1. Are 20th-Century Methods of Teaching Applicable in the 21st Century?
- Author
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Bassendowski, Sandra Leigh and Petrucka, Pammla
- Abstract
The image of students passively absorbing information from an educator who is lecturing from behind a podium does not reflect the current scope and dimension of higher education. There are now tools of technology that can be used to create learning experiences to actively and meaningfully "pull" students into course content. The author started to think about the idea of push-pull whereby in the past, educators (the experts) usually passed the information from them to the students (push). Today, the literature is replete with articles about the need for collaboration, cooperation, communities of learners and engagement with students (pull). Education has garnered the same attention as the arts to "open up" over the years and allow exploration of the history and possibilities through the wide array of media and technology that is available to transform ideas, processes, and strategies. Pull approaches are exemplified by constructivist and connectivist approaches, which are cocreated by students as in virtual and socially shared spaces. In educational contexts, pull models view students as active participants in the sharing of their learning by working alongside the educators in both traditional, online settings, and blended environments. The delivery of information ("push"), along with student-centered activities ("pull"), enhances collaborative learning experiences and the positive effects of shared learning spaces. In these types of learning spaces, students can communicate their thoughts and feelings with others in a safe environment and explore different aspects of expected learning outcomes. The theory of "push and pull" from the art world influences contemporary thinking about teaching and learning in current contexts. The theory can be used to explore current educational pedagogy and support an adapted model of teaching. A wide array of media and technology is available to create new hybrid forms of teaching.The integration of technology enables educators to create learning experiences that actively and meaningfully "pull" students into course content. (Contains 1 figure.)
- Published
- 2013
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