december - 2020

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Reflections on Open Networked Learning

Dec 17, 2020
4 min

Reflections on Open Networked Learning

When I registered for the course Open Networked Learning, I did it on a whim. I knew that I wanted to develop my pedagogical skills in delivering online courses. And this pet interest of mine was becoming increasingly relevant because of the shift to online learning (or what some are calling 'emergency remote teaching') taking place in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was put on the waitlist, and several days later I was admitted to the course as an open learner. Several

Teacher agency in building social presence: Time-suck or time-hack?

Dec 17, 2020
5 min

Teacher agency in building social presence: Time-suck or time-hack?

In my department, many of the researchers engage in design research. As a result, when we are designing something new, we often start with some design constraints, or "design rules, relations, conventions, and natural laws to be maintained" in creating the product (Gross, 1985). In the early days of my teaching, my design constraints mostly focused on maximising student learning through various pedagogical strategies. Then, as I became a more experienced teacher, I was expect

Singing as collaborative risk-taking

Dec 14, 2020
6 min

Singing as collaborative risk-taking

In the mid 2000s, I was stood in front of sixty seated teenagers in front of a campfire in a forest in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. I said, "I'm really nervous, so I hope you'll join in and sing with me." I then launched into a call-and-response campfire song. I don't remember which song it was, but I remember the shaky feeling of standing in front of all those people, and the worry that I might call out and get no response. And I remember calling out at the top of m