Welcome to Walking Stick Blogger (WSB), a work in progress.
My name is Glenn Groulx, the owner of this blogging site. Over the past 10 years, this blog has been acting as an archive for earlier academic work, and as a platform for showcasing new directions of my thoughts on learning and writing in a digital space.
I have been applying my experience as a blogger to creating a reflective learning blog, a blog intended to discuss issues and demonstrate the use of blogs for adult ESL educators and learners. Its focus is on documenting my learning paths as I seek to find out more on how to use blogs for a variety of educational settings.
It serves as a portfolio for current and past professional activities, learning projects, previous academic work as well as an overview of workplace skills I have developed as an ESL instructor, an adult literacy educator, an ESWK (Essential Skills for Workplace) facilitator, and an English Instructor.
Academic and Professional Interests:
Since September 2019, I have been teaching Academic English to first-year students in a formal academic setting at a local College.
From 2018 to 2019, I had been facilitating a non-formal English language study circle for newcomers which had provided an alternative to formal instruction for assisting newcomers to practice English in a number of contexts within a supportive group.
(2019 – Summer) – I engaged in non-formal learning; using drones for ESL instruction; learning through play with DIY electronics
(2019): I was immersed in research and a deep reading to learn to enable self-directed language learning using blogs; transformative learning, non-formal second language learning theories; fostering extensive reading, developing essential skills for new immigrants; methodologies for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); effective facilitation techniques of conversation circles, and developing English language study group activities.
(2018): engaged in adult basic education design of self-paced programs; conducted Canadian Adult Reading Assessment (CARA) assessments for adults; designed courses using Moodle; learned about brain gym (Tanaka), and developing Foundations Adult Literacy programs in non-formal community setting.
(2017): Quantified Self; facilitator of ESL (English as a Second Language); Curriculum Developer, Essential Skills Assessment and Training, employment transitions, computer skills development, Literacy advocacy; hiking and personal fitness
(2014) edu-blogging, facilitating autonomous, self-regulated learning, immigration issues, settlement and integration, e-learning, ESL (English as a Second Language), protean careers, transformations, and liminal change, life-work balance, career development; lifespan transitions, personal blogging, and community development.
