Teacher as skeuomorph: Teacher as What?

Simonson comments on the changing role of a teacher. He argues that if one looks at that role superficially, as some do, one might conclude that teachers have no real purpose anymore--they are skeuomorph, an element of design that has lost its original function but is nevertheless retained. Recognizing that teaching is losing its original function, Simonson stresses that distance education leaders can now take an important, positive role in identifying the new teacher.