Chart:

 

Question:  Answers (In Note Form) 
Describe your persona See the profile below
Will this student be learning all online, blended, with support 
 Describe the “mediums” in which this persona might be learning.  Where would the learning be asynchronous or synchronous? Why?  Blended – the child will be in class when he is able. But the reality is that he will be learning from home up to 3 days a week most days. Due to his home responsibilities, the learning will have to be asynchronous.Synchronous mediums: In-class learning, “roboting” into class using telepresence robot, web-broadcasted teacher instruction. Web-based apps

Asynchronous mediums: Web-based platform; e.g. google classroom, moodle, Microsoft OneNote, or others. Web-based apps

–Kahoot

–Popplet

–Padlet

–Google street view (Google Earth)

–Minecraft EDU

–Screencast-O-Matic

–Reading Eggs

–Ep!c Books

–Adobe Spark

– Gimkit

– Floop

– Nearpod

– FlipGrid

Take-home hand-outs and materials provided by the teacher (non-web-based)
List/ describe any digital tools that might be considered to support online learning. Thomasz will be using a variety of digital tools that will help him succeed in his blended learning experience and his ability to cope with his general anxiety disorder and struggles with his attention span. The goal of his online learning experience is to “minimize threats” (UDL) while still having a sense of classroom belonging and community. The majority of his online learning will encompass more interactive learning (podcasts, videos, interactive readings, etc.) and learning with his close peers (who Thomasz feels comfortable working with). The digital tools that will help Thomasz in his learning journey include:

  • Classroom telepresence robot (example)
  • Google Apps for Education (with consent in regards to FIPPA guidelines and regulations)
  • Web-Broadcasting applications (most likely Zoom or Google Meet?)
  • Quizizz (interactive studying tool/classroom quiz tool)
  • Moodle
  • Virtual Whiteboard
  • Google Jam Board
  • Youtube for interactive learning
  • School Library Site (for Thomasz to choose the material that is interesting to him)
  • Touch Cast (interactive and fast-paced so it would suit the Thomas and would be helping support considering his attention issues)
  • Trello (for supporting personal and collaborative organizational skills)
  • Speech to text (Dragon Professional, Verbit, Speechmatics) and text to speech software
  • Bookcreator
  • Smartfeed (not a personal favourite but could be used by a parent who may have internet content concerns)
  • H5P (for interactive HTML content)
  • There are a lot more possibilities but from my experience in our courses, fewer websites to have to interact with, the better – that’s why I like google apps for education – all in one place.

Teacher tools
How would you describe this student’s ideal learning context? Ideally, the child wants to feel that his at-home learning and in-school learning can be a seamless transition. He doesn’t want to feel like he is an outsider among his peers.He enjoys working through his schoolwork at home with his parents.

  • Personalized
  • Exciting
  • Fun
  • Challenging (within reason)
  • Thought-provoking
  • Place-based (we have a pretty liberal view of this as we envision a learning environment where students are very connected to other teachers and learners all over the globe and therefore place-based is a relative term that we view as non-restrictive)
  • Interactive
  • Creative
  • Strong sense of community
  • Psychologically safe
  • Diverse criteria for success
What are the real and perceived barriers to learning that are preventing safe, flexible and supportive learning experiences and environments for this student? Parental limits in the schedule (in supporting learning), anxiety and attention issues, limits in his personal schedule (taking care of siblings). The need to be intrinsically motivated. Possible internet connectivity issues (as is the reality with any online-based learning). Family responsibilities (siblings).
Are there real or perceived equity, social justice or cultural considerations that may be preventing safe, flexible and supportive learning experiences and environments for this persona? We plan on creating a classroom where learners will always have space that is safe, welcoming, and supportive, free from any cultural bias or discrimination of any form. However, we will never shy away from discussing or acknowledging the way people feel that their personal identity may be affected by the society in which we live. Therefore, even though our student has no obvious need for considerations around this topic, we will always be aware that this issue may arise and we will confront it as needed. See our reference list for the multitude of articles we researched on ways to support ALL learners.
How would you design for this persona in a distributed learning medium versus an open learning medium?  What are some of the differences that you would consider? (Check the EDCI339 Section A03 Project Description for more details about this question. The EDCI339 A)4 has a k-12 focus and is different from the EDCI339 A03 project. please follow the EDCI339 Project Expectations) Distributed: include a mix of synchronous and asynchronous class meetings for activities and collaboration. Use online technological applications that can be used in real-time with the class and individually for formative assessment (eg Quizizz). Digital delivery of content through a learning management system using multiple modes of representation such as text, video and audio.In this online setting, we will also consider the eight design principles prescribed by Kral and Schwab (2020) when structuring our learning space. In particular, we will ensure that we create spaces for multi-modal self-expression and socialization with peers in our LMS to help bridge the gap between Thomasz’s online and face-to-face learning experiences

Open: integrate networked learning through the use of participatory culture, digital learning spaces and open educational resources to support the personal inquiry/connectivist learning approach. To assist Thomasz at home, structure learning assignments that require documentation (eg e-portfolio) over a period of time (formative assessment) that can be shared with others in the class and beyond.

