A Profile of A WA 20 Blended / Online Course Offering
As a connected educator in my division and one that has a passion for infusing technology into my classroom, this opportunity will let me explore current practice that I employ and look towards offering an enhanced learning environment. I will draw upon my experience with flipping lessons, providing students with online resources such as wikis and One Note, posts from classmates in ECI 834, access to teachers currently providing online experiences in my division, and personal learning experiences. I have also did some research on the internet and found a very good site that had research information, online/blended learning considerations and references - https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blended-and-online-learning/ (used headings to create my profile checklist below). Background I currently teach math (amongst other teaching assignments and responsibilities) at Archbishop M.C. O’Neill Catholic High School. One math class that I have taught and will continue to teach is Work Place Apprentice Math 20 (click here for the curriculum - https://www.curriculum.gov.sk.ca/webapps/moe-curriculum-BBLEARN/CurriculumOutcomeContent?id=161 ). I have infused technology in this class since I began teaching it and as a RCSD Connected Educator have access to a 1 on 1 laptop learning environment. I plan on using this project as blended learning opportunity in my classroom. Our division also has online school offerings and uses Moodle to deliver these experiences. I might also have an opportunity in the future to deliver a class in this method, so I am also fortunate to gain valuable feedback and experience through ECI 834.
Course Overview
Subject – Workplace Apprentice 20 Audience – Grade 11 (16/17 year olds) Units – Slope and Graphical Representation Blended Course – Face 2 Face / Flipped / LMS – Moodle (One Note)
Course Profile
I have taught a class called Communication Media in the past. In this class, I taught the three stages of creating a multimedia project. I used these stages to plan out my course profile. They are as follows: Pre Production (consideration and planning of the course) Production (the creation of the course) Post Production (providing attributes and functionality that will provide the learner with opportunities to success engage and complete the learning objectives on the course)
Pre- Production
Production
Slope and Rate of Change (WA20.1) (WA20.9)
Conclusion I think I have a solid profile in which to build my course. I am also lucky because I will get a chance to utilize this next semester in a blended learning environment. I will use it to flip instruction, help with formative assessment, and provide activities based on the outcomes that required for the unit. I also had a great discussion with a colleague on this type of learning and submitted as this week’s vlog. 6.2 A short history of educational technology I think an educational technology is a skill, tool, or craft that helps people learn about themselves and the world around us. So I feel this would encompass skills like writing to maker-spaces, tools like the abacus to computers, and crafts from lectures to multimedia presentations. I think that using blended and online learning is part of the evolution of education technology. Beyond the LMS I found this an interesting read. I think LMS are part of education technology and offer innovative learning opportunities. I think these opportunities have evolved since this article was offered. I think LMS has evolved beyond the original LMS. Blog Resources What does the research say about flipped learning http://rtalbert.org/what-does-the-research-say/ Blended and Online Learning https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blended-and-online-learning/ Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.pdf How to Succeed in Your Online Courseshttps://www.chartercollege.edu/news-hub/how-succeed-your-online-courses Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI) https://services.viu.ca/sites/default/files/metacognitive-awareness-inventory.pdf What's Your Learning Style? 20 Questions http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml Digital Citizenship Instruction in Saskatchewan Schools https://www.rcsd.ca/Parents/SafeCaringSchools/Documents/Digital%20Citizenship%20Instruction%20in%20Saskatchewan%20Schools.pdf Students: How to use Moodle https://learningon.theloop.school.nz/moodle/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=3873
4 Comments
fter reading over my notes from class, reading Tony Bates Chapters, reading posts on Twitter and reflecting upon my own personal experience, I would definitely confirm that blended and/or online learning appears to be at least as an effective or more than traditional instruction. I have been integrating new technology into my classroom all of my career. Although I succeed and thrived in more traditional instructional environments, I could see the potential of using technology as a way to motivate, engage, and differentiate the learners I am blessed to work with. Society and learners have changed and I think it is a disservice not to pursue methods and tools that provide opportunities for innovative ways to get better. Innovation just doesn't comprise of new ways but also of better ways to approach a concept. Throughout my career, I have explored many ways and attempt to be a lead learner and share these experiences with students and staff alike. Many times I have felt like an island unto myself but more recently with the professional learner network I have developed on and offline and recent programs I have been a part of like the Regina Catholic School Division Connected Educator program, I feel that more educators are understanding the importance of blending technology into their classrooms. It is important that we introduce and engage students in 21st Century skills, that we embrace the ISTE standards, and that we understand how to pedagogically use technology to provide learners with opportunities that recognize learning styles and promote lifelong learning.
I have also experienced many blended and online learning experiences as a learner. Back in the early 2000, I received a degree in Educational Technology from the University of Cape Breton. I was able to experience first-hand how learning in an online environment works. I enjoyed my experience and felt it was a positive learning experience as I have had in traditional ways. I was engaged and had to be organized, disciplined, and have the rigor as I had in other environments. I also had the benefit of acquiring many new technology, interpersonal, and communication skills during this process as well. I continue to improve my professional development by accessing many learning opportunities provided by edtech companies. I am a Microsoft Education Fellow and have access to 100s of online workshops on a variety of topics such as how to connect on Skype, computational thinking, STEM, Sustainable Development Goals and more. With each online course I take, I receive a badge for completing but more importantly I feel that I have had the opportunity to stay current and improve. I also take part in a weekly Twitter chat on Monday nights. That chat is called #formativechat. Each week there is a robust conversation on topics that relate to formative assessment. The engagement and passion that come from the group of professionals that attend has had a positive impact on me and my classroom. Now, I am starting another online journey through my participation in ECI 834. I have enjoyed the first couple classes. It is great to be able to learn from home and learn in this medium. The ability to meet and share via Zoom in real time and communicate through blogs, Slack, and Twitter creates a robust and deep learning experience. All of these experiences also lead me to believe that blended and online experiences are valuable and confirm that these experiences are just as effective if not more as traditional instruction I have participated.
