Month: January 2024

In week 5, the questions about planning for situational factors are pivotal to exploring the unique dynamics of the virtual learning environment, diverse student profiles, and the subject matter. Initially, this intentional approach prompted me to assess my technological proficiency and awareness of available tools for an online platform. While this is essential to ensure a robust online learning experience, it did not constitute the most impactful aspect of my learning from this activity.

As I continued deliberately reflecting, a significant aspect emerged: the recognition of my students. While I was aware of their rich life experiences, which contribute as valuable resources in the learning process, I had not thoroughly considered their purpose for being there. Unlike children mandated to attend school, these students have chosen their career paths, often balancing full-time work and family responsibilities. Their commitment to working with vulnerable students reflects their compassion, empathy, patience, and resilience. Those drawn to this profession are inherently motivated to positively impact the lives of vulnerable students, viewing their work as a meaningful contribution to a student’s education and quality of life.

This newfound understanding of my students reinforces the importance of what I teach. It compels me to respect their limited time due to other obligations, provide technology for engagement, and, most importantly, recognize who they are and why they chose this career path. Their choice is an intentional act of service, and keeping this forefront in my perspective is essential to cultivating an online learning environment that serves as a role model for my students.

          In our live class, it was clear that the instructor utilizes many of Gagne’s instructional design models. First, the instructor posted a thought-provoking scenario about a student who was sent to the office for a behavioral infraction and asked the students to think and be ready to respond about how this situation could have been avoided. Presenting this scenario not only set the tone for the class but also provided context for the learning of the evening and was effective at getting our attention (Arshavskiy, 2016). It was also apparent that the objectives were core to the instructor’s purpose as they not only introduced them at the beginning of the lesson but at the end of the lesson, we were provided an opportunity to reflect on the objectives and come up with examples of how well we understood and achieved them. The instructor of this class has strong alignment between their intention and process, which aligns objectives, content, activities, technology, and assessment with a learning-centered perspective at its core (Commonwealth of Learning, 2014, 0:40). In the end, her students are presented with a clear guide to process, product, and purpose. 

          In my teaching career, I have had many roles, but most would fall within the realm of humanities. As such, I feel that these courses have impacted which learning theory I feel most connected to because the nature of these courses is critical thinking, not rote memorization. Consequently, I gravitated most to the idea of constructivism as a base for my instructional design. Ultimately, I recognize that all my students come with connections, knowledge, and experiences that have shaped their understanding (McLeod, 2003, p. 41).. As an instructor, I guide their journey and exploration of learning.

References

Arshavskiy, M. (2016). Leveraging Gagné’s nine events of instruction . https://elearningindustry.com/leveraging-gagnes-nine-events-of-instruction

Commonwealth of Learning. (2014). What is instructional design? [Video file]

McLeod, G. (2003) Learning theory and instructional design. Learning Matters: The journal of the Durham Technical Community College 2(1), 35-43. Retrieved from https://library.digitalnc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/yearbooks/id/8404/rec/1

Instructor Roles: Online and Face to Face

Reflecting on the articles and videos this week, it became clear that the research on roles for online instructors has predominantly focused on post-secondary students. This observation made me question whether these parameters fully encapsulate the essential traits online instructors need because it does not consider all instructors. As an online instructor in a post-secondary institution with experience in a public school setting in online classrooms, I understand the centrality of the adminstrative roles in synchronous and asynchronous environments for all age ranges. While the planning, managing, and technological expert components are crucial and highly rated (Carril et al., 2013, p. 466-467), they are also the most teacher-centered, hands-off components. These competencies outline how to build the course and ensure students can navigate, which is a fundamental component of success for the learner. However, teacher competency must, more importantly, consider how to address the student’s learning, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the instructor’s role in online education. 

