I signed up for this course for a variety of reasons. In my work as an instructional designer, I don’t often build learning objects using technology myself, but it is important to know what is possible so that while I’m working with a subject matter expert, I can make suggestions for how we might incorporate technology to enrich learning activities. For example, I recently worked on a micro-course on individual resiliency for public safety employees. The subject matter wrote the content, but I created the review activities to solidify concepts. Our media team built the activities using H5P, but I provided the text and instructions for what to build. I needed to be familiar with the possibilities H5P provides to design these learning activities.
Throughout the pandemic, I have also become aware of my frustration with the conference format as a means of professional development, whether they be virtual or in-person events. I am willing to spend a relatively low amount to engage in a virtual conference as I know I won’t be able to fully engage for the full length of the conference but the expensive cost of travelling to attend an in-person conference no longer seems worth the experience. I have been considering pursuing further coursework so took this course in part to challenge myself to see if I could complete something. I was also looking forward to broadening my perspective through assigned readings and discussion with other instructors.
I believe technology can be used to enhance pedagogical strategies and increase student engagement if thoughtfully incorporated into courses. When I taught in the early 90’s I often used cut up cardstock to lift text off the page and make it more manipulable and engaging for students. This was a technique I learned while completing the preparatory course for my RSA Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults in the United Kingdom. For example, they might sort vocabulary into different categories or manipulate word order to form a complete sentences. These could even become races amongst teams of students. Using technology, these can now become drag and drop H5P activities, branching scenarios using Twine or quizzes using Slido.
While I no longer teach full-time in the classroom, I do lead groups of Girl Guides and I wonder if there are ways to incorporate those technologies into those experiences. I have used SPLOTs on WordPress such as the image collector to provide a safe space for girls to introduce themselves before meeting face to face for a trip. At the moment, I am leading groups that are in many ways too young to use technology for but if I return to an older age group who have their own devices, I would definitely use Slido to review concepts like a quiz related to Thinking Day in February.
I’m happy to report my experiment has been a success. I credit the variety of topics, the engaging instructors and the weekly synchronous sessions as important factors in my completing the course.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash