How can you adjust your planned learning activities to meet the needs of your learners if an unexpected event occurs?

The best way to adjust your learning activities is to design them to be available in multiple ways. For example, our learning resource which teaches poetry is primarily on google slides with an added document. This makes the material easily accessible as long as the student has an electronic device (they can also download the files if the internet is an issue). It is stated that “All students should have equitable access to learning, opportunities for achievement, and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of their educational programs” (Carleton Online, n.d). If a situation would arise such as a pandemic, having an online course would solve most barriers that come with students needing to learn remotely. Another important aspect of an online course is the level of engagement for students. To adhere to this the learning resource would have to provide students with the opportunity to engage with one another and the learning instructor. Our learning resource provides an opportunity for students to engage with each other as they assess each other’s poetry. George Veletsianos (2020) states that “A good online course involves practice. Good courses involve students in “doing” — not just watching and reading — “doing again” and in applying what they learned.” This shows that students need to practice what they learn by completing activities. If an unexpected event occurs which prevents students the ability to have face-to-face learning, the best option is to switch to an online course. Having our learning activities available on google slides allows students to have easy access regardless of location (as long as they have internet or have downloaded all the material).

Consider the learning environment for your current design. What potential barriers can be reduced or eliminated to provide more pathways for learner success?

The potential barrier with our current design is a student not having a device to access the material on. Since our learning resource is designed on google slides and an online document as described earlier, the only option in a case like this would be to print out the material and hand the paper documents to the student. This would however hinder the students’ ability to watch the supplied videos. Thus, a student in this position would need additional support, such as check-ins through the phone or in-person (only if it is permitted). This would allow the students opportunities to engage with their instructor and ask questions if they need to.

References:

Carleton Online. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2022, from https://carleton.ca/online/online-learning-resources/how-to-be-successful-in-an-online-course/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20best%20predictors,contribute%20to%20the%20learning%20process.

Veletsianos, G. (2022, April 3). The 7 elements of a good online course. The Conversation. Retrieved June 20, 2022, from https://theconversation.com/the-7-elements-of-a-good-online-course-139736