Providing yourself a more responsive and inclusive learning space is crucial for increasing engagement because you give yourself clearer goals for using technology for learning.
What are the responsibilities and expectations for you while engaging in the different modalities (face to face, online, hybrid) of learning?
As a learner, you might feel unsupported before and after committing to learning. So what might be done to lessen your uncertainty and clarify your roles when using technology-supported learning?
Envision and Enrich your Own Physical and Virtual Learning Spaces
You might be uncertain about expectations for how to set up your learning activities (in-person and online) and interacting with new experiences, people, learning resources, expert validators, facilitators and peers. How can you build out learning spaces or modify existing spaces that best supports your learning? Visualize and describe these optimal learning spaces.
Prepare Yourself for Self-Paced Learning
Start with describing a project you are already engaged in, and the steps you take to enjoy your learning. What has been working for you? What have been your challenges?
When embarking on an independent learning project, a great way to start is to identify what you want to learn and why. Note down a few goals and identify a few commitments. How will you record your progress? What digital and analog tools are you comfortable using right now? How do you prefer to learn? (podcasts, articles, videos, or a combination?) What kind of timeline do you want to start off with? What will you do to demonstrate progress?
Prepare Yourself for Face-to-Face Learning
You might not be confident for face-to-face learning and often uncertain what resource materials you need. Will you need a notebook and pen/pencil/highlighters? Will handouts, printed materials, and supplies be provided for the sessions, or do you need to print off resources or download them, or purchase them? You might instead need to ask about access to hard-copy textbooks, workbooks, binders, and supplies to make an inventory and double-check what things are needed and what is available so you can start off and be confidently prepared in advance for participating in face-to-face classes.
Prepare Yourself for Online Learning
You might also not feel confident for participating in online learning. You have a number of questions about the computer, webcam, microphone and software. How will you access learning materials, and can you download and store course handouts provided for the sessions. You might instead need to ask about access to printing instructional materials. You may also need to learn how to confidently navigate the Learning Management System (LMS) (for example, Moodle) and the video-conferencing system (for example, Microsoft Teams or Zoom). Have you had previous experience participating in Chat, discussion forums, and live sessions? Prior to participation, it is a necessity to make an inventory and double-check what things are needed, what support resources are available, and how you can ask for support if needed. With this checklist, you can start off more confidently prepared in advance for participating in online classes.
