Online teacher identity and pedagogic approaches

This time I have familiarized to different pedagogic approaches. I see that there is no single answer how to do multicultural online teaching. In fact there are several approaches. One thing which I think is sure, the role of the teacher is changing. Focus changes from teacher-centered to student-centered education. Teacher´s new role can be more like a facilitator role or even the same as student role is.

Especially in the e-learning environment where different cultures and learning styles meet more and more, the teacher´s new role needs to be understood. Role will be different from the traditional teacher role and it needs to be more flexible based on student´s needs. Learners’ diversity will grow, and that needs to be understood when designing an education. And addition to teacher, also education needs to be flexible to meet the different needs. Support for the students also changes, learners can get support also from other instances than just teachers e.g. from other students or experts.

From the connectivism point of view, even the teacher´s facilitator role is not the right change. Teachers need to take part to a course like students. Teachers are creating and working in the same place and with the same content as students do. Teacher creates a community together with the students by participating and engaging similarly. Universal design method also emphasizes diversity and flexibility. Teacher´s support is needed in many different ways for different learners.

I´m very interested about the idea of connectivism and a teacher´s role there. It is demanding but at the same time a very rewarding role. Teacher is there a learner all the time too. I wonder if that is a bit extreme shift if changing directly from a teacher centered role. Maybe it would be better first to change a teacher role to a facilitator role where a student is a center. Then I universal design could help in in practice to take into account as many different learners as possible when designing a course.  After a successful facilitator implementation, as a next step could consider emerging the roles of the teacher and the student to a one learner role. That possibly depends from the learners too.