Module 1:
Critique Siemens’s “metaphors of educators.” Which of these metaphors best describes the role you believe an instructor should take in a digital classroom or workplace? Is there a better metaphor to reflect your view of the role of instructors?

"Metaphors of educators" made me sit up and really take note! As an avid reader, elementary educator, and now library/media director, I enjoy these comparisons, and use them as teaching tools often.

I particularly enjoyed reading the metaphors of educators by John Seeley Brown (2006) in comparing the educator to that of an artist or architect, the Clarence Fisher metaphor for teachers at network administrators, and the gentle guidance metaphor of Curtis Bonk (2007) comparing the educator to a concierge. While all of these comparisons ring true, and serve as valuable models of reference, I like to think of the role of the educator as the simple gardener.

Being a gardener myself, I find that the nurturing piece is an easy attraction for me. My particular interests are with perenials. I enjoy them over time, watching them take shape, thinning and transplanting them to better fitting locations as they multiply which help them take root in a new area of my garden. Taking into consideration what each varying species of plant in my yard needs in order to grow, I carefully supply the plants with specific locations in order to maximize or minimize the amount of exposure to the sun, provide the amounts of natural water collection, and couple the plants with complimentary varieties of other perenials.

Within my "garden community", I have a plan. I wish to maximize the growth and beauty of all of the plants within my yard. I want them to work together with the resources around them in order to reach their fullest potential. Once my garden really takes root, I want to guide the vines in a direction which will allow them to continue their growth and development. At times, a plant may not be blossoming in it's current location, in which case, I can try it out in another location and see what progress is made there.

I can't make my garden grow, but I need to understand the resources necessary in order to provide my plants with the best opportunity under differing conditions. Understanding what one species needs in order to thrive and being able to provide and guide are the essential tools for my garden.