When Technology Is Central in the Learning Process, What Does the Teacher Do?

Most aspects of our personal and professional lives have become inextricably intertwined with technological advancements.  Whether it's our smartphones, laptops, personal computers, smartwatches or smart televisions, technology has permeated our daily work.  The teaching-and-learning process has not been immune to the revolution technology has created.

Innovative teachers have quickly seen their roles transform. Technology has enhanced and shifted our teaching-and-learning environments in the following ways:

• Instruction is more seamlessly differentiated based on the pace of the learner.
• Immediate feedback is provided to a larger number of students.
• Assessment can be immediate and responsive to student progress.
• Data dashboards provide an instant visualization of progress.
• Student screen time increases while face-to-face teacher time decreases.
• Student questions are answered immediately by a network of experts or other learners.

All of this begs the question, what is the role of the teacher in a technology rich learning environment?

• Relationship Building: When technology provides the lecture, feedback, and assessment, teachers have more time to develop relationships with students.  Students want to be seen, heard, and known. Technology enables teachers to better know their students for who they are as a whole as well as their talents, interests, and areas where they desire growth.
• Guidance: Young people need and want guidance. Teachers can spend more time guiding and supporting a personalized learning experience for each student.
• Tutoring: When whole-class instruction is done utilizing technology, teachers have more time to provide small group and one-on-one instruction.
• Digital Literacy: Teachers can play an important role in helping students become responsible and respectful digital citizens.
• Learning Network Development: Connections are key, and with technology, we can help students safely make local and global connections.
• Goal Setting and Celebrating: Students love knowing you know their accomplishments. Technology provides more possibilities to expose what students have accomplished, to discuss what those accomplishments mean, and to give students support to set new rigorous goals.

This list is not all encompassing, but it does provide a starting point for understanding how the role of our teachers is evolving as technology becomes central to the teaching-and-learning process.

The specific examples and wording above have been taken from Tech and Learning, November 19 web entry: http://www.techlearning.com/blogentry/10012.  Ms. Lisa Nielsen is the author.  Ms. Nielsen maintains the award winning blog, The Innovative Educator.