Who are we educating?

Here is an infographic about who are we educating, tourists or professionals. Unfortunately, I see more educating tourists than professionals. Students cannot be a passive receptor of knowledge. Students need to active participants in the community of IT professionals gaining knowledge and skills through their learning journey. They start out as newbies and work their way to being considered competent by the IT community. Experience is what we hear all time these days by employers and I will tell you that it has not changed in 20 years. I am seeing programs being developed that were done in the late 1990s. Been there and done that. My goal today is to crack the nut of EXPERIENCE and how we get students experience in a program. One technique is found at makinglearningreal.org. This is one of many that I have participated in for years.

Student's Responsibility in Learning

Lately, I am getting concerned that students think that learning is just a one way street and all the responsibility falls on the educators. Well, that is far from the truth. Students must be active in their own learning and understand their role in the process. Employers expect competence. So, students need to understand that they must develop their skills to a level that allows them to demonstrate competence. Grades are meaningless today. It is about what you know and do more than what you know. Educators, on the other hand, must coach students to help them get to competence. I ask each faculty member - what do your students know and can do after they leave your class?

I developed an infographic titled "Are you an aspiring IT professional?" Enjoy! Learning is more sitting in a class. It is about participating in the community of IT professionals and recognized as a member of that community.