I have worked as the LMS Blackboard Connect for the Biology department at UBC now for 3 years. Although I am not a teacher, I work alongside instructors to help them create their course websites and implement various technological tools to improve, enrich and enhance the learning experience for students.
Designing and developing digital-age learning experiences and assessments:
Upon reflecting on my own skill and confidence using learning technologies, I would have to say that designing and developing digital-age learning experiences and assessments is where I feel most comfortable. In creating formative assessment, I try to use various question types (multiple choice, short answers, mix and match, etc.) that are suitable and effective in helping instructors determine whether students grasp the material and what content students have difficulties with. In addition, certain assessments are created for practice, such that students are given unlimited attempts. I feel that this approach allows students to learn from their mistakes in a fail-safe environment, as there are no high stakes associated with these types of assessments.
Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity:
I have developed a blog for a 3rd year biology course that serves as a study guide and an activity that promotes active learning. For each course unit, students are to create and submit 5 high quality study questions to the blog. Students are then expected to answer these questions, which generates active participation, discussions, as well as feedback among peers. Students are informed that out of all the generated study questions, 5 will be selected for the essay portion of the final exam. Therefore, if students are able to answer all questions on the blog, they should excel in that portion of the exam. Not only does this method provide students with clear goals and guides them through their learning, but there is genuine excitement among students to participate in the creation of the questions that may appear in the final exam. In addition, this approach promotes engagement, self-assessment, reflection, and meaningful discussions among students.
I feel as though there is still a lot of room for me to improve in this area. I have a strong interest in learning new ways to promote creativity in learning activities, such as having students collaborate on projects using videos, wiki, audio in demonstrating their knowledge.
Engage in professional growth and leadership:
Part of my job involves training various instructors on how to use Connect in order to best meet their instructional needs. In the process, I have to sometimes think “outside the box” or attend workshops in order to find ways to help instructors meet their needs and goals. In turn, this forces me to explore new technologies or find alternative ways to better use the ones I’m comfortable with. So far, the MET program has proven to be a significant and valuable aspect in my professional growth, as every course has exposed me to new ideas, tools and approaches that I am able to apply at work and share with other instructors.
Model digital-age work and learning:
This program has definitely allowed me to model various ways of using technology effectively. Whenever I learn something that could be beneficial for students, I am always eager to share the information with instructors and demonstrate how certain technologies can be used to achieve a certain goal.
Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibilities:
This is definitely an area in which I need to improve. I haven’t had many opportunities to develop activities or content that touches on this very important subject. Therefore, I hope to learn effective and interactive ways in which this topic can be taught.
As with anything in life, there is always room for improvement. Therefore, I look forward to learning many things in this course that will inevitably lead me to new experiences, expose me to new concepts and provide me new skills.