Heightened consideration of FIPPA and privacy policies are needed in open learning as information is shared beyond class walls. With greater flexibility, choice and capability for informal learning experiences, open learning would require increased teacher/parent support or self-efficacy skills in research, documentation and reflection.
How could your learning design support multiple means of engagement? Check  http://udlguidelines.cast.org/ for more information.
Minimize threats and distractions (7.1):

With Thomasz’s diagnosed general anxiety disorder, it is important to create a safe environment for Thomasz. In Thomasz situation, this would include increasing small group work with who he feels comfortable with, creating a classroom community, and having constant communication with Thomasz to help him and help with his blended learning experience.

Facilitate personal coping skills and strategies (9.2):

For Thomasz to successfully manage in a classroom setting and find a way to decrease his anxiety, there needs to be a classroom and school plan. In Thomasz’s classroom, he has personal connections in the school to help scaffold strategies to develop internal controls and coping skills as well as tri-weekly one-on-one classes with the school counsellor. These gatherings are designed for emotional support and a review of daily checklists, reminders, and models.

Foster collaboration and community (8.3):

For all learners, to have the most positive learning environment, there is a need for respectful connections, positive relationships, and a helpful community. Our learning design supports the fostering of collaboration and community because there is lots of opportunities for Thomasz to communicate and collaborate with peers he feels comfortable around to create his own sense of community. This is where he feels safe and has lower anxiety. This goal for Thomasz (and the class) is done through collaboration, web-broadcasting when Thomasz is learning online, and constant opportunities for classroom community building (small groups if necessary to accommodate Thomasz).

See; list of tools in our previous sections.
How could your learning design support multiple means of representation?Check  http://udlguidelines.cast.org/ for more information. Perception (provide information in different modalities and in a format that allows for adjustability by the user)

  • In addition, to static, written handouts, Thomasz will be given digital versions of class material delivered through the learning management system. The format of short, editable virtual documents and blogs will be adjustable to fit his reading needs (e.g changing size of visual content, volume/speed of video, animation or sound). To ensure these accessibility needs, we will review learning tools under these adaptability criteria for Thomasz
  • Portions of the same learning material will also be available in different modes of representation such as interactive videos (e.g H5P), audio files, reading sites (e.g Epic Books) and podcasts to capitalize on his limited attention span and difficulties with longer segments of stand-alone text
  • Additional accessible components of auditory and visual information will be provided (e.g captions/written transcriptions of videos, access to speech to text software – e.g Speechnotes)

Language & Symbols (provide alternate representations for accessibility, clarity and comprehension)

  • We will embed alternate representations of written communication (e.g definition list, graphics or charts) of key vocabulary and symbols within the text through hyperlinks, footnotes or annotated images to provide ease of access as Thomasz is reading
  • To emphasize and clarify relationships between elements of meaning, we will highlight important structural relations using different colours and shapes (adhering to Mayer’s (2014) signalling principle) and also equip Thomasz with the skills/tools to perform this task on his own (e.g physical/digital annotation) to support a sustained and fluent flow of reading and decoding
  • Alongside curricular material we will embed visual, non-linguistic supports (related images, videos) for vocabulary clarification to create a multimedia learning experience that engages him through different mediums

Comprehension (scaffold information for knowledge construction, processing and transfer)

  • We will activate Thomasz’s relevant prior knowledge in interactive and visual ways (e.g responding to prompts on Flipgrid, creating or completing an assessment on Quizizz) which also connect with him his classroom community
  • Provide graphical ways for Thomasz to organize and illustrate his thinking and understanding (e.g fill-in concept map, diagram, sketchnoting) to support his emerging organizational skills
  • To assist Thomasz in recognizing critical vs irrelevant information, we will provide use outlines and graphic/concept organizers to emphasize key ideas in condensed and summarized material. Question prompts and annotation features of H5P can assist with recorded videos
  • As Thomasz has limited parental support due to his living situation, we will strive to break down this barrier by “chunking” and sequentially releasing information in student-led segments. In the online component of his blended learning setting, Thomasz will be given the choice and flexibility in interacting with the class content in an asynchronous format.
  • To support the transfer and generalization of information, we will design and provide visual templates to accommodate Thomasz’s note-taking methods (Editable Google documents, slides, board forums)

See; our list of tools to be used for this purpose in the sections above.
How could your learning design support multiple means of action and expression?Check  http://udlguidelines.cast.org/ for more information. Physical Action (interact with accessible materials and tools)

  • Vary the methods for response and navigation (4.1)

–In our learning designs, to give Thomasz his best chance to participate in all the class activities both face-to-face and virtually, we can vary the methods of response and navigation for Thomasz to eliminate any boundaries that virtually learning leads to (not having him physically present).

