My Learning Journey
This page will give you an idea of my educational history - where I came from, where I am now and where I am going. It's been a long and interesting road but a good trip so far. I'm excited to see what's coming around the next bend.
My Metaphor for Teaching Online
“…all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea...we are going back from whence we came.”
~John Fitzgerald Kennedy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have always loved the ocean. Not necessarily swimming in it or even being out on it so much as sitting on a beach and watching it. I could watch the waves roll in for hours. They are mesmerizing in both their enormity and in their constant roiling motion. How the oceans tie us all together in this wonderful world of ours strikes me as well in that when I put my foot in the water I am touching Japan, Australia, even England or France. The ocean represents a common theme in my life – when times are tough, when I am challenged or tired – I find myself near an ocean and it rejuvenates me. It is where I find my calm.
A few years ago when I was travelling the Oregon coast with my family, I found a new love – lighthouses. These beacons of hope and light have always provided a route of safe passage for those on a journey. I was once again entranced - by their beauty, their mystique, their formidable endurance in all elements.
When choosing pictures to represent my learning journey I have chosen both lighthouses and ocean scenes - some that I have been to as well as those I would like to visit. These represent both my unknown future as well as the plotted path of my past. I have recently found myself on a new journey in the OLTD program – one that is both challenging and wonderful, and I am searching for new beacons -either people, projects or moments of clarity and conviction – that will guide me on my path. When I finish my journey, I foresee myself taking on that role and providing support and guidance to others through their own online learning journey. I aim to be that beacon for others and help them find their way. Therefore, my metaphor for teaching online is: I will be a beacon for my students as they navigate their own learning journeys.
I can only hope that at the end of this journey there is a wonderful beach on which I will sit and enjoy a sunset as the waves come crashing in.
photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle_dore/4103331038/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Additional Photos:
Where Have I Been? http://www.flickr.com/photos/pattym/46546407/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Where Am I Now? http://www.flickr.com/photos/snowpeak/5853302314/
Where Do I Want To Go? http://www.flickr.com/photos/chuckthewriter/4568766830/sizes/m/in/photostream/
How Am I Going To Get There? http://www.flickr.com/photos/jillig/2044295492/sizes/m/in/photostream/
How Will I Know When I Have Arrived? http://www.flickr.com/photos/98824615@N00/365476579/sizes/m/in/photostream/
~John Fitzgerald Kennedy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have always loved the ocean. Not necessarily swimming in it or even being out on it so much as sitting on a beach and watching it. I could watch the waves roll in for hours. They are mesmerizing in both their enormity and in their constant roiling motion. How the oceans tie us all together in this wonderful world of ours strikes me as well in that when I put my foot in the water I am touching Japan, Australia, even England or France. The ocean represents a common theme in my life – when times are tough, when I am challenged or tired – I find myself near an ocean and it rejuvenates me. It is where I find my calm.
A few years ago when I was travelling the Oregon coast with my family, I found a new love – lighthouses. These beacons of hope and light have always provided a route of safe passage for those on a journey. I was once again entranced - by their beauty, their mystique, their formidable endurance in all elements.
When choosing pictures to represent my learning journey I have chosen both lighthouses and ocean scenes - some that I have been to as well as those I would like to visit. These represent both my unknown future as well as the plotted path of my past. I have recently found myself on a new journey in the OLTD program – one that is both challenging and wonderful, and I am searching for new beacons -either people, projects or moments of clarity and conviction – that will guide me on my path. When I finish my journey, I foresee myself taking on that role and providing support and guidance to others through their own online learning journey. I aim to be that beacon for others and help them find their way. Therefore, my metaphor for teaching online is: I will be a beacon for my students as they navigate their own learning journeys.
I can only hope that at the end of this journey there is a wonderful beach on which I will sit and enjoy a sunset as the waves come crashing in.
photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle_dore/4103331038/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Additional Photos:
Where Have I Been? http://www.flickr.com/photos/pattym/46546407/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Where Am I Now? http://www.flickr.com/photos/snowpeak/5853302314/
Where Do I Want To Go? http://www.flickr.com/photos/chuckthewriter/4568766830/sizes/m/in/photostream/
How Am I Going To Get There? http://www.flickr.com/photos/jillig/2044295492/sizes/m/in/photostream/
How Will I Know When I Have Arrived? http://www.flickr.com/photos/98824615@N00/365476579/sizes/m/in/photostream/
OLTD Learning Outcomes
I'm including a list of our program outcomes here as a reminder to myself of what they are and to allow myself to check in every once in a while and ensure that I am still on track.
