy suffers from being perspectival; we all think we know what constitutes sound teaching and learning. Everyone involved in education is a pedagogue, and perspectives as to best approaches vary greatly.
I first designed the badge in the image above in 2001. I’d change it now, in various ways:
The most important thing about my perspective is this:
Yes, a techno-realist pedagogophiliac (important that you note the “gogo” bit!) By this I mean that I’m aware of the potential and limitations of technology, and that it’s the teaching and learning that really gets me excited. I designed the badge above in 2001, following my completion of the Open University MAODE.
Techno-realism is the best place to start in e-learning practice. Technology must be put in its place. It’s pedagogy, “the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept“, that excites me about TEL – and it’s pedagogy that must drive e-learning. Pedagogy ultimately determines the effectiveness of TEL.
In my first E-Primer I defined e-learning as “pedagogy empowered by digital technology” (p.2). Since 2008 my personal definition hasn’t changed. Of the two, pedagogy is by far the most important multiplier of effectiveness. Across my practice the things that have most impressed me have been thoughtful pedagogies, even where the underlying technology has been extremely basic.
An important caveat, though. Pedagogy suffers from being perspectival; we all think we know what constitutes sound teaching and learning. Everyone involved in education is a pedagogue, and perspectives as to best approaches vary greatly.
I first designed the badge in the image above in 2001. I’d change it now, in various ways:
- I’d add the term “evidence-based” to the start. I don’t want my practice to fly in the face of evidence, even if it does challenge the status quo.
- I’d somehow weave the importance of scholarly conversation and debate into the picture, as both of these are vital to my ongoing development as a thinker and practitioner.
Comments
Post a Comment