Friday, February 3, 2012

El Diablo's Advocate

So my New Year's Resolution to write more blog posts needed a month's worth of simmering before it was ready...I'll still try to squeeze 12 months of writing into the next 11...

So my EdTech thought this week is in regards to students consuming educational content outside the classroom. Since I got back in this industry, I've read all about flipped classrooms where teachers record and post videos and content on a web page for students to consume after-hours. Kahn Academy has rised to prominence with the wealth of video content they offer for this purpose. Then I've read about the various blended learning models, where students are tasked with more collaborative assignments focused on 21st Century learning skills. All these models rely on technology to enable students to view/consume the content and collaborate in groups to create, organize and present their work. And the technology enables teachers to be available after school hours to answer questions and guide students' work.

None of this is new, I know...but here's where I need more insight. How many teachers - who are underpaid for the work they already do - will want to add more hours to their week and host "office hours"? Probably not the right question - most teachers I know are passionate enough about helping their students that they would do this...but I guess my overriding question is just because technology gives us the ability to connect, collaborate and work 24/7, who wants to do that? Do we truly expect a high school teacher to be engaging for a full school day, complete their prep work, grade homework and now be available at 7:30 pm a few nights a week to answer student questions on the group assignment?

Wondering what teachers think about this? Just because we can do something, does it mean we should?

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