Ontario Extend Activities
Experimenter
Activities and Reflections
Bonus = Blog
I decided to try creating a blog to gather all the activities from this module (and kudos to a friend who had created a blog for her own work and from whom I stole the idea).
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I chose GIFs, an infographic and a Padlet as my 3 activities for this module (see links above). In all honesty, I chose these three because I was most familiar with them and have already used all three in my teaching as well as in my current position. While I have used others from the list, these were the ones we use most often and seem to be most effective. We try whenever possible to present information in multiple ways (and not just text) so these activities are great tools to use to supplement course content.
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The three overall lessons learned are:
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adding technology doesn't have to take long to design and doesn't have to be complex; sometimes, something as simple as a GIF can improve student engagement dramatically.​
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being willing to pivot quickly when technology doesn't do what you want/think it does or using it goes beyond your current skillset
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needing to step out of your comfort zone and try new things, even if you have no idea how to use or where to begin - there are plenty of resources that already exist that can support us, we just can't be afraid to try
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My biggest takeaway is that I am capable of creating engaging and effective activities that can be reused - I just need to make more time for them.
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Originally, I tried to create the Padlet on my Ipad since I thought it would be the easiest to complete. However, ​I find it quite difficult to use devices other than a computer/laptop to create an activity, so I did end up completing the activity on my computer. It was quite the learning experience and one that I think many learners live through (giving up and/or going back to our comfort zones). At the same time, I recognize that using the device to complete the activity is completely different and normally a much easier task; therefore, as a course instructor it is very important for me to keep trying and practicing so that I fully understand the learner experience and can help them through.
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The most important challenge when learning takes place on a mobile device is the responsiveness - all elements need to adapt to the screen size and orientation so that the student experience is not negatively affected.
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The most obvious advantage is that almost everyone nowadays has at least a smart phone so it is an extremely flexible way to learn - anywhere, anytime.
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I honestly don't think planning to complete assignments on a device other than a computer is not feasible, unless it is done synchronously. While it may be true that we expect everyone to own multiple devices, that is not the reality and I need to make sure that my activities are accessible (so I can impose a particular method).
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To further my previous point, because not everyone can use multiple devices, not only for final reasons but learning needs as well, so there is no way for me to ensure equal access to devices for my students. That being said, my job is to ensure that activities can be completed and submitted in multiple ways/formats and not to assume that everyone has access to the latest technology or even that they are comfortable doing so.
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