Blog Post #1: An Introduction to Open Education and Digital Literacy – EDCI 339/338 – Chase B.

Hi Chase, I enjoed your discussion on distributed and open education, especially how these models increase accessibility for students facing a multitude of different barriers. To build on the importance of flexibility in distributed learning. I think it’s also important to highlight how it can help learners foster self-discipline and time management skills when working online.

Your section on digital literacy made a great insight into the importance of having digital literacy skills as the world starts to evolve and become more online. Do you think digital literacy should be required as part of all school curriculums?
You also made a great point about being mindful when posting online. Your emphasis on not posting anything you wouldn’t be comfortable with future employers seeing is important and highlights the long-term consequences and impacts of a digital footprint!

Digital Learning – UVIC teaching tool – Rondean C.

Hi Rondean, I enjoyed reading your reflections on distributed and open education this week. Your reflection on the Covid-19 pandemic resonates with me because it was a huge shift, going from face-to-face learning to online in such a short time frame. My digital literacy skills were helpful for the transition, but online learning also highlighted areas where I lacked skills. I needed to improve on these areas to make sure I was getting the most knowledge, experience, and interactions from my education. For example, I wasn’t super familiar with using online tools like Zoom or learning management systems at the start of 2020. But through helpful friends, video tutorials, and online resources, I am able to utilize my digital literacy skills to access and navigate these platforms on my own. I wonder if you have come across any specific strategies or tools that have helped you improve your online learning experience?


I also agree with you that certain subjects work well online, but other subjects such as STEM courses that are more analytical and quantitative, work better in person. In my personal experience, I think I would have struggled taking a stats course online because interacting with the teacher, getting immediate feedback, and working with other students in real time was essential for how I grasped and understood the material.

– Atalaya

Blog Post 1 – Uvic Teaching Tool – Matthew J.

Hi Matthew, I enjoyed reading your post this week on distributed learning and open education. I liked your insights on hybrid learning and the benefits it allows, such as maintaining structure while also providing flexibility. Hybrid learning is also one of my preferred forms of learning; having the option to attend in person or online is beneficial for individuals with complicated schedules or personal preferences for learning flexibility. Like you, I find the freedom to choose between online and in-person learning to be valuable. For example, when my energy is low or I am facing barriers to attend attend class in person, being able to switch online allows me to continue to learn at my own pace.
I find that sometimes I feel more distracted and less motivated when learning online. In your experience, do you utilize any strategies that help you stay motivated when switching to an online format?

-Atalaya