Increasingly, we're seeing teachers get into trouble because of
their inappropriate use of social media
with students.
>> Mm-hm, yes, that's another whole can of worms, isn't it?
>> Mm.
>> Yeah, I was just thinking of lots of examples where,
a particular one we quoted in Ghana where the kid gets up and
tells the teacher, what she's actually saying--
>> Mm. >> --is incorrect, because that student has
been doing a lot of research, and looking at things on the Internet, and
talking to friends, and talking to friends globally and the teacher hasn't
that kind of background or experience. Of course, the teacher says, "Oh, sit down,
you're wrong, you don't contradict me."
As George Oduro, who, in one of the previous courses, says to her afterwards,
"Well, you know you have to recognise that sometimes the students do have
knowledge and do have expertise that is greater than your own in some areas."
And as a teacher, it is actually empowering for students
for them to be recognised as having knowledge and
information that the teachers don't have.
>> I think that's absolutely correct.
And, and one of the things that teachers need to model is the fact that they
are a learner as well.
Attempting to be the authority on everything, I think, goes against that.
And, I think the best teachers are actually quite relaxed about students,
you know, coming up with alternative explanations, or evidence. The best
teachers are good at asking questions, not always providing the definitive answers.
So, I think again, this is aspect of a relaxed authoritative style of teaching
where the teacher is expert in some areas, but doesn't pretend to be expert in all.
And I we know for example that peer to peer to learning can be very,
very powerful as well.
So, you know, the more able students or
the more knowledgeable students actually under the teacher's supervision,
teaching other students is very powerful way of going about things.
But I think any teacher
who pretends to be the font of all knowledge is asking for trouble.
>> Yes, absolutely.
Now, a very important point now, Steve,
and I think it's easier probably in Australia, or New Zealand, or UK or
whereever, for teachers,
experienced teachers who are self-confident to be able to say, "Well,
I didn't know that" or "No, you're absolutely right. I made
I made a mistake there, I didn't know."
In other countries, of course, where authority is unquestionable--
>> Mm. >> That's where we get into trouble,
don't we?
That's something that over time,
that humility, if you like, or self-confidence is something that only
comes with a lot of professional support and experience.
Let me go onto the issue of parents.
One of the things that you say is,
parents have the right to be involved either formally or informally
in the operation of the school. Does that raise difficult--
Certainly it does in plenty of places I've been researching, but in your context,