My Key Learning Points of the Semester

Posted on by TeganCox

  1. Continuing the unit when I fell behind

This semester I have been faced with many personal issues which did affect my learning through illness, time-loss and other struggles. However I am very proud of myself for continuing this unit until its completion. I do believe that having previously undertaken another online unit assisted in this.

2. The Learning Spaces

It had not previously occurred to me how different each learning space was, there positive and negative aspects and also the impacts they have on learning. This unit has most certainly opened my eyes up to the idea that not only do different students learn better in different spaces, but also that different units of work are more suited to different learning spaces. This however does not mean that they are restricted to one or two learning spaces, it is all about how creative you are and how willing to explore new areas you are, it is very much a liminal space.

3. WordPress compared to other blogs

Prior to this unit I had heard very little about WordPress and had certainly never used it as I was more accustomed to social blogging sites such as Tumblr. Whilst using WordPress throughout the course of this semester , I believe my skills and knowledge of the technology has increased, as I have found myself now blogging with ease using it.

Teachers as Educators

Posted on by TeganCox

It is a great honour, as a teacher, to be able to influence so many individuals. Teachers hold the great responsibility of not only educating the young mind of the future, but also imparting life skills such as conflict ree18f01fb56a7f7192b08cb46ea0febc9solution, manners, patience and social skills. Teachers, especially those in the earlier year levels, are the basis of the building blocks used to develop a young person into adulthood. Therefore it is vita that a teacher is a positive role model for all of their students.

My Future Learning Space provides a generous space for positive activities of many kinds, whether it be face to face, online, creative and imaginative or personal learning. It is vital that the educator of this classroom is understanding and compassionate about the trials and tribulations this young individuals have already faced in life and act accordingly. This teacher must understand that if acts of extreme rage, anger, sadness or any emotional outcries do occur, that they must not merely punish the child, but delve deeper into the situation and try to find the best resolution for all involved.

Reflecting on the semester

Posted on by TeganCox

As the semester has come to an end, I believe it is appropriate to take time and look back over the course of the unit. I believe I have learned countless ideologies over the past 12 weeks from learning outside the classroom to the thought processes that going into designing a classroom for Syrian Refugees.

This is my second online unit, and even though I faced many more challenges during this semester than I did my last, I believe that I have gained a better understanding of not only the unit but of online learning also. I again struggled with the absence of face to face lectures and tutorials and because of this did push this unit aside at times in order to do other work, however throughout this unit I became much more aware of my time and tried to use that to my advantage.

Having previously learnt about Salmon’s 5 stages assisted me at the beginning of this semester as I already had some idea of how the online learning space would advantage and disadvantage me personally. Although I am only a second year student, I feel that I wasn’t completely overwhelmed by the content of this unit, in saying that, I did have my moment when I didn’t think I could comprehend some of the content; however I persevered.

I have become more accustom to using Web2.0 technologies to my benefit not only within uni, put also for general use. I also believe my blogging has improved drastically since the beginning of the semester. Overall, although stressful, I enjoyed studying EDFD459: The Learning Space thoroughly as the content gave me a greater insight into the teaching world in ways I had never considered before.

A Liminal Space: The Zaatari Refugee Camp

Posted on by TeganCox

The Zaatari Refugee Camp

Recently commemorating its 3rd anniversary, The Zaatari Refugee Camp founded in July of 2012 is located in the Jordanian dessert. This camp can be viewed as having a liminal nature as the occupants of the camp live in a state of the unknown. Unsure of how long they will occupy the space, what their future’s hold, if they are safe or even whats happening back home. The Zaatari Refugee Camp is an example of a negative liminal space, as the unknown is of true fear and uncertainty of safety.

In regards to education and educational facilities, only half of the school aged children in this space are enrolled for school, and even so, attendance rates are inconsistent and are very low. Education being provided to these Syrian Refugees would not merely be imparting knowledge and demonstrating skills of how to read and write, although important, many other skills would have great benefits. Educating children with basic literacy and numeracy skills, skills that can be used in a trade and teaching basic life skills such as how to cook or sew would have a huge positive impact on the future of these students.

The youth of the Zaatari Refugee Camp have had first hand experience unimaginable to the developed world. Remembering this, the Future Learning Space  being created must foster a positive and safe environment where student’s are free to be themselves, learn, play and grow as children. These student’s should be shown compassion and be educated by a warmhearted and caring person who understand their needs.

