Three things that you may be able to put into practice in your teaching and how they could impact your learners

Three things I can implement in my teaching are network learning, making learning visible, and open educational practices.

 Networked Learning: Dr. Alec Couros defines network learning as the idea that networks matter in education and are one of the most important concepts in teaching and learning in the 21st century. He emphasizes the significance of social networks in teaching and learning, the role they play in connecting individuals and facilitating learning experiences. Learners benefit from increased access to information and resources, collaboration with peers, and the sharing of knowledge.

 Making Learning Visible: This involves showcasing and sharing the learning process, progress, and outcomes. It empowers students, increases motivation and engagement, and encourages peer collaboration. Examples include presentations, projects, discussions, exhibitions, and multimedia creations.

 Open Educational Practices: Open educational practices involve “ collaborative practices that include the creation, use, and reuse of OER, as well as pedagogical practices employing participatory technologies and social networks for interaction, peer-learning, knowledge creation, and empowerment of learners.” (Cronin, 2017). Benefits for the learners include access to high-quality resources, develop digital literacies, promote social learning,  customized learning experiences, and collaboration and knowledge sharing among learners.

Implementing these practices in my teaching context will equip learners with essential digital skills, ensure inclusivity and engagement, and provide access to high-quality educational resources.

 

Two things that you need to be increasingly aware of in your current use of technology that you would like to change or improve

In my current utilization of technology, there are two aspects that demand increasing awareness: my mental health and well-being, as well as privacy and data protection.

Throughout the day, I heavily rely on computers and other digital devices for work and school-related projects. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed negative effects on my eyesight and sleep patterns due to prolonged computer usage. My vision has deteriorated, necessitating a new prescription for my glasses, and I struggle to fall asleep at night, particularly if I engage in computer work before bedtime. The increased reliance on technology significantly impacts my overall mental well-being. I need to establish a balance between technology usage and offline activities.

Privacy and data protection present another crucial area for caution. Recently, I experienced a distressing incident when providing my credit card information online for a free trial subscription. Despite discontinuing the subscription within the trial period, the company continued to charge my credit card monthly. Canceling my credit card was the only way to resolve this issue. This unfortunate encounter served as a valuable lesson, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding personal data and maintaining stringent privacy practices.

 

 One recommendation you would like to make to your institution about the use of technology that would have a potentially wider impact across the institution

One recommendation I would like to propose to my institution, with the potential for a broad impact across the organization, is the adoption of a learning management system (LMS). Presently, our school operates without the utilization of any LMS, resulting in instructors having to manage various tasks manually, such as grading, exam scores, and performance reports.

I would like to suggest the implementation of a robust LMS, such as Moodle, Canvas, D2L Brightspace, or Blackboard. The introduction of a comprehensive LMS can offer numerous advantages to our school, for example,  it provides a centralized platform for efficient course management, enables upload and deliver of course activities, allows access and sharing of high-quality online learning resources, data and reports, grading, and assignment submission. By utilizing an LMS, we can establish consistent and streamlined processes across all courses, facilitating effective communication between students and faculty.

Considering the size of our school, the adoption of a robust LMS has the potential to generate a substantial impact across the entire institution.

 

 One thing that could help improve teaching with technology in your area

Canva is a technology tool that has the potential to greatly enhance teaching in my area. I was introduced to Canva during the EDDL-5131 course, and since then, it has become an integral part of my teaching practice.

As a popular web-based graphic design tool, Canva offers a vast array of templates, elements, text styles, and backgrounds. Its value in the education field is immense, providing numerous benefits such as increased student engagement, collaboration, and visual communication. Moreover, it fosters creativity in the classroom, develops design skills in both students and teachers, and enables timely assessment and feedback. Additionally, Canva offers significant time and cost savings in terms of production for teachers, and its seamless integration with other classroom tools makes it even more versatile and user-friendly.

 

References

Bouchrika, I. (MAY 9, 2023). List of learning management systems for schools and  universities.https://research.com/software/list-of-learning-management-systems-for-schools-and-universities

Connected Learning Alliance. (2013). Professor Alec Couros: “The connected teacher” [Video]. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/46442363

Cronin, C. (2017). Openness and praxis: Exploring the use of open educational practices in higher education. International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning,18(5). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v18i5.3096

Ugwu II, P. (2022, Dec 6). Blog Using Canva for education. https://patugwu.com/

Valamis. (May 10, 2023).What is an LMS? LMS Overview.

https://www.valamis.com/hub/what-is-an-lms