OLTD 501- Introduction to Online Learning Course Learning Outcomes:
The course will enable students to:
OLTD 502 - Digital Learning Continuum
This course will enable students to:
OLTD 503 - Online Communication
Students will:
OLTD 504 - Learning Management Systems
Through course activities, online discussions, readings and research it is expected that students will:
OLTD 505 - Open Educational Resources
Through course activities, online discussions, readings, and activities, it is expected that students will:
OLTD 506 - Social Media
OLTD Program Outcomes:
OLTD 507 - Cloud Computing
Through course activities, online discussions, readings, and activities, it is expected that students will:
OLTD 508 - Mobile Learning and Gaming
Through course activities, online discussions, readings and research it is expected that students will:
OLTD 509 - Emergent Environments and Technologies
Through course activities, collaboration, readings and research it is expected that students will:
OLTD 510 - Capstone Learnings
This course will enable students to demonstrate capstone learning from the OLTD Diploma Program, including understanding and familiarity with the core program outcomes:
OLTD 501- Introduction to Online Learning Course Learning Outcomes:
The course will enable students to:
- Become familiar with common terms, definitions and elements related to online environments
- Demonstrate basic competency with design and implementation within a variety of online learning environments and tools
- Understand, design and commit to student success in online learning environments
- Undertake engagement with environments through online facilitation for effective learning
- Engage in building learning communities and communities of practice
- Critically assess and evaluate resources for best practice in online learning
- Scaffold digital citizenship from K-12 to professional level of educators
- Consider responsibility, accountability and civility in online environments
- Integrate current cognitive learning and brain-based learning theory
- Examine current research around best practices
- Develop skills to optimize learning experiences through personalization (based on characteristics, needs, stages of development, current 21st Century personalized learning mandates, etc)
- Begin evidence and reflection collection in a D2L ePortfolio template to demonstrate course and program mastery
- Develop a Personal WebSpace to support your learning throughout the OLTD program
OLTD 502 - Digital Learning Continuum
This course will enable students to:
- Become familiar with common terms, definitions and elements related to face-to-face, blended and online learning environments.
- Demonstrate basic competency with design and implementation within face-to-face, blended and online learning environments.
- Plan learning opportunities most suitable to the strengths and challenges of face-to-face, blended and online learning environments.
- Develop and design intentional learning activities suitable for the learning environment and the learner
- Incorporation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles; and
- Selection of strategies and resources appropriate for the learning environment, learners, and learning outcomes.
- Create assessment and evaluation methods and tools most suitable to the strengths and challenges of face-to-face, blended and online learning environments.
- Integrate current cognitive learning and change management theory
- Examine current research on emerging practices for face-to-face, blended and online learning environments.
- Develop practical and technical skills in all phases of concept, development, design, implementation, etc. for face-to-face, blended and online learning environments.
- Develop skills to optimize learning experiences through personalization based on characteristics, needs, stages of development, current personalized learning mandates, and misconceptions.
- Continue from OLTD 501
- Engage in learning communities and communities of practice;
- Critically assess and evaluate resources for best practice in online learning;
- Consider responsibility, accountability and civility in online environments;
- Continue evidence and reflection collection in a D2L ePortfolio template to demonstrate course and program mastery; and
- Maintain a personal web space to support your learning throughout the OLTD program.
OLTD 503 - Online Communication
Students will:
- Become familiar with common terms, definitions and elements related to online environments
- Demonstrate basic competency with design and implementation within a variety of online learning environments and tools
- Plan learning opportunities most suitable to the strengths and challenges of a variety of environments
- Develop and design intentional learning activities suitable for the appropriate environment and the learner
- Select strategies and resources appropriate for environment, learners and learning outcomes
- Design inclusive learning environments
- Share engagement strategies and tips
- Undertake engagement with environments through online facilitation for effective learning
- Moderation and mediation
- Understand how to build rapport and manage groups
- engage in building learning communities and communities of practice
- Critically assess and evaluate resources for best practice in online learning
- Consider responsibility, accountability and civility in online environments
- Examine current research around best practices and emerging practices
OLTD 504 - Learning Management Systems
Through course activities, online discussions, readings and research it is expected that students will:
- Be familiar with common terms, definitions and elements related to Learning Management Systems (LMS) and non-LMS enviroments.
- Demonstrate basic competency with design and implementation within a variety of LMS and non-LMS environments and tools.
- Plan learning opportunities most suitable to the strengths and challenges of a variety of LMS and non-LMS environents.
- Create assessment and evaluation methods/tools most suitable to the strengths and challenges of LMS and non-LMS environments.
- Integration of current cognitive learning and brain-based learning theory.
- Examine current research around best practices and emerging practices for both LMS and non-LMS environments.
