I just wanted to “reflect ” my experiences of being a digital immigrant, a term I picked up off one of the articles from the Generations Of Learners exercise in EDUC 4150. I am 56, and due to a recent career change, have been thrown into the proverbial deep end of the digital world. I recently finished my PIDP, (which has helped me alot!), and was just starting to feel and see a light at the end of the digital tunnel, when COVID-19 hit. I was all of a sudden told by my supervisors to finish my program, (I’m a trades instructor) as much as possible, online. Luckily, with the skills I acquired from the PIDP, and some frantic YouTube tutorials on how to use ZOOM, and/or how to screen share on Skype, I managed to complete my school year. I would say this was a lesson in being a life long learner, that you must always be upgrading your skills, to never be content, or complacent, especially when it comes to technology.
As I near the end of EDUC 4150, I felt it necessary to go through all the projects, journals etc. that I’ve done in the last 5 or so weeks to prepare for Journal 3. I realized that I now have a much better understanding of exactly what an online course is, and how it differs from the traditional f2f classroom. Although I have a long ways to go, especially in figuring out the design concepts and technologies that are involved in eLearning, I now feel I’m better equipped to at least make an attempt at teaching an online course. As a trades instructor, I will be concentrating on a blended program. The theory will be online, and (if the COVID 19 protocols permit), the practical aspects of the course will be in shop labs with some f2f teaching. Its going to be an interesting school year to say the least.
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