Salmon,+G+2001

=Tutorial: Masters or slaves to the technology? the role of the e-moderator in e-learning=

Gilly Salmon eLearn Magazine, Volume 2001, Issue 6 (June 2001), Page 2 @http://elearnmag.acm.org/featured.cfm?aid=566946

In the rush to put courses online, the key role of the online teacher or trainer is sometimes forgotten. This role is gradually evolving from one of ensuring the accurate transmission of known information to one of enabling exploration, and generating new and relevant knowledge for the use of individuals, groups, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations. Because of this shift, and the complexities involved in fulfilling the new role, e-moderator seems the most appropriate designation for it. Challenges to traditional approaches to learning are rife (O'Donaghue, Jentz et al. 2000) but they focus far too much on the role of the technology. We need therefore to be technology's master, not its slave. How do we become Masters? By learning from others who are more experienced than ourselves. We know that new modes of teaching and learning both in Higher Education and at work, together with the need for rapid updating of skills and knowledge, are emerging.