–We will provide alternative means of how Thomasz can present his learning to us. Instead of the traditional print-out work packages, Thomasz will be able to (if he chooses) to optimize his advanced computer skills by using writing programs such as Microsoft Word and Google docs. Thomasz will receive all his homework packages, class material, and notes through online classroom websites such as Google classroom. This way, Thomasz will have the opportunity to stay up to date with his peers even at home.

 

  • Optimize access to tools and assistive technologies (4.2)

-To minimize distraction and potential miscommunication across Thomasz blended learning platforms, Thomasz will (with the help of a mentor) complete a weekly task list with clearly stated “goals” to complete for the week. This task list will be made on a platform such as MyHomework, Wunderlist, or Boximize. This will also minimize the stress on Thomasz and assist him in managing his organizational stresses.

-On these weekly task lists, Thomasz will make clear instructions on which platforms he should use for his lessons (both virtually and face-to-face). The goal behind the clear instructions of the weekly tasks is to relieve the possibility of inappropriately using the resources Thomasz is given to aid his education (computer, tablets, online apps/games).

Expression & Communication (compose and share ideas using tools that help attain learning goals)

  • Use multiple media for communication (5.1)

-Because of Thomasz unique blended learning situation, he will not at all times have access to the same forms of media platforms as his peers. To help Thomasz anxieties of feeling “socially distanced” from his peers in his learning design plan we will give Thomasz the opportunities to express himself through “normal” face to face interactions and virtual sharing platforms. Thomasz will be able to be “roboted” into his class through a moveable telepresence robot which will enable him to interact with his peers and the course material.

-Thomasz will be able to complete his learning goals through a variety of social media and interactive web tools. Examples of web tools he would be using include:

-His private personal learning blog where he will be able to track and show his learning

-Google Classroom, where he and his classmates can engage in discussion forums

-Zoom video webinars with his teacher where he can engage in one-on-one lessons and use tools such as “screen share” to exhibit his learning to his teacher

  • Use Multiple tools for construction and composition (5.2)

-To aid Thomasz in the quality of his work and to help alleviate added stress of time management, he will be offered the help of educational apps and tools:

-Spellcheckers, grammar checkers and word prediction software (Practice English Grammar, Sentence Builder, Montessorian: intro to words)

-Text-to-speech software, voice recognition software and screen/sound recording (Speechnotes, Screencast)

Build fluencies with graduated levels of support for practice and performance (5.3)

-To assist Thomasz through his learning, in our plans we will create multiple scaffolded lesson plans that can aid him in independence in his learning. These scaffolds will be evidenced in his weekly task lists.

-Because of Thomasz’s blended learning situation, he will be working with many different teachers/mentors. He will be with his classroom teacher in school, a tutor/EA, and his teacher at home over webinars, and if available, his mom and dad. Having these multiple sources of guided learning figures will help motivate Thomasz by allowing him to see various approaches he can take in his learning. Each mentor/learning figure will be able to give Thomasz differentiated feedback that will all be directed to Thomasz’s unique learning needs.

 

 

Executive Functions (develop and act on plans to make the most out of learning)

Guide appropriate goal-setting (6.1)

-To help assist Thomasz in becoming an independent learner and to help him manage his anxiety with both organizational skills, we will implement a weekly task list that contains scaffolds and guides to maintaining consistency in his work ethic and schooling both at home and face-to-face. Along with these weekly tasks, Thomasz will sit down with his various mentors to create long-term and short-term goals based on Thomasz’s desires and learning outcomes, as well as his parents, his teacher, and provincial educational standards.

