-----Original Message-----
From: Allan Martin [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>I wonder why it's "high-risk" even to talk about the changing roles of
>those who make learning happen. All of us who do that should be thinking
>all the time about how we're doing it, and about the possibilities that
>might develop.
Sorry, shouldn't have been so cryptic. And nothing wrong, of course,
with thinking about possibilities. However we have career paths for
librarians and career paths for IT staff, in both of which we earn our
dosh and self-respect on the basis of professional skills which we have
and our customers/colleagues don't. It is a big thing to ditch the
distinction between us and academics for a route which has no career
path (yet). I believe Educational Technologists/Developers are exactly in
this position at the moment. Too many of them really want to be academics
and are uncomfortable with accepting a service role which is second-best
for them. I'm not convinced that blurring the roles helps this at all.
I believe more generally that it is a hindrance in any service role
when you aspire to be like those you serve rather than gain self-worth
from the unique role you carry out.
It's also risky in that academics feel threatened when you suggest to them
that they might not be so special in the future and their job could be
done by (what many of them see as) lesser mortals. I don't feel that
way about it at all but I've just noticed that it makes my academic
colleagues easier to work with if I don't threaten them in this way.
David
|