The Tortoise and the Hare of technology enhanced learning
With apologies to Aesop
One day a sciences lecturer was bragging about how well he was using the latest technology in his teaching. He bragged and bragged and even laughed at the arts lecturer, who only seemed to talk about pedagogy and putting his students first. The arts lecturer stretched out his long neck and challenged the sciences lecturer to a race, which, of course, made the sciences lecturer laugh.
"My, my, what a joke!" thought the sciences lecturer. "A race, indeed, a race. Oh! what fun! My, my! a race, of course, Dr. arts lecturer, we shall race!" said the sciences lecturer.
The curriculum advisers and blended learning consultants met and mapped out the course.
The race begun, and the sciences lecturer, being such a fantastic user of technology, soon left the arts lecturer far behind. About halfway through the course, it occurred to the sciences lecturer that he had plenty of time to beat the pedagogy driven arts lecturer.
"Oh, my!" thought the sciences lecturer, "I have plenty of time to experiment with the latest and greatest app here with my students." And so he did.
After the sciences lecturer finished playing, he decided that he had time to take what he had found to a technology conference and talk about all the cool things he had been playing with. "I have plenty of time to beat that arts lecturer," he thought. And so he rested on his laurels and posted his latest presentation onto SlideShare.
The arts lecturer, in the meantime, continued to plod on, albeit, very methodically; putting pedagogy first. He never stopped thinking about his students and putting them first, and just took one good step after another.
The sciences lecturer finally woke and decided it was time to try another a new bit of technology with his students. "Time to get going," he thought. And off he went faster than he had ever run before! He dashed as quickly as anyone ever could up to the finish line, where he met the arts lecturer, who was patiently awaiting his arrival, with a great teaching evaluation firmly grasped in his hand.
The characters represented here should not be taken to typify any disciplinary bias.
Sustainability / Environmental Education
6 年Much more productive to recognise "horses for courses" rather than the capabilities of the jockeys? !
Senior Education Specialist at The Australian National University
6 年Can we assume that at some point a peer review of teaching scheme was introduced and the Tortoise and the Hare romped across first to the finish line of the three legged race?
Certified Computer Professional and Educator
6 年For some of us implementation of learning technology seems more a race between a tortoise and a stone. ;-) ANU has a new purpose built flexible teaching building to make it easier to combine tech and good pedagogy. https://blog.highereducationwhisperer.com/2019/02/blend-flip-and-back-to-classroom.html
Education technology, learning design, and education development specialist
6 年Nice work Michael. I'd like to hear more about the turtle's journey - at a guess it also involved working with colleagues and available L&T advisors?
Learning, Teaching, Instructional Design Technologist | Passionate about supporting others | Multi-lingual lifelong learner
6 年So true Michael! Thank you. I'm always telling students that the technology is the tool they can use in their learning - and I love technology.? And by learning to use it correctly, they will develop the skills required for those future jobs we are not yet aware of.