Support planning and strategy development (6.2)/Facilitate managing information and resources (6.3)/Enhance capacity for monitoring progress (6.4)

–To help Thomasz see his growth and to monitor his progress for his parent’s benefit and the school’s, his teachers/mentors will keep records of Thomasz’s progression of weekly expectations, monthly expectations, and yearly expectations on a scale designed by his mentors with help from Thomasz. We wish that Thomasz can feel comfortable sharing how he wishes to receive feedback in his work, whether it be through:

-Self-assessments rubrics

-Rubrics made by teachers/mentors

-Reflective prompts

-Process portfolios

– Video review

– Peer feedback

Learner Persona:

(click here to see our methods of generation)

 

Name: Thomasz Horvath (Tom, Tommy)Gender: Male

Age: 10 (Grade 4)

Lives in: Southeastern British Columbia

Like: Mountain biking, Dogs, Roblox
Education and experience A blend of face to face and online school due to his living situation. Thomasz attends a school in the southeast region of B.C. Due to moving between locations throughout the week, Tommy is able to attend a face to face class only 2 – 3 days a week. Therefore, the rest of the week is a mix of synchronous and asynchronous online learning with his Grade 4 class.Thomasz has achieved his competencies successfully through his previous classes. His previous teachers have noted that he has shown an aptitude towards Math, Physical Education, and Computer skills. He gets along with his classmates and does contribute to classroom discussions. However, he is not the most outspoken of students due to his feelings of anxiety. He has limited experience with formal online learning, but we predict that his advanced computer skills and his willingness to engage will be helpful attributes to his online learning.
Roles and responsibilities He has two younger siblings and is a big help to his parents because of their work schedules and separation. He is really into mountain biking and has a spot on the school club, but misses a lot of activities due to his family situation. In the classroom, Tom has shown an ability to socialize with his peers, due to his anxiety he can seem shy, but when given the opportunity and multiple means of expression, he is fully competent in social settings.
Technical skills Has an interest in video games so his computer skills are quite advanced. Due to living in a rural setting half of the time, he has also developed a strong understanding of digital communication tools, especially Zoom and Google meet. However, staying on task for longer periods of time is sometimes difficult. Therefore, interactive elements and creation tools will be key to keeping him engaged in his learning.
Subject domain skills and knowledge He has advanced computer skills for his age, knowledge of the environment and his town’s surroundings, and is quite athletic.
Motivation and desires Wants to please others, desires positive reinforcement.
Goals and expectations Thomasz’s goal is to be able to complete grade 4 in a combination of online and face to face learning and gain a comparable learning outcome as his classmates.
Obstacles to their success He was diagnosed with a general anxiety disorder and struggles with his attention span (is working to overcome these learning challenges).Has to travel to a remote location half of the days of the week due to his parents’ jobs. He also struggles with organizational skills.
Unique assets Advanced math skills, very good athlete, advanced computer skills. A caring member of the classroom community. Described by adults as “sweet” and by his peers as “nice.”

Pitch

General Overview Video:

Representation Summary:

In terms of supporting Thomasz in the online and open portion of his blended learning setting, we will be offering multiple means of representation (with reference to perception, language and symbols, and comprehension) when delivering content to facilitate a flexible and safe learning environment. A prominent obstacle to Thomasz’s success is his struggles with attention span and deciphering longer segments of text. To increase levels of accessibility and leverage Thomasz’s limited working memory capacity, we will utilize research from Mayer’s (2014) multimedia learning principles when creating and curating effective alternatives of visual and auditory displays of information through tools such as videos, podcasts, and interactive reading sites. A majority of these digital representations of content will provide opportunities for customization such as volume/rate of speech, size and layout of visual information, and colour/text contrast as accessible through the class management system hub. To maintain a seamless transition between online and face to face settings, instruction of digital literacy skills will also be incorporated into lessons in the brick and mortar space.

Furthermore, in supporting and strengthening Thomasz’s ability in text interpretation, we will offer multiple embedded tools within digital documents such as hyperlinks to definitions, charts and maps of key vocabulary and symbols for alternate representations of meaning. Positive findings from Proctor et al.’s (2007) study of utilizing multimedia text with embedded instruction on reading achievement performance also guide the development of our support system for Thomasz. In addition, speech-text and text-speech software will also be available to provide ease of access when reading and collaborating with others. Whenever possible, we will incorporate visual elements such as pictures, videos, and diagrams into written instructional material. In addition to ‘chunking’ information into smaller, progressive sections, the overall process of meaning-making will be supported through models and scaffolds using graphic organizers, concept maps, and visual prompts to emphasize critical features and relationships which will help highlight organizational structure and paraphrasing strategies. Aspects of a flipped learning model will be incorporated by providing condensed videos, blog posts, or handouts of material linking back to previous knowledge.

Multiple Means of Engagement Video:

Action and Expression Explanation:

Thomasz has many unique qualities that make-up him as a learner. To optimize his learning and to feed his confidence, it is up to us as Thomasz educational designers to come up with resources, strategies, and tools to support him. Thomasz has unique ways of navigating through his learning environments and expressing his understanding and knowledge (http://udlguidelines.cast.org/) it’s the responsibility of us to optimize Thomasz’s ability and means of expression. 

