Weekly Course Reading
This week we will be transitioning from the history of distributed and open learning into the realities of designing for distributed and open learning experiences. Just before Covid, much of the work of online course designers and educators was focused on how to meet the needs of ALL learners, with an emphasis on accessibility. This was a result of Provincial and Federal legislation changes in 2018 that paved the way to ensure that all students had the right to access online courses and content.
In this week’s readings, there is a handbook, some guidelines and a chapter on effective online learning practices. Please read the handbook and UDL guidelines first, using them as a framework to read the chapter on online learning practices. Please take some time to connect with your social pod to compare and contrast how you interconnected this weeks readings.
Review: http://udlguidelines.cast.org/
Inclusive Learning Design Handbook from OCAD University. https://handbook.floeproject.org/
Crosslin, M. (2018). Effective Practices in Distributed and Open Learning. https://uta.pressbooks.pub/onlinelearning/chapter/chapter-5-effective-practices/
Weekly Activities:
We are excited to have Josie Gray, Advisor, Inclusive Design and OER Collections, BCcampus as our guest speaker on Tuesday, October 20, 5-6pm PST. The Zoom link can be found on our EDCI339 social spaces page.
Josie will help everyone prepare for their group projects by taking about the importance of UDL and Accessibility in online courses.
Since this guest speaker will be speaking about UDL and commenting on your Group project it is highly recommended that you send at least one member of each “group/social pod” to the webinar AND every group is responsible for 2 questions for the guest (if you can make it or not).
So – before next Tuesday, can each group:
1) Send me one email with the names of everyone in your group
2) Send me two questions for Josie (about topics covered in Assignment #3)
Social Pod Groups (First Names)
Group 2: Harmeet, Andrew, Sam
Group 3: Quinton, Shelby, Nav
Group 4: Missing, Qing, Neil
Group 5: Travis, Stefan, Xiaujou, Jordin, Weiran
I think that these are the correct groups? Please send me one “group” email with the name of everyone in your social pod/ group project so I can ensure that everyone is in a group/ social pod and willing to work together as a group for Assignment 3? If your group is NOT the same as the one listed, please send me an email with your group members names, otherwise I will assume these are the groups?
Blog Post Prompts:
What did you already know about UDL and accessibility to support access to online/open learning for all learners before your readings and webinar this week?
What did you learn about UDL and accessibility to support access to online/open learning for all learners based on your readings and webinar this week?
What questions do you have about UDL and accessibility to support access to online/open learning for all learners from your readings and webinar this week?
How does the topic of UDL or accessibility in online/open learning for all learners connect to your own personal learning experiences OR your final project?
Additional Activities:
- Follow and Participate in the Course Twitter Hashtag: #EDCI339
2. Preparing for Assignment #3: Pod Equity Project Description (Chart and Video)
This pod project asks you to critically examine and consider strategies to support digital equity and perspectives in open and distributed learning contexts. You are a learning designer, and you have been asked to create a “video pitch” for other online instructors. The video must answer the following question:
Using the UDL Framework to guide your final pitch/ argument, how can open and distributed learning break barriers and bridge flexibility, choice, voice and success for learners?
This project has two parts:
1) the completion of a chart that examines a persona and their current learning struggles and barriers from multiple perspectives (The chart will be given out two weeks before hand).
2) One “Pitch” that describes your perspectives to your fellow peers. This pitch will be demonstrated using video.
Each member of your pod should contribute an individual video of 60-90 seconds in length describing a specific part of your pitch, but the entire pitch should be cohesive. The total length of all the videos in your pitch shouldn’t exceed 8 minutes (1-2 minutes for each person’s video). Alternatively, pitches can be submitted in Text form (a 300 word summary) which integrates current research and practice to support learners in open and distributed learning
1 – Chart:
With your pods, create a chart that compares and contrasts open and online learning design to support equity and multiple perspectives in open and online learning contexts.
● Some questions to consider in your chart (you are welcome to expand upon or add in additional considerations):
o What is the learning persona of the student? How would you describe this student’s ideal learning context?
o In your group’s opinion, what are the barriers to learning that are preventing safe, flexible and supportive learning experiences and environments for this student?
o Are there equity, social justice or cultural considerations that may be preventing safe, flexible and supportive learning experiences and environments for this student?
2 – Pitch:
Using the chart information, you will be creating a “pitch” to support a specific student in your open and online learning classroom. Using UDL guidelines to frame your response. Integrate current academic research (from your course resources and from outside your course) with evidence from current practices to summarize why your pitch would support your student in previously inconceivable ways.
Using the UDL Framework to guide your final pitch/ argument, how can open and distributed learning break barriers and bridge flexibility, choice, voice and success for learners?
You will be able to add in additional resources and links to support your “pitch” in one of the group’s blogs. Please add any additional references should also include any references in APA 7 format.
Additional Support:
Extra information about the project can be found here : https://teaching.madland.ca/edci339-july20/home/pod-project-tips
Example of Project from other course: https://proj1pod3.opened.ca/