The learning environment has changed drastically over the last two decades and the modern classroom is more advanced due to the availability of various technology. This means that the way of teaching has changed for teachers. So, what exactly is the role of the 21st century teacher?
In the old days, if the teacher was not standing in front of the classroom giving out information, little to no learning took place. This was due to the fact that the role of the teacher was that of the sole dispenser of knowledge and to some like me, the person who helped decipher the textbook which was not always easy to understand.
The introduction of technology has shifted this role of the educator. What it has done is given access to various other sources of information, this could be information one gets from a simple google search, access to online libraries, journals, youtube tutorials, chat rooms and a whole lot more. This means the learner has access to other sources of information other that their classroom teacher. Just like that, the role of the teacher begins to shift.
Now as an educator, you know your learner has access to so many other sources of information how do you help them navigate through all this information? You become a guide, you offer some kind of direction in their knowledge acquisition and this is essential because there is so much information out there and not all is correct or has been tried and tested. How do you equip the learner to tell when they come across information that is not useful to them?
The technology itself needs to be used in a manner that it is used to its full potential. In this case the teachers role is to design learning activities so that they don't only use their laptop for taking notes when they could do so much more with it. Working cohesively with the technology, taking on the role of designer and facilitator.
Ultimately, there are so many opportunities and so much flexibility in teaching in the 21st century, the room for creativity is so wide. The important thing to remember is that the teacher is no longer there to dictate and spew out knowledge but there to facilitate and support the learners process of knowledge gathering.