Google Cardboard

Posted on by TeganCox

I had never known about Google Cardboard prior to this, although concept does spark an interest in me. Google Cardboard has an economically suitable low-cost of just $10, could be used both in and out of the classroom in a number of different modes. Using Google Cardboard provides opportunities that would otherwise not be available for students such as exploring different cultures and learning in a way that are just not physically possible in the classroom. Technologies such as this would revolutionise they way students are able to experience new concepts outside of their normal learning, possibly even virtual excursions around the world.

Teachers without boarders

Posted on by TeganCox

Teachers are apart of the community in countless ways other than just working within a community. Teachers set the wheels in motion for all other professions, whether it be in the fields of medicine, law or even more education. Teachers not only educate their students to the standard of the curriculum, but they also assist in exposing children to new aspects of the world, some of which they would never otherwise learn about. Teachers are not merely educators, no, they inspire, encourage, support, entertain, insight and care for each and every individual that steps into their classroom.

When I reflect back on my years in school, especially Primary School, I don’t remember every single thing I was taught, in fact it’s quite the opposite in that I can hardly remember which teacher taught what- as much as it is just one big mass of educational basics. However the teachers I reflect back on in the most positive light, I do so because of how they made me feel as a student, the security I felt within their classroom, the support I felt when I was struggling to understand, and the genuine warmth I would feel when we engaged in general conversation- that is what makes a good teacher! It is a rare occurrence that I reflect on teachers and the physical content that they taught me, and this is only ever possible if they made the lesson engaging and interesting enough for me to remember some 10 years ago.

Liminal Spaces

Posted on by TeganCox

Humans are naturally curious, this is what causes us to want to know the “why’s”, “when’s”, “where’s” and “how’s” of the world. Human beings, for the most part, thrive on change and can even accept it a personal challenge to better oneself. Change occurs naturally in life, and as a civilisation we have very little control over it. Although, we do have control over how we choose to handle these situations, the transition we choose to partake in and whether we choose to accept the changes in a positive way or reject them in a negative light.

The word “liminal” refers to a place of transition, of waiting and not knowing, i.e. change. Personally I think about the future quite often, in relation to my family, career, education etc., and I sometimes become overwhelmed with all of the possibilities and endless possible outcomes. A liminal space gives you the opportunity to become driven and push yourself beyond the bounds of your own comfort zone and to immerse yourself in situations you’re not necessarily comfortable or familiar with. I believe the liminal space to be an excellent driving force in understanding your own personal limits and how you can expand them.

My Personal Learning Space

Posted on by TeganCox

I have begun to consider what spaces I choose to do most of my learning in. This semester I have classes 5 days of the week, and therefore do not have any ‘breaks’, so I often go home after every class as I only have a maximum of two classes a day which are consecutive. Therefore my Personal Learning Spaces have mostly been outside of the university. Obviously I have been learning in tutorials and lectures, but I have spent a maximum of 2 hours in the university library throughout this semester. I have also been facing some personal physical struggles during this semester and have therefore also chosen/had to do a lot of my learning in bed. When I have had the ability to take my learning outside, I have enjoyed setting myself up in parks, which seem to give me a calmer experience than other outdoor areas. The following is a short video, made using an online program named Animoto, which demonstrates some of the learning spaces I have chosen to immerse myself in over the last couple of weeks.

Personal Learning Space: Taxonomy

Posted on by TeganCox

My personal learning taxonomy involves being in a quiet place with as little outside noise as possible where I am able to focus without audio distractions to catch my attention and pull me off task. I also struggle to sit still for long periods of time without ‘fiddling’ with something, therefore I also believe it is necessary to provide myself with something tangible to hold and move around whilst I’m thinking, I find that if I allow myself this tangible item, I am less likely to source other distractions elsewhere.

If I am able to find an area that is distanced from the people in my home, or away from other people in another situation, whether it be at my desk upstairs whilst everyone else is down stairs, a study area at uni, my bedroom or even as a last result I sometimes play gentle music through my headphones to block out extreme noise in order to focus. This is when I find myself to be the most productive and in the most suitable head space to learn and absorb knowledge.