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Pedagogy
The pedagogy behind distance education and making it a rewarding experience
December 21, 2005
By: Bob Whitehead
The term pedagogy refers to the art of teaching, with
"ped" being the Greek root for "child." Teaching in a
classroom involves a series of challenges, as one person is
responsible for the education of multiple students. However,
in a distance learning environment there are even more
demands placed upon the teacher. Nevertheless, the learning
and teaching can both be beneficial even in this situation.
The pedagogical methods put forth in an online learning
environment can make a difference in how much educational
value a student receives from a distance learning class. The
teacher can have a huge impact on this. The instructor
should stimulate learning instead of spoon-feeding the
information. Stimulating critical thinking skills is an
important responsibility of the facilitator.
Encouraging interaction can help make the learning
process more efficient and effective. In fact, making
participation a requirement is a good measure to take to
ensure that the students are interacting with each other
instead of learning in an isolated environment. Also, when
the teachers use clear, concise statements, it encourages
the same in students.
Putting the learning in the hands of students is an
educational method that avoids giving the answers. When a
student leads a discussion online, the active involvement
makes learning more engaging and more effective.
When distance learning is a collaborative, interactive
experience that keeps the educational goals in mind, both
the student and teacher benefit. Instead of making it rote
and isolated, the teacher can facilitate a supportive
environment that creates a real community and provides a
lasting learning experience.
About the Author
Bob Whitehead is a successful freelance writer and
contributor to Web-Conferencing-Zone.com. Your
definitive guide to web conferencing services, online
collaboration software and web meetings for business.
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