An alternative approach!
Hi! My name is Karen Jones and I live in North Vancouver and teach in Richmond, BC. This is my 22st year working in a small alternative program for grades 9 and 10 teens with behavioural issues, to whom I teach science and English. My B.Sc., B. Ed, and Diploma in Computing Studies were all obtained from UBC, and this is my seventh ETEC course. My teaching interests lay in creating supportive blended learning environments that address the diversity of learning styles, interests, and abilities of the students in our program.
Storefront location of Station Stretch Program
My focus in the MET program has developed to include issues of accessibility of online learning environments to students with learning disabilities. With ETEC 522, I am hoping to learn how to “pitch an idea” to effect change at different organizational levels within the system, from school to government.
Homer's Siren Rocks, Foca, Turkey
When not entertaining delusions of grandeur, ;-P I am occupied with travel, running, road & mountain biking, and skiing. After taking time off from MET this past summer, I look forward to gathering renewed inspiration from my colleagues in this course.
Looking forward to meeting you all!
Kayaking Indian Arm
David William Price 5:58 pm on September 6, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
You might be interested in this article on Neuromyths in education.
http://www.economist.com/node/9261727?story_id=9261727
Karen Jones 6:42 pm on September 6, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thanks for the link, David. I agree with the statement that it is dangerous to pigeonhole students as one type of learner or another. Ideally, in a perfect world, the educational path available to children would be comprised of a variety of choices regarding both topic and medium in which to engage and express learning. Unfortunately, we as teachers seem to constantly be reinventing the wheel, and discovering different approaches is dependent on access, time, and willingness to embrace change. Although there are many digital collections of materials, wouldn’t it be great if there was a searchable central innovative learning resources repository by province? country?
Just wishing:)
KJ
mcquaid 4:24 pm on September 7, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I think your wishes, Karen, will come true… perhaps sooner than one would think? I believe one of the most important aspects of the web and information in general now is how it is labelled, tagged, categorized, etc. With so much out there, people are going to need to find things by key words / tags more and more. With this becoming more common, finding info by place, subject, etc. should get easier… then we just have to decide what to do with everything BEFORE now. :S
Like you, I think a strength of tech can be things like blended environments that better support the “diversity of learning styles, interests, and abilities” of students.
Steve
BC seems like such a nice place… I really must visit. Even just for the sights & breweries if I can’t make it to see my relatives & friends! 😉