Topics Found Most Valuable:
Resources and platforms: I found WordPress, ChatGPT, CrAIyon, and Mattermost to be valuable. These platforms are user-friendly and will be beneficial in some way for my future career as a teacher.
Open Educational Resources (OERs): Understanding the concept and benefits of OERs and exploring platforms like OER Commons were valuable experiences for me. As well, learning about Creative Commons licensing and how to properly attribute an image is a big takeaway.
Internet safety: Jesse Miller’s presentation on internet safety, privacy, and online professionalism resonated with me, especially in the context of technology use in education.
Content creation vs curation: I found clarity in distinguishing between content creation and content curation and see the value in teaching both to future students. I also think I successfully transformed from a content hoarder/dumper to more of a content curator (or at least closer to that).
Inclusivity and accessibility: Discussions around inclusivity, accessibility, and reducing systemic barriers in traditional classrooms were valuable, especially insights into universal supports and accessibility tools. I appreciated that this was a common thread in almost every class and guest speaker presentation, which made me more optimistic about the future of teaching!
Topics Found Most Challenging:
WordPress privacy settings: Initially, I found the series of steps involving permissions and privacy settings on WordPress to be confusing. I felt super supported, however, by Andrew, classmates, and online forums and tutorials. My learning has come a long way.
Copyright and Fair Dealing: I am still not super familiar or comfortable with the Copyright Act and the idea of Fair Dealing, but I think even having it brought to my attention was an important first step. It is not something I would have been exposed to for a while if it had not been for this course.
Applying Learnings to Teaching Practice:
Integration of tech: I will incorporate the various educational technologies I have explored in this class into my teaching practice to enhance learning experiences for my students. This could be digital countdown timers, mood music playlists, Menti, Kahoot!, and Google Classroom, among many more.
Utilizing OERs: I will utilize OERs to provide freely accessible and openly licensed educational materials to my students. This resource bank epitomizes accessibility and the importance of reducing/eliminating educational costs.
Digital citizenship education: I will incorporate lessons on digital citizenship, internet safety, and online professionalism to equip my students with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the digital world responsibly.
Inclusive and accessible teaching: I will implement universal supports, varied teaching approaches, and accessibility tools to accommodate different learning styles, abilities, and needs in my classroom. I will foster a welcoming and inclusive classroom environment where all students feel safe to express themselves, participate actively, and celebrate diversity!!
In Summary…
My reflections highlight a strong commitment to leveraging technology, promoting critical thinking, and advocating for inclusivity and accessibility in education. By applying these learnings to my teaching practice, I can create a more engaging, inclusive, and student-centred learning environment that prepares students for the challenges and opportunities of the world outside the classroom.
That being said, my most valuable takeaway from this course was seeing what it means to be a supportive, communicative, committed, and enthusiastic educator. Throughout the semester, Andrew modelled all of these attributes. Whether it was his energy in class, organized communication, a quick response on Mattermost, or a general well-being check-in, I always felt supported and comfortable, which are two qualities I hope my future students feel too.
In talking with Tegan and Markus, they agreed that the level of support in this class was unmatched! Tegan mentioned how accommodating you were when she had to miss classes for basketball, and Markus appreciated your great feedback on his blog posts.
*This post was written with editorial assistance from ChatGPT*
