What did I learn?
As a social work student, I am fascinated by the larger social world around me and the role education plays in reducing social inequalities. I was initially interested in learning more about how education acts as an agent of social equalization, however, this class challenged many of my taken-for-granted assumptions about education. In fact, I learned that education perpetuates and maintains social inequalities. Why is it that the gendered organization of field of study maintains income inequality? And why would it take so long for a school to be built in the Attawapiskat community? The amount of knowledge I have gained in this class goes beyond the scope of this assignment. I have become more critical, sceptical and openminded. I learned about how educational institutions influence the socialization of individuals and communities and how education and knowledge are socially produced. It became clear that nationality guides educational ideologies, making education for and about the economy. Above all, acknowledging multiple perspectives and ways of learning is not the norm, which leads me to the next question.
What learning modalities supported my learning?
Critiquing the education system and different learning environments became a form of self-discovery. I believe each instructional method provided a combination of benefits to students. In-person learning worked best for me since technology can be a distraction and not all students have equal access to technological resources. However, online learning creates an accessible space for students with disabilities, commuters and those who are unable to be physically present. The multimodality of the experience made me realize that there are different ways to experiment more in pedagogy and express yourself. Although an in-person modality supported my learning best as there is not a linear approach to learning, and a blended classroom learning modality meets the diverse nature of students in the classroom.
What learning modalities was most challenging?
While I thought an online environment would enhance my learning, it was both a challenge and an adventure. I realized that I learn best through in person interactions. Although an online class structure allowed us to talk to each other at all times and provided students an opportunity to participate, it was distracting for me to keep track of the multimodality of the experience while processing the course content. Although my access needs require me to be in class, fully present and actively listening, I think it is important to deliver education in creative and innovative ways and explore the new possibilities it introduces. Even though online learning was the most challenging for me, it was important to experience multiple learning modalities. It gave me the opportunity to explore new ways to enhance my learning, and see what worked best and worst for me.
How might I apply this knowledge to my own educational journey moving forward?
Moving forward, I plan to take the knowledge I have gained and give back. I believe the privilege of education gives us the opportunity to make a difference, and critique topics that are relevant to our lives. Those who came before us created the world we live in today, but the future is in our hands. We are in the middle of a revolution. The future is unknown and not linear, however, our education system uses a linear fashion to predict the future. If we maintain the linear educational approach then we will have the same results. This class used creative and innovative ways to enhance learning, and I believe those are the tools I will need to start on the path of using my knowledge to give back.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)