- Develop skills to optimize learning experiences through personalization based on characteristics, needs, stages of development, current personalized learning mandates, misconceptions, etc.
OLTD 505 - Open Educational Resources
Through course activities, online discussions, readings, and activities, it is expected that students will:
- Demonstrate familiarity with common terms, definitions, and elements related to Open Educational Resources (OERs) and, more generally, Open Education.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the history and foundations of open education, including conflicting viewpoints around the ownership of knowledge, copyright, and copyleft licenses.
- Identify, critically assess, and evaluate existing OERs, OER platforms, and repositories.
- Examine current research around best and emerging practices in OER design, development, and implementation.
- Articulate one's summary of learning in the course in a multimedia, online format.
- Share course-related learning with members of the course and greater educational community.
- Support the learning of classmate through discussion postings, blog comments, and social sharing activities..
OLTD 506 - Social Media
OLTD Program Outcomes:
- Become familiar with common terms, definitions and elements related to online environments.
- Demonstrate basic competency with design and implementation within a variety of online learning environment and tools
- Plan learning opportunities most suitable to the strengths and challenges of a variety of environments.
- Develop and design intentional learning activities suitable for the appropriate environment and the learner.
- Understand, design and commit to student success in online learning environments
- Critically assess and evaluate resources for best practice in online learning
- Create assessment and evaluation methods/tools most suitable to the strengths and challenges of online environments
- Scaffold digital citizenship from K-12 to professional level of educators
- Develop practical and technical skills in all phases of concept, development, design, implementation, etc.
- Develop skills to optimize learning experiences through personalization.
OLTD 507 - Cloud Computing
Through course activities, online discussions, readings, and activities, it is expected that students will:
- Become comfortable with cloud tools through hands on experimentation
- Identify appropriate use of cloud tools in an online course
- Identify appropriate use of cloud tools in a flipped classroom
- Develop an online unit or lesson using cloud tools effectively
- Discuss best practice for using the cloud considering BC FIPPA laws
OLTD 508 - Mobile Learning and Gaming
Through course activities, online discussions, readings and research it is expected that students will:
- Be familiar with common terms, definitions and elements related to mobile learning and gaming environments
- Demonstrate basic competency with design and implementation within a variety of mobile learning and gaming environments
- Plan learning opportunities most suitable to the strengths and challenges of a variety of mobile learning and gaming environments
- Develop and design intentional learning activities suitable for the appropriate mobile learning and gaming environments and the learner (i.e. incorporation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and selection of strategies and resources appropriate for environment, learners and learning outcomes
- Critically assess and evaluate resources for best practice in mobile learning and gaming environments
- Create assessment and evaluate methods/tools most suitable to the strengths and challenges of the specific environment
- Integration of current cognitive learning and educational gaming theory and examination of current research around best and emerging practices
- Develop practical and technical skills in all phases of concept, development, design, implementation, etc. within mobile learning and gaming environments
- Develop skills to optimize learning experiences through personalization based on characteristics, needs, stages of development, current personalized learning mandates, and misconceptions
OLTD 509 - Emergent Environments and Technologies
Through course activities, collaboration, readings and research it is expected that students will:
- Be familiar with common terms, definitions and elements related to emerging technologies
- Research and identify emerging technologies with educational applications not yet adopted by mainstream education or in early adoption phases.
- Examine current research around technology adoption, best practices for change management and technology integration.
- Adapt or develop a framework for assessing emerging technologies.
- Consider potential design/implementation opportunities and challenges of emerging technologies.
- Discuss potential digital citizenship and appropriate use issues.
OLTD 510 - Capstone Learnings
This course will enable students to demonstrate capstone learning from the OLTD Diploma Program, including understanding and familiarity with the core program outcomes:
- Be familiar common terms, definitions and elements related to online environments;
- Demonstrate basic competency with design and implementation within a variety of online learning environments and tools;
- Plan learning opportunities most suitable to the strengths and challenges of a variety of environments;
- Develop and design intentional learning activities suitable for the appropriate environment and the learner;
- Understand, design and work to support student success;
- Undertake engagement with environment through online facilitation for effective learning;
- Critically assess and evaluate resources for best practice in online learning;
- Create assessment and evaluation methods/tools most suitable to the strengths and challenges of the specific environment;
- Scaffold digital citizenship from K-12 to professional level of educators;
- Integration of current cognitive learning and brain-based learning theory;
- Examine current research around best practices and emerging practices;
- Develop practical and technical skills in all phases of concept, development, design, implementation, etc.;
- Develop skills to optimize learning experiences through personalization; and
- Engage in service learning.