My Learning Manifesto
My encounter with blended learning has been this post-covid educational system. If students and educators cannot learn to use the software available, it ultimately becomes counterproductive, including virtual and non-virtual platforms. To dive into technology-rich learning, every student should have access to some form of device. Education shouldn’t just be limited to the classroom only. This class made me modify my thinking and passion for teaching.
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According to Jobberman (2018), "Passion for work is the intense enthusiasm and excitement for what you do. It can be the difference between doing it and getting it done well.” I’ve been in the education field for over eight years now, but my passion for teaching started way before I knew I would be a teacher. I know first-hand that if you can’t handle being patient and understanding with these students, no amount of training or money will help you have the mindset to grow as a leader or person.
Every learner has the right to an education of the highest quality. It is critical to remove social, material, and cultural barriers to enable all learners to access new and modern learning methods. Everyone learns in their unique way. Teachers, in my opinion, are neither all-knowing nor should they be completely responsible for the learning process. They view themselves as learners who also serve as a bridge for others to learn. They design adaptive erudition paths, establish learning environments, and facilitate collaborative teaching processes. They tailor their instruction to the requirements of their students and current societal issues.
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I am passionate about learning and teaching. I believe students must strive to be the best they can be. Effective education should be transformative, dynamic, participatory, intrinsically motivated, and lifelong. I believe in the effectiveness of blended learning if properly enacted into the education system. Blended learning incorporates face-to-face teaching with digital applications (Dziuban et al., 2018). I agree with Seth Godin's views that we should have homework during the day and free online lectures at night. Students should have interactive sessions with their tutors during the day to ask questions and have practice sessions. Instead of teaching the same concept in many schools in one day, people can have one online tutor teaching the idea free of charge to all learners with internet connectivity (TEDxYouth, 2012).
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However, digital learning faces multiple problems, no matter how appealing it sounds. One of the main problems globally is that students aren't properly engaged. It is easy for students to become distracted when learning online, making it difficult for teachers to maintain control. Another core problem is that teachers struggle to adapt to new digital solutions. Other problems include devices failing too often, the use of non-supported apps, and so on.
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With my eight-year experience in the education field, I feel that the education system is on the right track as it incorporates blended digital learning. The internet connects us all, and we can access knowledge fast with the help of our devices. Education should stop being commercialized, and we should acknowledge that skills go a long way in helping learners in life. We should appreciate all subjects and courses equally and embrace that they are necessities in society. Hence, education should empower all subjects equally.
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Teaching is founded on four fundamental values, including self-worth, honesty, fairness, responsibility, and liberty. All teaching is ethical, whether it is the relationship between teacher and student, multiplicity, or a teacher's connection with their work (OAJ, n.d.). I believe the same classical thoughts should be transferred to modern digital learning. Such values create an environment of discipline and enhance productivity among individuals.
References
Dziuban, C., Graham, C. R., Moskal, P. D., Norberg, A., & Sicilia, N. (2018). Blended learning: The new normal and emerging technologies. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 15(1), 1-16. https://educationaltechnologyjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41239-017- 0087-5
OAJ. (n.d.). Teacher's values and ethical principles.
https://www.oaj.fi/en/education/ethical-principles-of-teaching/teachers-values-and- ethical-principles/
TEDxYouth. (2012). Stop stealing dreams: Seth Godin at TEDxYouth@BFS. YouTube.
Okikiolu, B., 2018. Passion for work: 12 ways it helps your career. Jobberman.