As online environments become increasingly prevalent in K-12 education, it’s crucial to consider the unique needs of these students. Unlike their post-secondary counterparts, who are typically independent learners, K-12 students require more than just clear routines, expectations, and assessments. They need guidance, relationship-building, and teaching that goes beyond procedural organization. As Bailie (2011, p. 88) aptly puts it, ‘ high-quality instruction will continue to be based on an array of distinct competencies attributed solely to instructors and their application of sound pedagogical practice. ‘ This includes all aspects of teaching, whether face-to-face or online. After all, simply placing a textbook before a student does not guarantee learning, regardless of their age.

Teaching Philosophy 

First, I believe education needs to be purposeful in the planning, implementation, delivery, and assessment. Next, all people can and do learn when presented with a nurturing, inclusive environment that is safe and able to meet their needs academically, socially, and emotionally. Finally, all partners in education need to develop a growth mindset where they set goals, reflect, and actively participate in the educational process. My answer would be congruent when I compare teaching and learning online versus face-to-face. They are the same because teaching is teaching, and learning is learning. The location, modality, or flexibility should not change the core teaching ideals or purpose. Both venues should emphasize all the best practices of both learning environments. 

References

Bailie, J. L. (2011). Effective online instructional competencies as perceived by online university faculty and students: A sequel study. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 7(1), 82. http://jolt.merlot.org/vol7no1/bailie_0311.pdf 

Carril, P. C. M., Sanmamed, M. G., & Sellés, N. H. (2013). Pedagogical roles and competencies of university teachers practicing in the e-learning environment. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 14(3), 462-487. http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/ irrodl/article/view/147

The online course I signed up to audit is Fostering Positive Behaviour through Red Deer Polytechnic. Students will review learning and behavior management philosophies to build a repertoire of practical techniques and strategies that foster positive behavior change in the classroom. I have chosen to audit this course as I will be teaching an online course that uses Blackboard as a platform; thus, auditing allows me to explore different teaching strategies and instructional methods the instructor uses. I also hope this audit can offer valuable insights into various ways to present information, engage students, and create a positive learning environment.

Once confined to physical spaces with face-to-face interactions, classroom learning has long been the cornerstone of education. However, contrary to popular belief, online learning is not a new concept. According to the article by Joksimović et Al, “The origins of modern distance education can be traced back to the early 18th century” (2015, p. 15). Most commonly seen in society in higher education, with students being able to complete modules for correspondence courses leading to certificates or degrees. However, in recent years, there has been a significant shift in what online learning can be, including expanding the ages of participants to allow individuals access to educational content anytime, anywhere, fostering flexibility and personalized learning journeys for more than just postsecondary. 

Based on my current understanding and experience, my definition of online learning would be the ability to meet a student’s educational needs and goals through various modalities. This may include fully online courses, hybrid models that combine online and in-person instruction, or blended approaches that allow the students increased accessibility by integrating multimedia resources, interactive tools, and adaptive technologies that cater to diverse learning styles. Prior to the pandemic, my experience with online teaching was non-existent. However, during this time I had the opportunity to see the potential benefits of online learning for some of my students. Some flourished academically without the possible social risks of being in a traditional classroom.  This really did open my eyes to the potential of matching learning styles to individual students for success. 

This shift in online learning mirrors a broader societal move towards digitalization and challenging traditional norms. It underscores that physical constraints do not bind learning, but learning is, in fact, a continuous and adaptable process much like the image I chose of the slinky. The slinky is a timeless toy enjoyed by many generations just like the educational process but the slinky moves and changes to meet the environment it finds itself in.  The slinky and the growth of online learning continues to shape learners’ uniqueness, providing opportunities for so many to keep learning and growing. In the end, is that not what we want from education?

Reference

Joksimović, S., Kovanović, V., Skrypnyk, O., Gašević, D., Dawson, S., & Siemens, G. (2015). 

Preparing for the digital university: A review of the history and current state of distance, blended, and online learning. http://linkresearchlab.org/PreparingDigitalUniversity.pdf 

I am excited to learn alongside all of you this term.  Please have a look at my introduction video to learn more about me and my journey.  Be advised, this video was shot in Mexico hahaha.

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