Author: dancer111 (Page 1 of 2)

What is open pedagogy?

Open Pedagogy is an educational method that values:

• cooperation
• student empowerment
• and the creation of shared knowledge

This technique varies from normal teaching approaches in that it promotes active participation and collaborative creation of material rather than old school curriculum and one-way transfer of knowledge.

Open Pedagogy allows both students and educators alike to create and share knowledge through jointly designed course materials, student-generated research projects, and open-access learning tools.

OER’s Role and Impact:

Open educational resources, also known as OER, can transform the educational landscape by lowering cost barriers, expanding access to great resources, and enabling customisable content that caters to a range of student requirements, having the potential to completely change the way schools operate.

The availability of flexible resources that accommodate many learning styles is a benefit of utilizing open educational resources (OER) in my own education. OER is more adaptable to my needs than standard textbooks, which makes my learning more interesting.

Check out the podcast video (subtitles available); it has great insights on how OER improves accessability.

By eliminating barriers related to geography and income, OER, in my opinion, helps to make education more accessible and equal. The same excellent tools are available to students from all backgrounds, bridging the educational divide, and making the “playing field” equal.

Global Trends in OER:

I believe that the growing institutional and governmental support for open education policy is the most significant global trend in OER. Many institutions are funding open-access programs to encourage lifelong learning.

There are challenges for many nations and institutions implementing OER. Even while OER increases accessibility and reduces expenses, issues like digital gaps and resource quality problems still exist. These challenges are being addressed, nonetheless, by technological developments and support for the implementation of OER.

Photo by Teemu Paananen on Unsplash

Understanding Creative Commons Licensing:

OER relies heavily on Creative Commons license because it permits educators and students to use, modify, and share materials in a way that respects intellectual property rights.

It is easier for me to use, modify, and distribute educational materials ethically when I am aware of these licenses. I can modify and change content while maintaining correct credit if I understand the various access levels.

Incorporating CC-licensed graphics and instructional resources into presentations while correctly citing the original artists is one way I use Creative Commons licensing at school. Like the picture you see to the right and below!

Attributes of Open Pedagogy:

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Open pedagogy’s key attributes include collaboration transparency and student-centred learning. This attribute can be implemented in my educational practice by:

• Supporting group projects
• Keeping lines of communication open
• and motivating students to participate actively in their education

By encouraging a diversity of ideas and encouraging students to produce and share knowledge, they help to create a more inclusive and interactive learning environment. Students who actively participate in the learning process are more engaged and develop a sense of having control over the process. A win win!

https://rainbowbaby339.opened.ca/category/edci339/

Hi Percy,

I’m glad I got to read another one of your blog posts. You did a great job at breaking down the key points of UDL. I really resonated with your personal experience of visual aids because it made me realize how every student processes information differently and it’s so important that systems are in place to allow each student to thrive. I agree about what you said about how 1 way of learning won’t work for every student. Have you found any accessibility tools that have helped improve you’re online learning?

Looking forward to reading

https://learntech.opened.ca/category/edci335/edci-335-posts/

Hi Vicki,

I’m glad I got to read another one of your blog posts. It’s great to see how you outlined the specific issues students may come across about UDL. I love your example about healthy food, the real world example makes it’s easier to understand and relate to. I remember you shared that you are a teacher have you noticed in a classroom setting that students respond better when education has personal examples?

Looking forward to reading your next blog post

E

What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?

Universal Design for Learning, also known as UDL, is a framework that supports inclusion,  and creating accessible learning for all students.

This framework helps to create a more inclusive learning environment by having multiple means of engagement, representation, action and expression. Having numerous different ways to motivate students and present content allows for greater accessibility, as each student can find a learning format that works for them regardless of ability or skill.

I think UDL can be applied in physical and digital classrooms to support diverse learning in similar ways both classroom settings can create flexible lectures, including self-taught, self-paced work, as well as guided assignments from the instructor. This variation makes sure each student resonates with at least one form of lecture.

Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

Katie Novak wrote a fascinating book about UDL called UDL NOW! Which is a guide for teachers to integrate UDL learning into their classroom. The video below shares Novak’s discussion of the key principles to keep students engaged and ensure inclusivity. This video is relevant to our course learning as it helps give contacts to what UDL is and how to implement it in real-life situations. Click Here to watch the video and feel more empowered on how to integrate UDL into your classroom!

Ensuring Accessibility in Online Settings:

Many elements should be in place to make online learning accessible for all students. Some specific tools that can help ensure everyone has equitable access to digital resources include:

• Closed captioning
• Text to Speech
• Recorded Lectures
• Customizing settings- such as text size, photo size,

I see accessibility playing a role in my learning through the use of recorded lectures. If there’s a day that I am sick and cannot be in class in person are utilize the tool of looking back on lectures that were recorded this allows me to keep up with my peers and not fall behind.

The video below shows how important it is to consider these topics and continue to apply them to all online settings. It affects students just like you and me!

Press this to see the impact accessibility makes

Ethical Challenges of EdTech:

Educational technology has pros and cons. The pros include increased accessibility and different forms of lectures for students including videos, which can be more engaging to students.

However, there are some potential ethical issues related to using edtech in the classroom. Such as cyber security threats, privacy concerns, and increasing students’ screen time.

Educators must balance the benefits of technology with considering the concerns of privacy, data security and equity. They can do this by:

1. educating students on the importance of protecting themselves and others while online.
2. This should be a part of each class’s curriculum, setting students up for success online and empowering them to make good choices.

