November 26, 2008
Sage vs Guide
To answer the challenge of transforming education to welcome the Digital Natives and information age requires the ‘Sage on the Stage’ approach be transformed into Guide on the Side. (McKenzie, 1998) McKenzie provides “a list of descriptors of the role of a teacher who is a ‘Guide on the Side’ while students are conducting their investigations; the teacher is circulating, redirecting, disciplining, questioning, assessing, guiding, directing, fascinating, validating, facilitating, moving, monitoring, challenging, motivating, watching, moderating, diagnosing, trouble-shooting, observing, encouraging, suggesting, watching, modeling and clarifying." And he continues to explain that “the teacher is on the move, checking over shoulders, asking questions and teaching mini-lessons for individuals and groups who need a particular skill. Support is customized and individualized. The ‘Guide on the Side’ sets clear expectations, provides explicit directions, and keeps the learning well structured and productive.”
