Category: edci339 Blog Posts

Open Pedagogy – What Is It?

To some pedagogy may be an intimidating word. However, the concept of pedagogy, in particular, open pedagogy, has a key aspect that makes it easy to understand – collaboration. Unlike a traditional teacher to student method, open pedagogy incorporates open educational resources in order to educate. Students can use public knowledge to better their learning journey, which also allows for active participation. Both students and teachers can benefit from this because it creates an engaging environment where people can bounce off each other and gain insight from others’ knowledge.

Open educational Resources

Open educational resources are crucial to open pedagogy. They are free, openly licensed, accessible resources. They include textbooks, articles, notes, etc. that all students can use and modify. OER’s are a huge stepping stone in accessibility because there is no need for students to purchase resources for their course.

I recently had a class in which no purchase of a textbook or resources was required. Instead, my instructor used open resources and was able to provide the course information from many different sources each week. In my experience, this allowed for a wide variety of resources to be used and looked at, which made the course 10x more exciting. I find that textbooks can get repetitive, and when watching videos, listening to podcasts, or reading journal articles, I found that it was more engaging to me as a student.

In this TED Talk , Katie Gosa discusses open educational resources that students can use instead of having to buy an overpriced textbook. 

Global Trends of OER (Challenges and Opportunities)

Though open educational resources are designed to make learning more accessible, it has both positive and negative impacts. below is a comparison of both challenges and opportunities that arise from OER.

Understanding Creative Commons Licensing 

Creative commons licensing is a means for clear guidelines when using and sharing resources. CC licenses allow educators and students to confidently use resources that will not undermine the original creator. An example of a CC license is the CC BY license. This license allows for freely sharing altered materials as it permits usage and adaption with credit. Understanding this specific license would allow me to be certain that I will not be prosecuted for misusing resources I need.

This link provides a more in-depth explanation of the importance of creative commons licenses, so that you too can use resources in the right way.

Attributes of Open Pedagogy

Below are 3 core attributes that shape ope pedagogy.

Collaboration – Putting collaboration into practice of pedagogy entails promoting peer review and group projects as well as the development of common knowledge. 

Transparency – Involving students in the course design process, outlining learning objectives in detail, and candidly addressing assessment standards will all help to ensure that all students are aware of what is expected of them. 

Student centred learning – Giving students the freedom to co-create material, reflect on their education, and take charge of their educational path is a key component of implementing a student-centred strategy.

The image below illustrates all the concepts of open pedagogy and connect to the key concepts above.

https://muraludg.org/topics/open-pedagogy/

Thanks for reading!

What is the universal design for learning?

To understand this week’s topic it is pivotal to understand what the Universal Design for Learning is. The UDL is an educational development strategy that prioritizes diverse and inclusive teaching methods to accommodate all types of learners. 

It consists of 3 key elements: Providing multiple means of 

1. Engagement
2. Representation
3. Expression

The UDL ensures that all students are able to participate by having various modes of accessibility, while keeping content engaging to each individual. I think UDL can be beneficial in both a physical and a digital classroom. For example, in a physical classroom, it offers various types of assessment methods that support different needs. While in a digital setting, it makes use of different online learning platforms and programs, such as the one we use for this blog, to diversify the content.

Below is a visual to illustrate the concepts of UDL.

Overview of UDL Picture

How can we ensure accessibility in an online setting?

There are many different aspects that can contribute to a successful online learning environment. In order to accommodate all students, certain measures such as closed captions or speech tools have to be put in place for those with disabilities. On top of this, having the content in an array of formats (video, text, etc.) provides students with options in order to benefit them. Apart from disability measures, having an easy to navigate and clear online structure is another helpful aspect. In my own learning, the Uvic CAL program provided me with some extra time and quiet space I needed when I was in first year, and made my testing experience coincide with what I needed to do well.

I have provided a link to the Uvic CAL website, it might help you out too! 

