Teacher to a facilator
Introduction: Traditionally, teachers are the ones with knowledge and expertise in a particular field. They impart that knowledge through a variety of means to their students. Facilitators build on the knowledge base of the group of students to find the answers to questions
Teachers who facilitate personal growth in students are unique, extraordinary, worthy of the dedication. It requires a self assurance, a willingness to share self, to care, to begin a journey, then launch the student on a personal quest which may not be shared; to send the student beyond the teacher, perhaps with the student never realizing or appreciating what was given. It is that unqualified and indefinable difference between training and education, bossing and leading, telling and teaching.
Facilitation makes the learners responsible for their own learning. While this is a classic classroom strategy, it works in e-Learning too! Here's how you can bring your learners to that "lightbulb moment" even if they are thousands of miles away.
The role of facilitator is resisted for many reasons:
-J. Krishnamurti
Facilitation makes the learners responsible for their own learning. While this is a classic classroom strategy, it works in e-Learning too! Here's how you can bring your learners to that "lightbulb moment" even if they are thousands of miles away.
The role of facilitator is resisted for many reasons:
- we tend to teach the way we were taught
there is a hidden "power barrier" which literally dams up the notion that children might be treated in any way other than as inferior, less intelligent, less knowing - and of course they are in one sense, and yet. . . "the child is father of the man"
we sense that telling information is faster - which would be true if students were like computers and learned best through direct input
direct linear teaching is easier to plan, evaluate and objectify
researchers in the past suggested teachers learn to teach in one best style and stick with it
it is frightening for some teachers to "let go of students" for there is a sensation that there may be no way to get "control" again, and there isnât in the same fashion
we have never had a teacher run a classroom using this format or role, so we have no inherent moves to model
one philosophy suggests that people are basically unmotivated and donât want to be at school anyway, so if allowed to choose they will choose to do nothing
since so many districts use scores to show teaching ability it is frightening to make a change with no assurance that students will score higher
-J. Krishnamurti
Conclusion: Facilitators might not be subject area experts like a teacher. They do have special training in group dynamics, using processes such as conflict resolution, strategic planning and team building. In any group setting, a facilitator can quickly determine what the group knows so the group can proceed to build on that knowledge.