• Gain experience designing courses in LMS platforms
  • Apply past experiences with Bb learn courses by applying the best attributes of my favourite courses
  • Develop a deeper understanding of instructional design to engage online learners
  • Cultivate a skill set that is applicable to training and development sectors

Digital Tools/Technology I plan to focus on:

  • Utilizing wordpress website to develop blogging and web design skills
  • Catalogue a wide variety of knowledge with sites like “Scoop It” that aid in the Digital Curation of knowledge
  • Play with Google Classroom to develop

My experiences so far in the education system, have been as a K-12 Educator at both the Middle and Secondary levels. I have a background in Theatre and English, and was involved in acting from the time I was a teenager up until a few years into my teaching career. I find that teaching is often like improvising on stage because you are constantly selling to the audience and always going with the energy of the class. Plans often go out the window and the ability to be flexible and adaptable is really important. This year I have gone from teaching in two subject areas to five so it has been a huge eye opener to the importance of instructional design. I try to incorporate technology into the classroom and into my lesson planning, however, were are still at the point where there isn’t always enough to go around. Most of our staff is tech savvy when it comes to the use of technology and perhaps is why the carts or iPads are always booked. I can see this changing year to year, as our school seems to increase the amount of technology available year to year.

I am at the halfway point in my MET program and I have come a long way! When I took my first course, I didn’t even know how to use a Google Doc or even what it was. The design principles that I learned in ETEC 510 were really important in developing my online skills sets. Everything from learning how to do my first teacher website, to creating digital objects and pictures to make the layout more visually appealing, have made me appreciate the art of online instructional design. My favourite classes have always allowed for more informal class discussions that I think really help build a community of online learners. Even in the rigid structure of Bb (Blackboard Learn) some instructors were able to perfectly model the in depth learning and engagement that I would like to create on platforms like Google Classroom or any other LMS platform with my own students. As I continue to move through the program I want to continue to implement the strategies and tools I learn from each course while at the same time sharpening skill sets that may lead to other opportunities after graduation.