Sage on the Stage or Guide on the side?
I don't like the idea that somehow technology is diminishing the value of the educator by implying that they have gone from, and may be demoted to a 'sage on the stage'.
The best teacher never did pontificate, their position on the stage may have been as a result of their expertise, surely in Higher Education, if not early.
But for the transference of knowledge to the 'unknowing' student to occur they'd have to be all kinds of things to all kinds of people; sometimes a sage on the stage, often a guide on the side. Bill Furniss who coaches Rebecca Adlington and other swimmers is literally the 'guide on the side;' this doesn' t means he doesn't know hus subject.
Is a conductor a guide or sage?
What ICT allows is for individuals in the learning process to identify themselves by their role, so that the sage this morning csn be your guide in the evening.
In any case, who says the role of guide is any less sacrosanct?
I find increasingly, the more that I use them, that Stumbleupon and Zite are my guide on the side.
What I crave therefore is a conversation with the sages on the stages.
Come forth Martin Weller, Grainne Conole snd Agnes Kukulska-Hulme, ket's be hearing from you Chris Pegler and Mary Thorpe, you too Denise Kirkpatrick.
(see comments in Linkedin forum)