Response to Erin Fletcher's Blog Post #2

Photo from Erin Fletcher's Blog

Feedback on Erin Fletcher's blog post #2 regarding topic #2 questions: How would you describe the historical and theoretical trends in k-12 online and distributed learning? What did you already know, what do you know now based on the course readings and activities, what do you hope to learn?

Erin, your second blog post is very thought-provoking! I connected with your opening statement that we are “going into a profession that is very adaptable”. Personally, this is one of the most exciting parts of teaching because we are allowed to make changes and try new things that will help our students. Part of the reason why I fell in love with teaching, was that each day will never be the same, and I know the instruction methods will look different every year than the year before. It is interesting to reflect on our own K-12 learning experiences and remind ourselves how much the education systems have changed in a few short years. I can also remember only has exposure to computer labs to complete typing challenges on program All The Right Type, and the occasional movie day with the TV cart, computers for research project in high school. It is astonishing to be in classrooms in 2020 and see all the Chromebooks, iPads, and the various online tool and applications available for students. I wonder if I had more online tools to enhance learning, if I would have developed a better understanding in subjects like Math and English at a young age.

I appreciate the assertion that teachers must all be learners for life. This is an imperative component to ensure that students are getting a current and innovate learning experience, rather than a learning environment from an educator who is stuck using instructional methods from 20 years ago that will not resonate with students. I like that you included a quote from one of this topic’s reading about open learning environments. Open learning environments promote collaboration between students which encourages them to share their own knowledge and insight which can create the opportunity for relationship and community building and the constructing a deeper meaning. It may result in a different outcome than the teacher planned, but I agree, that students need to have their voice heard and included in their education.

I also was not aware that e-learning roots started 100 years ago in Canada. It is neat to know that our country has been using and adapting this type of learning space for so long, because just in the past few years it has become a lot more advertised and widely talked about. I am excited to see what new tools, and applications are created during this pandemic to support both teachers and students with virtual learning. I think we are entering a new wave of innovative digital tools, and I am eager to be entering a teaching career during such an adaptive time, and ready to start creating a blended classroom structure to include aspects of face-to-face learning and online open learning. I appreciate the connections to make to this topic reading and sharing what you learned from them. I also believe that it is imperative that teachers make themselves approachable so that their students know they are there for them. You provide a great suggestion to “have times that you are available to students”, a form of “office hours” but in elementary school is so beneficial for students to interact with their teachers outside of instruction times and in smaller groups. This is a fantastic approach to relationship building, and a method I will be enacting in my classroom.

The “SAMR” model is an effective explanation of how to integrate technology into the classroom. I had not heard of it prior to this course, and I look forward to further investigating it, and using it when I am building lesson to consider how I can blend the use of online applications into my teaching.

I loved reading your post and hearing your thoughts on topic two. I look forward to collaborating with you further on assignment two, and I am excited for blog post #3!