I’m Rika and I currently reside in Oakville, Ontario and teach in Mississauga at Peel District School Board in Kindergarten. Earlier this year, I was teaching online grade 1/2 and one of my challenges was turning lessons mobile for some students (as I found it may look different from those learning from laptops and computers) and navigating how to support them remotely with little help to no help from an adult. When I say turn lessons mobile, I mean, how can I achieve the hands-on, inquiry-based learning aspect that research has shown to be important to young students’ success in mobile learning? I am hoping to delve into answering this question in some way.
I’ve been with PDSB for a year and previously was an ECE with TDSB and George Brown College. I am currently in my 7th and 8th course of the MET program. I am still navigating the new territories of teaching and being a mother of an 18 month and 7 year-old, and somehow striking a balance! Whatever that means.
I completed my Diploma of ECE at George Brown, then a BA in Early Childhood Studies before pursuing my BEd in Primary education to my current studies in MET.
When not studying or working, I am a singer/performer and hold bi-yearly performances around summertime and Christmas Time. I also enjoy family time at Wonderland (amusement park), backyard BBQ time, nature walks, bike rides and traveling when and if we can (without the restrictions).
Looking forward to the learning and getting to know (or know better) the fellow classmates in this course.
Great to meet you Rika! I grew up in Ontario and have awesome memories of attending Canada’s Wonderland as a child. It is such a great place to spend during the summer!
Since I had a brief stint substituting in a Grade 1 class of random, uncontrolled movement of children constantly colliding with others and objects, I have admired early childhood specialists – and now add in a virtual classroom.
Hi Rika, great to meet you! I admire that with all you have going on that you are able to fit the art of singing and performance into your life. What a great role model you are for your children ????
Hello Rika. I hear you about the work/life balance.
Hands-on and inquiry-based learning is a hard skill for online and mobile learners when we have to rely on the home facilitators to execute our plans. Especially for K/1 learners I’ve found. A lot of my lessons are around supporting the parents of these students who are helping guide the lessons and teaching them about mobile friendly options to help facilitate the inquiry based learning. I look forward to working with you.
Hi Rika, thanks for telling us about your background. I admire your capabilities in handling work, being a mom of two kids, and still managing your courses successfully. You are incredible! It’s nice to hear this course is helpful for your work situation. I’m so looking forward to hearing stories that happen in your classroom of how toddlers encounter mobile learning and online learning.