alice
“Curiouser and curiouser…”
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
EDPD 584 Assignment 1: Universal Design for Learning
I haven't forayed into the world of Prezi in quite some time, so I chose this platform for my first assignment as a re-introduction to it! I tried to summarize the key ideas/concepts that I gathered from the readings and videos for this topic, and also add in a few examples from my experience with a UDL approach. I am certainly an advocate for that framework, and I am happy to see that it is becoming more commonplace in our schools. I also included a short video from Ken Robinson to leave the idea of educational reform on your minds, as I think that reform is (part) of what could help lead us into a more UDL-centric approach to learning in schools.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Hello and welcome to University Life 3.0!
Hey there blog, it's nice to see you again!
It's hard to believe that it's been 3 years since I posted the "now what?" question to school being over and my teaching career starting...and yet, I can't say that I have much clearer of a sense of my career trajectory. I thought by now I might have A) ended up happily secure and settled into a local district, B) travelled the world spreading my love of literature as far as the eye can see, or C) decided teaching is not worth the fight/drama/labour strife and become a boxcar hobo. Thankfully, option C has yet to come to fruition- and I am a close to option A as could be, minus the "secure" part. I am rapidly approaching the end of the 3 year mark as a TTOC, and while I am very happy with the students/teachers I get to work with in my district- I don't seem to be any closer to acquiring a coveted contract. I understand the rules of seniority (and I understand that it's a waiting game essentially anywhere you go in BC), but it doesn't make it any less frustrating as the time passes.
So why am I now back in post-secondary, spending MORE time and money on a career that's overflowing with qualified members?
Throughout my TOC career, I have ended up subbing quite a bit in the realm of Special Education and Integration Support. I never specifically sought those calls out, but it naturally happened that many of the English teachers I subbed for also happened to be case managers- so I was given a crash course on what it means to be one, and to work with (arguably) the most vulnerable population in a school. Although working with these students can be a challenge (in so many ways), I found it to be some of the most valuable time I was spending in school. I had also heard from some teachers in my district that Special Ed was something that helped them get a foot in the door in terms of contracts, which also piqued my interest in possibly taking my diploma. Those same teachers recommended the VIU SETS program above all others, and so I explored the program (along with the other options on the island). I liked the flexibility of the online format, the diversity of course offerings, and the website was very user-friendly...I was sold.
So now, I am 2 courses down and just starting the 3rd, which is focusing on Assistive Technology. I am looking forward to this course for a few reasons:
1) Despite having taken a month-long technology institute as part of my teaching degree at UVic, I feel that I was given more of a broad overview of the various tools and not as much of the specific apps/extensions/tools available to our students.
2) The schools I work at don't have funding for things such as an ipad for every student (so I know that not every tool I use will be available to me), but I'm hoping that at the very least I can take away the knowledge of knowing what is available and what I could access if possible.
As part of this course, we need to maintain a blog in which we upload all of our assignments and projects- and I thought this would be the perfect time to re-ignite my ye old blog of the PDP Program past and give it a new life.
So there you have it, I am back in the blogging business! Thank you for reading, and feel free to share any thoughts in the comments section on my posts. Cheers!
It's hard to believe that it's been 3 years since I posted the "now what?" question to school being over and my teaching career starting...and yet, I can't say that I have much clearer of a sense of my career trajectory. I thought by now I might have A) ended up happily secure and settled into a local district, B) travelled the world spreading my love of literature as far as the eye can see, or C) decided teaching is not worth the fight/drama/labour strife and become a boxcar hobo. Thankfully, option C has yet to come to fruition- and I am a close to option A as could be, minus the "secure" part. I am rapidly approaching the end of the 3 year mark as a TTOC, and while I am very happy with the students/teachers I get to work with in my district- I don't seem to be any closer to acquiring a coveted contract. I understand the rules of seniority (and I understand that it's a waiting game essentially anywhere you go in BC), but it doesn't make it any less frustrating as the time passes.
So why am I now back in post-secondary, spending MORE time and money on a career that's overflowing with qualified members?
Throughout my TOC career, I have ended up subbing quite a bit in the realm of Special Education and Integration Support. I never specifically sought those calls out, but it naturally happened that many of the English teachers I subbed for also happened to be case managers- so I was given a crash course on what it means to be one, and to work with (arguably) the most vulnerable population in a school. Although working with these students can be a challenge (in so many ways), I found it to be some of the most valuable time I was spending in school. I had also heard from some teachers in my district that Special Ed was something that helped them get a foot in the door in terms of contracts, which also piqued my interest in possibly taking my diploma. Those same teachers recommended the VIU SETS program above all others, and so I explored the program (along with the other options on the island). I liked the flexibility of the online format, the diversity of course offerings, and the website was very user-friendly...I was sold.
So now, I am 2 courses down and just starting the 3rd, which is focusing on Assistive Technology. I am looking forward to this course for a few reasons:
1) Despite having taken a month-long technology institute as part of my teaching degree at UVic, I feel that I was given more of a broad overview of the various tools and not as much of the specific apps/extensions/tools available to our students.
2) The schools I work at don't have funding for things such as an ipad for every student (so I know that not every tool I use will be available to me), but I'm hoping that at the very least I can take away the knowledge of knowing what is available and what I could access if possible.
As part of this course, we need to maintain a blog in which we upload all of our assignments and projects- and I thought this would be the perfect time to re-ignite my ye old blog of the PDP Program past and give it a new life.
So there you have it, I am back in the blogging business! Thank you for reading, and feel free to share any thoughts in the comments section on my posts. Cheers!
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