This next activity is to “identify a challenge that could be solved with the purposeful use of technology” (eCampus Ontario, 2019). We started by filling in an empathy map. I considered my Student’s Appraisal of Teaching (SATs), one minute papers that I have conducted in the past, Critical Incidence Questionnaires (CQIs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and verbal feedback that I receive regularly from my students.

I have been using the concept of the one minute paper and modifying as a technique to be responsive to my learner’s needs. This was a technique I learned through my B.Ed. Papers take less then one-minute to complete typically you ask students what is the muddiest point and what is the clearest point in the lesson. I have modified the questions to include what is the biggest barrier to your learning, to your success, and to attending class regularly etc..

One of the biggest challenges my students have is how overwhelmed they become due to outside commitments. Many of my students are single parents, in the sandwich generation (looking after parents and children, and/or have part-time jobs (greater then the recommended 15 hours/week).

My institution has worked hard to address these stressors by providing course based registration (CBD) which allows students to build their own schedules. The goal is students may build a schedule around their outside commitments. This in my opinion, has been a purposeful use of technology.

One of the challenges is first-come-first choice nature of CBD. This leaves the students at the end with the left-overs and this may not be a schedule that works with their outside commitments. So, it is here that I ponder if I could do more within my individual classes.

Coincidentally, this week school was closed for a snow day. So with my coach @jesslyndw (see her article below), some willing students and advice from my new learning community (Ontario Extend mOOC participants) I gave an online lesson using Zoom and recorded my screen to post for students who could not make the online meeting. It was out of my comfort zone but turned out to be a positive experience for myself and my students. It is opportunities like this that make me think maybe more lessons could be done this way. I imagine a parent home with a sick child watching my online lesson and maybe feeling a little less stressed about missing a class.

Check out jesslyndw’s article Educators are Like Coaches @https://syncdup.wordpress.com/2019/02/11/educators-are-like-coaches/

References:
eCampus Ontario (2019). EXTEND 101 – EN.1 – Extend MOOC. Module 2: Technologist.