The Philosophy
Beware the speeding bandwagon.
There’s a lot of pressure out there–particularly in the academic blogosphere–to jump on the latest digital bandwagon. If the Millennials are doing it, the argument goes, then we’d better be using it in our teaching.
I don’t always buy it.
The medium is NOT the message.
Social networks, podcasts, You Tube, and whatever else our students are doing that hasn’t yet made the Chronicle are just means and media.
So are good-old-fashioned chalk on a board, lectures, Powerpoints, group discussions, and ink on paper.
The more things change, the more the core stays the same.
No matter which speeding bandwagon we are aboard, the foundations of academic culture remain the same. And the best college teachers are those who enthusiastically and effectively lead students to understand our culture and to appreciate it.
Not every student will become a scholar . . . but many may become our champions.
Those students who do go on to work in academia as faculty members or librarians are few and far between. But every student that we send into the world with comprehension and appreciation of a life of teaching, research, and study is potentially an ambassador and an advocate for the value of what we do.
January 8th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Charlotte:
It is great to hear your voice on these issues in a public forum. I take issue with two of your tenets:
1. Re: Beware the Speeding Bandwagon — I’ve never felt the pressure you describe. I’ve never believed that “If the Millennials are doing it, … then we’d better be using it in our teaching.” Digital tools are, as you note, just tools. Some might work for a given teacher or students. Some might not.
2. Re: Not Every Student Will Become a Scholar — Yes, but you argue “most of us will never experience the joy of guiding another into our own discipline or profession.” In fact, I experience that every class session.
The previous not withstanding I genuinely look forward to reading more of your reflections.