Online Learning has an increased emergence following the pandemic, some institutions have adapted well and they have continued with the online model, yet it still has some issues that must be addressed…

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13520-022-00148-z

Ethical Considerations in Digital Interactions:

Many ethical considerations arise in digital interactions. In learning and online social environments such as Digital Divide. This is the divide between people who have access to technology and Wi-Fi and the gap between those who don’t have the same access.

We have a responsibility as participants in online communities to support and respect others and be aware of accessibility issues. In the past, I knew a student whose computer broke down and couldn’t afford a new one I was happy to give them my old computer to bridge that gap and support their learning online!

To ensure my digital interactions are respectful inclusive and ethical, I will continue to engage respectfully, and be mindful of the digital divide.

https://medium.com/@ShwetaBarupal/digital-divide-a-critical-analysis-7156333237f7

By putting dance classes onto Zoom instead of just cancelling them all together it allowed for us students to continue learning remotely. Our dance teachers were very empathetic and gave us a lot of leeway is it was not an easy transition. Classes were recorded for students who weren’t able to attend live. The teachers also made modifications if the student’s living rooms were too small to do the full routine.

Photo by Hudson Hintze on Unsplash

Improvements to ensure all learners were supported effectively even further could have included clearer instructions for movements because the screen was so small, sometimes I had to guess what the correct formation and dance positions were (I won’t bore you with the technical dance terms).

What is Pedagogy? 

https://www.skillshub.com/what-is-pedagogy-in-education-and-learning/

• The methods and practices of teaching
• Balance of science and art of educating
• Considers the needs of students individually

To me, Pedagogy means more than just teaching. It is fostering an environment that meets the needs of students with all sorts of learning styles. An example of how it influenced my learning was with my math teacher. He knew that I had a hard time with numbers, so he got a whiteboard to make it visual and used real-life experiences like grocery shopping. This modification allowed me to thrive and have a chance at succeeding like the rest of my classmates. It influences how I want to teach in the future because it taught me the value of being understood and seen. Instead of him making fun of me or telling me I was bad at math, he simply taught me the same curriculum in a way that made sense to my brain.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

What is Networked Pedagogy?

• A teaching approach that focuses on connection
• Through digital networks connecting people, ideas, and resources
• Interconnected learning environment
• Allows for student engagement and being a part of their own learning journey

Networked Pedagogy in Action:

I think Networked Pedagogy can enhance my learning experience by allowing me to gain knowledge from other perspectives. I believe it is important in your academic career to learn from others’ opinions, life experiences and values ( even if you don’t relate, you can learn a lot!)

An example of how connecting with others online has contributed to my education is my online class last semester. I was put into a random group for a project and met students online to complete our project together. One student I met online was in the same program as me, and we became friends. I connected with her over similar values, and we became study buddies in real life. If it weren’t for the online class, I would have never connected with her.

Technology plays a significant role in fostering these connections because it allows for connecting with others online, and collaborating.

Social Learning Theory:

• Learning through watching others
• Shows the value of social interaction and observing others in order to learn themselves

https://www.gerardfriel.com/instructional-design/social-learning-theory/

Social Learning Theory  in Practice:

Social Learning Theory resonates with me as I’m a visual learner and thrive through observing others.

This theory can be applied to an online learning environment through the use of video-based demonstrations. Although it is an online class, teachers can have Zoom ( or prerecorded ) videos that show examples and “how tos”.

I see this theory shaping my approach to learning because I am a visual learner. I thrive academically when I see someone else share an example instead of needing to rely on written descriptions or memorization. I hope to utilize this knowledge in my teaching in the future with all learning theories to be able to help all types of learners!

See the article attached below for a deep dive into each learning theory:

Learning theories and online learning

The Role of the Instructor

Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash

Many qualities are essential for instructors to be effective in a digital space. It might be the students’ first time doing an online class, so patience for technical difficulties is necessary. It’s important to keep online learning fun and engaging to help students feel connected to their classmates as well as their teacher.

During Covid, I saw firsthand the integration of online learning. Most teachers adapted to the transition; some did not. In the same way we must have patience for students in an online classroom, we must also have patience for instructors. I was in high school during Covid, and I saw that the teachers who were struggling the most to keep students engaged were the ones who simply put the in-person curriculum online. The teachers that succeeded were the ones that were tech savvy and able to integrate all sorts of fun online activities to keep us students engaged.

This is a short video of a teacher in New York posted by Forbes:

This helps us have compassion for the rapid transition instructors endured.

What are Digital Spaces?

Photo by Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash

Digital spaces are:

• Environments online where you can interact with others, learn and communicate.
• An example is social media platforms
• Digital spaces allow for international connection at any time

I  have experience with digital spaces in the context of both academic and social settings. There are many benefits of learning in digital environments, such as learning from afar and more flexibility with scheduling. There are also negatives to learning in digital environments, such as lacking in-person social connection with peers. Sometimes, people feel more comfortable leaving unkind comments online because they are behind a screen. How I am sure I am contributing positively to the digital communities I’m a part of is by respecting the opinions of others, being mindful that what I post or share won’t upset other users, and creating an environment where others feel heard and understood.

This article is written by many members of the LinkedIn community to help further foster positive support online.

https://www.linkedin.com/advice/1/how-can-you-foster-positive-supportive-online-community#:~:text=2-,1%20Define%20your%20purpose,tone%20for%20your%20online%20interactions.