Week 3 – Foundations of Online & Open Education: Terminology, Theories, & Inclusive Practices

This has been a week where I was introduced to the core language and ideas shaping online and open education. I learned how important common terminology is for framing notions of OER, open pedagogy, and distributed learning. We explored some key theories, including constructivism, connectivism, and open pedagogy. These helped me to reframe my conception of online learning from the mere delivery of content toward one of a networked and collaborative process.

One of the key focuses was on inclusive practice, particularly around how accessibility, flexibility, and UDL principles need to be part of the design at the inception of digital spaces. The review of the BC Digital Learning Strategy and 2020 policy brief helped to see how theory informs and influences real-life educational planning. We also created pods and began the preparation for our inquiry projects, establishing the base for collaborative learning throughout the course.