e-Pistemology

I will be brief. It is simple...yet complex. I prefer the metaphor of the “navigator” as opposed to the more popular conceptualization of facilitator. You are not the controlling captain but represent the individual who points out the way for a safe journey. In order to support or scaffold the learning of others a navigator must have true passion for education. It must be readily apparent from all students and a contagious part of their demeanor. I am a strong believer in diversity and my background as an educator teaching for 10 years in the inner city of Savannah, Georgia has made me thankful for the opportunity to make the world a more informed and equitable place to live. It is this passion for teaching those who are disenfranchised or marginalized which brought me out of my “comfort zone” to Alaska. The experiential learning alone has provided an epistemic transformation. Imagine working closely with a school system where over 121 different languages are spoken. 

As an educator you must go several standard deviations above and beyond the average to meet the diverse learning needs of your students. You are planting seeds that require your utmost attention. Education is life. When we give of ourselves to students a part of us continues to live; when you deny, an element of us all dies. It is incumbent that the navigator should promote curiosity and inquisitiveness, as well as, an appreciation for knowledge. You must not only be a subject matter expert but also model best practices in their work. It is a responsibility that I take very seriously. My philosophy transcends Maslow’s self-actualization and Hierarchy of Needs to enter the realm of what I would call “meta-actualization” where the focus is the well-being and growth of learners and not merely the concept of self-fulfillment. Altruism always trumps egoism. Specifically, in terms of philosophical schools of thought, my educational practice have been influenced by Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Bandura’s Social Learning theory, Roger’s Experiential Learning, Dewey/Vygotsky’s approach to constructivism and Mezirow’s Transformational Learning theory.

But, I have also learned much from my students and their countless displays of personal courage and enlightenment. It is a symbiotic relationship. My teaching philosophy is not only about giving an individual a “fish” so they can eat for one day and then go home with a momentary sense of accomplishment. Nor is my philosophy about merely teaching students how to fish for knowledge so they can feed themselves each and everyday. A navigator must go beyond mere instruction. It is requisite to help students metacognitively discover the path to the good streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans where students can locate their respective epistemological harvests. A navigator would also challenge the student to go to the polluted streams and rivers so that they could make a difference through finding a humane solution. In more practical terms, my teaching philosophy uses proven empirical research best practices of instruction with emerging and assistive educational technologies that promote 21st Century learning. It involves such items as avatars, augmented realities, blogs, wikis, Nings, Moodle and Sloodle, and many more tools of the “Semantic Web”.

Most importantly, pedagogical considerations and the application of a research-based practice that informs is at the heart of my teaching approach. Enduring boring lectures that do not engage or challenge learners to think has been an issue for me during my years as a student. It has been my experience that making learning “fun” and promoting the natural curiosity and applicability of knowledge is what inspires students to effectively problem solve, create workable solutions, innovate, communicate, and collaborate for positive outcomes.

The navigator must never loose this idealistic foresight and give up hope or become lackadaisical in their responsibilities to learners. They must encourage positive learning outcomes through a variety of tools such as project-based learning, collaborative learning, kinesthetic learning, and more, while at the same time applying the latest advances in empirical research so that their teaching is driven by best practices.

Finally, a navigator will help nurture a student so that they can one day write and reflect about their experiences and instill a passion to inspire the education and well-being of others. Education is life.