Week 2: My brief reflection on the course content and Blog making

The second week of my enrollment in "PIDP 3250: Instructional Strategies" has been quite hectic. I had to catch up with the class readings and online discussions while also making sure that I was running on schedule in my preparation of my visual assignment and journal writing. It was a constant reminder that I needed to brush up on my technical skills.

The topic of our discussions revolved around the notion of self-directed learning. And up until now, I thought that I had it all figured out, and considered myself an independent and self-directed learner. However, when my blog display turned out malformed and unresponsive while adding information on my course progression. I realized that I had to enhance my knowledge of technological tools that are used every day in various professional fields, namely: making a semi-professional looking blog.

Upon reflecting on the course content, however, my knowledge of the applicability of the course content would have been better if more examples was provided on how the information we are discussion is used regularly.

With this being said, I am slowly progressing on making the visual project, and would really like to see more comments and feedbacks from my classmates in the discussion forums.

A very interesting video I came across in this context:

A Brief Autobiography

I have been a learner for most of my life and becoming an educator feels like a natural course of action for me to embark on in the mid-stages of my life.  Having moved to Canada at the age of Sixteen, I have always been struggling to find my niche, hoping it may lead to my lifelong passion.

Having finished a degree in the sciences in the hopes for becoming a pediatric doctor, my desires were dashed as my MCATs were lacking. Since then, I’ve juggled a variety of pursuits than has taken me down quite a few paths. Though the journey has been long, it has become clear that teaching children instead of curing diseases would better suit my mature outlook.

Nonetheless, juggling a busy life, and preparing for a new degree and career at Langara College’s Early Childhood Education program while starting the Provincial Instructor Diploma program at VCC has been the very definition of difficult. This is especially true balancing my education, personal life, and family on a regular basis. Still, it has never been my style to back away from a challenge, and I have once again taken up the gauntlet that life has thrown down, knowing that there is finally the light I look for at the end of a tunnel.

As such, I have chosen the Cooperative Learning for my instructional strategy assignment and look forward to the challenge in making a visual assignment. Considering the importance of higher education, there is a greater need for varied instructional techniques to improve learning outcomes. Cooperative Learning is an instructional technique with several decades of research proving its effectiveness. Cooperative learning promotes academic achievement, is relatively easy to implement, and is inexpensive. Children’s improved behavior and attendance, and increased liking of school, are some of the benefits of cooperative learning.

I look forward to creating an animated project on this instructional too through Prezi and hope to learn more about the uses and application of this technique during the course of the project in the following weeks.

Welcome To My Blog!

Hello Friends and Welcome to My Blog

My name is Atoosha, even though, I am a naturalized Canadian citizen, I was originally born in Iran and migrated with my family when I was just sixteen years old. Even though I now love my adopted home of Vancouver, it wasn't always that easy. When I first arrived, I was ready to pack my bags and go back to Iran.

Nevertheless, I have braved the slow process and now love it. Having finishing my higher learning in both the undergraduate and graduate level I've come to appreciate the freedom I have to pursue my intellectual interests without interference. Today, after experiencing a variety of vocations and experiences, I've come to heed the call in teaching; something I never quite realized was my passion until a few years ago. Now I whole heartedly embrace this new direction and now look forward to learning, in order to teach in the future.