EdTech and Student Security

The main ethical consideration of EdTech I want to touch on is the privacy of students. Students’ sensitive data can be collected, and in some cases can be used. It’s very important to protect students’ privacy. I think educators can still use EdTech to enhance learning, but should pay close attention to the privacy laws and regulations of the programs/websites they are using. A little research may go a long way.

A respectful online environment

Continuing with the topic of ethical learning and privacy, it is very important for students to understand and comply with online ethical guidelines. This means students need to be very aware of their peers’ privacy, and be mindful about sharing others’ information. Confidentiality is a huge ethical consideration. Along with this, contributing to an ethical and inclusive environment means upholding respect online. There is no room for bullying, negative comments, or harassment. I try my best to welcome all diverse views, and disengage from any harmful online behaviour.

Below is a TED Talk with some more information on online safety.

Connecting UDL to my own experiences

The first thing that comes to mind is my experience with an online learning environment during COVID. During this time, all students had to have access to the internet in order to participate. My school made sure to give out computers to those who did not have technology at home, which is part of the accessibility category of the UDL. However, they did not account for internet access, which could have greatly affected those who did not have access at home, and did not provide for an equal learning experience.

Thanks for Reading 🙂

Pedagogy

Pedagogy is all about the practice of teaching and the methods that teaching entails. As a learner, the concept of pedagogy assists me in dissecting the ways in which I am learning, as well as the methods my instructors are using. The most prominent aspect of pedagogy to me is the way that my teachers enhance my learning. I find that formative feedback has helped me the most, as I can promptly see what I am doing right, as well as what I am doing wrong. It provides me with a guideline to improve, rather than me having to guess.

Image Link: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftilt.colostate.edu%2Fprodev%2Fteaching-effectiveness%2Ftef%2Finclusive-pedagogy%2Fip-pedagogical-practices%2F&psig=AOvVaw3Rg55a-WHuAwNuK3A2VK0V&ust=1727922106465000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCIiWl9DR7ogDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAu

Networked pedagogy

I think networked pedagogy is a main factor that enhances my learning in a positive way. The ability to connect and compare with my peers allows me to reflect on my own work and gain feedback from them. Our EDCI blog is a prime example – my ability to observe and take away from my beers’ blogs will help me throughout this semester in using them as inspiration to improve my own blog. This use of technology fosters a connected environment amongst students, where we can communicate and collaborate anytime, anywhere. 

Learning theories: Cognitivism

Cognitivism is the learning theory that most clearly resonates with me, it focuses on how the mind processes and stores information. Cognitivism is the prime way that I study. I use cognitive hues and shortcuts that assist me in memorizing the information I need to know .

When applied to an online environment, cognitivism is very important in navigating online tools. Since you are presented with an abundance of information when fully online, cognitivism helps students organize and store information in a manner that is ordered and makes sense. I will continue to use cognitivism throughout my learning, but especially when I am faced with a large amount of information I have to memorize.

Role of The Instructor

From my experience when online, instructors have to be prompt in communication in order to create an effective environment. I find that getting started with new online forums can be difficult to navigate. If instructors provide step-to-step tutorials on how to set up such forums, it provides for a smooth transition to a new online learning environment. They must be able to swiftly reply to emails/questions so that students are able to move forward with the course. In the past, I have found that a well organized course page is what has made a big difference. When it is easy to find certain resources and instructions, it makes online learning extremely more positive.

Digital Spaces

From personal experience, I find there are both positive and negative aspects that coincide with digital environments. It allows for accessible connection with others. You are able to have flexibility versus an in person format. You also have access to many resources you may not have otherwise. However, it can sometimes be a less personal, faceless environment. The downside of an online environment is that you are unable to connect in real life, which makes the connection and feedback more less personal and less trustable. Through a learning lens, it is important for students to contribute positively to their online environment by providing constructive feedback. Students should ensure that they point out suggestions, instead of faults in order to help others grow.

Thanks for reading!