The resources we have created for Thomasz are ones that will aid him by giving him alternative means of presenting his knowledge. Instead of traditional print-out packages, Thomasz will be able to use software programs and interactive online platforms. These resources will give him the chance to move between his online and face-to-face blended learning seamlessly. To support Thomasz and his anxiety challenges with separation and feelings of social isolation, we will encourage the use of multiple means of communication such as a telepresence robot, zoom videos, google classroom discussion forums, and blogging. These communication tools will be beneficial to Thomasz feeling included amongst his classmates at school and home. Having the opportunity to feel socially interactive with his classmates will increase his construction of knowledge by allowing him to share his ideas and hear those of his peers (Garett Dickers, 2018). To alleviate added stress of time management; and to erase the possibility of deceived perceptions of the quality of Thomasz’s work, we will give him access to tools made for constructing and composing such as spellcheckers, word prediction software, and text-to-speech software. These tools will encourage Thomasz to complete his work regardless of having to require support or giving up because of frustration (MacArthur, C., Graham, S., Haynes, J., & DeLaPaz, S. 1996). To improve Thomasz’s organizational and self-motivation skills, we, as well with his teachers/mentors and parents, will implement and guide him in creating a goal-setting system where he can see his progression throughout his learning.

Our goal as his educational designers is to create learning environments for Thomasz that are specifically designed with his needs first. We understand that his blended learning style of open learning, online learning, and face-to-face is still very new in the world of teaching. However, if our efforts mean that Thomasz can meet his learning goals and desires, then we will do whatever it takes and redesign Thomasz’s educational plan until his needs are met.

References

(click here for our annotated version)

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CAST. (2018). Universal design for learning guidelines version 2.2. Retrieved from http://udlguidelines.cast.org

 

Christensen Institute. (n.d.). Blended learning. https://bit.ly/2Zr9lH8

 

Ferdig, R. & Kennedy, K. (Eds.), Handbook of research on K-12 online and blended learning (pp. 509-522 ). Pittsburgh, PA: Carnegie Mellon University ETC Press.

 

Garrison, D.R., Anderson, T., and Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2–3), 87-105.

 

Howard, N.R. (2019). EdTech leaders’ beliefs: How are K-5 teachers supported with the integration of computer science in K-5 classrooms? Tech Know Learn, 24(1), 203–217. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.1007/s10758-018-9371-2

 

Lowe, P.A., Grumbein, M.J., & Raad, J.M. (2011). Examination of the psychometric properties of the test anxiety scale for elementary students (TAS-E) scores. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 29(6), 503-514. https://doi.org/10.1177/07342829103589

Macgilchrist, F. (2019) Cruel optimism in EdTech: when the digital data practices of educational technology providers inadvertently hinder educational equity. Learning, Media and Technology, 44(1), 77-86. DOI: 10.1080/17439884.2018.1556217

 

Mayer, R. (2014). Introduction to Multimedia Learning. In R. Mayer (Ed.), The Cambridge Handbook of Multimedia Learning (Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology, pp. 1-24). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI:10.1017/CBO9781139547369.002

 

Mizala, A., Martinez, F., Martinez, S.. (2015). Pre-service elementary school teachers’ expectations about student performance: How their beliefs are affected by their mathematics anxiety and student’s gender. Teaching and Teacher Education, 50(1), 70-78. https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/science/article/pii/ S0742051X15000785?via%3Dihub

 

Moore, J.L., Dickson-Deane, C., Galyen, K. (2011). E-Learning, online learning, and distance learning environments: Are they the same? The Internet and Higher Education, 14(2), 129-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2010.10.001

 

Peterson, D. (2016). Edtech and student privacy: California law as a model. Berkeley Technology Law Journal, 31(2), 961-996. DOI:10.2307/26377778

 

Trust, T. (2017). The top five trends in EdTech according to ISTE 2017. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, 33(4), 126-127. DOI: 10.1080/21532974.2017.1350082

 

Vee, H. (2003). Adapting classroom-based strategy instruction to a distance learning context. The Electronic Journal for English as a Second language, 7(2), 1-19. http://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/issues/volume7/ej26/ej26a1/

 

Zee, M. & Roorda, D.L. (2018) Student-teacher relationships in elementary school: The unique role of shyness, anxiety, and emotional problems. Learning and Individual Differences, 67(1), 156-166. https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/science/article/pii/ S1041608018301389?via%3Dihub