Still it is my experience that at the heart of positive classroom experience is an enthusiastic, organized, and engaging teacher. The ability to create and delivery content that learners will engage in and provide effective and efficient feedback is crucial to any learning environment. Learners can tell both on and offline if the instructor cares and is invested in the material and success of the class and learners.
y experiences taking part in blended and online learning has been an amazing journey. There have be many challenges along the way. At the start and really only until more recently most people either did not understand the potential or the viability of these experiences or were very afraid. I ran into opposition or was dismissed by many when I started infusing and blending technology into my classroom. I was lucky that there were just enough people and people in higher positions that supported me and saw the same vision and opportunities. Having technology that works is also a great challenge. As time has moved on this is becoming less of an issue, but still making friends with the IT department is always a good idea. Even though students today are seen as digital natives (not sure if I like this term or 100% agree with it), many still do not know how to learn with the technology they have grown up with. Some students already know, thrive, and love traditional instruction. Some students are ‘scared’ to learn with technology or have used it one way so much they can’t see the learning opportunities available. Some get distracted by technology and can’t seem to be able to concentrate at tasks at hand. There have always been challenges to motivating learners. There are also other stakeholders like parents and administration that can be challenges to blended and online learning. Not being able to see the potential or feel like they need to protect their children from the pitfalls of the online world or still clinging to traditional ways (I feel that by doing this is a big disservice but that could be a topic for another blog).
Even with the challenges in the way, I have had and have been able to provide some game changing instructional experiences that just could not be possible with traditional means. I also feel that I have helped prepare students more for the world we live in now and in the future not just the world that is behind us. I have been able to meet the needs of a greater number of students, provide engaging learning experiences that have had students think in innovative way, and most importantly build better relationships with my students. I have become a better teacher because of the access and opportunities afforded to me through online environments. This has fed my passion to be a lifelong learners as well. I have loved working with other teachers on their journey and being a mentor for those who would like to provide innovative ways to connect with their learners and other stakeholders. I also love the fact that there is always more to learn and get better at in these environments.
The questions posed are ones that I continually reflect upon as I try to provide learning environments that reach out and engage students. To provide opportunities that help students overcome physical, learning style, or other limitations are all possible in blended and online environments. There is so much potential to have every student find their learning path and enjoy the gift of learning. These experiences coupled with a passionate educator that can harness the power and grow in these environments provide effective learning environments. I have included a vlog as part of this week’s entry to give a snap shot of what my class looks like and some of the ways I use blended learning and infuse technology in my classroom. You can also see some of the experience I have on my eportfolio http://deanvendramin.weebly.com or follow me on Twitter @vendi55 Resources 21st Century Skills https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_century_skills ISTE Standards http://www.iste.org/standards/for-educators Microsoft Education Community https://education.microsoft.com/ Hash Tags to Follow #formativechat #Msfteduchat #rcsdconnect I'm super excited to start my Master's Journey. I have followed my path and advice of being a life long learner. I have been involved in educational technology through out my teaching journey and I continue to try to understand how to learn and teach with it (I'm pretty sure this will be a lifelong journey for sure). I am currently the Math/Science Leader at Archbishop M.C. O'Neill Catholic High School. I am very interested in learning more about online and blended learning in this course. I am also excited about connecting with others and growing my professional learning network. Of course learning a class from Alec is an experience I am very interested and excited about. Have I mentioned how excited I am about this??? I may have an opportunity to teach an online course in the near future so the timing for this is perfect. I am interested in: 1)How to design a robust online/blended experience 2)Want to find out how to motivate learners online 3)Differentiate lessons online 4)Teach digital citizenship in this environment 5)Best harness the power of social media to enrich and engage learners. I believe that online learning is here to stay and will continue to grow. I am excited to be a part of this exciting (there's that word again) course and learning experience. Over the past few years I have really turned to Twitter as a major source of my professional development. I am scrolling, reading, and commenting on Twitter basically daily plus adding my own content usually sticking to sharing my happenings in my class or projects I'm working on or have been a part of. I enjoy twitter chats and do a weekly chat on Mondays from 6:30-7:00 PM called #formative chat and have been involved in nation and global Tweet Meet ... here's a blog and Twitter Moment I created on this experience https://deanvendramin.weebly.com/blog/tweet-meet-is-sweet I also love compiling Tweets for my school (run O'Neill's Twitter Account) and myself ... for this I have Wakelet very useful here are a few compliations I have put together for myself - https://wakelet.com/@vendi55 You can follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/vendi55 or to learn more about me visit my eportfolio deanvendramin.weebly.com Checking in to ECI 834 on Zoom w/ Dr. Alec Couros.
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AuthorDean Vendramin. Educator for over 20 years. Currently Education Leader for Math/Science at Archbishop M.C. O'Neill Catholic High School. Have a passion for all things in education with emphasis on technology integration, assessment, professional development, and 21 Century Education. Posts are articles he has written for the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation monthly newsletter The Bulletin, Saskatchewan Math Teachers' Society The Variable, blog requests from memberships he is a part of, and his own thoughts. Archives
April 2019
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