Sage-off-stage and Coach-on-couch: the changing role of professors in online education and the emergence of actors as teachers

By George ILIEV
RepurposeEducation No 3

Can you think of any movie where the leading actor and the director were the same person? I can think of only 4 such actor-directors: Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson and Woody Allen. If acting is so easy, why would directors need actors to perform on film at all?

The simple truth is that actors act and directors direct. Actors do a better job of acting than directors would; and vice versa: directors do a better job of directing than actors would.

So why do universities continue to insist that research professors have to teach: not only in the classroom but nowadays also on camera? Can't we give professors the #EducationDirector role in online teaching: make them course designers and content curators and let them direct the filming of their course, with an actor in the limelight. Professors deserve at least from time to time to be able to take their glasses off, sit back behind the camera and put their feet up.

Professors are typically introverts while actors are largely extroverts. Professors are good at thinking and pondering, while actors are good at letting their passion flow with intensity and become contagious. The world of online education does not need too many of the old-style #SageOnStage. Most online courses would actually benefit if the sage moved off-stage (#SageOffStage) and became what I call a #CoachOnCouch: the mastermind behind the course design but not to be seen on camera.
Sage off stage


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