"The journey is the reward." - Steve Jobs
Welcome To My OLTD Learning Journey!
Welcome to my Personal Website to share my learning in the Graduate Diploma in Online Learning and Teaching (OLTD) program at Vancouver Island University.
This site will document my journey on the path through the OLTD program.
I hope you will join me along the way!
Tracy Cameron, B.A., B.Ed.
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I grew up in a small town called Chemainus, on Vancouver Island about an hour north of Victoria. Once graduated from Chemainus Secondary I went on to attend what was formerly known as Malaspina and now Vancouver Island University. I completed my Bachelor of Arts in English and Physical Education and my Education Degree in the Concurrent Education Program and graduated in December 2007. I was then hired by the Cowichan School District as a TOC in January 2008. The Cowichan District is notoriously known for being a hard district to become a continuing teacher, but I am happy to report that I have had several teaching contracts totaling the amount of time needed to now apply for continuing positions.
Last year I had a part-time contract working with a colleague to start a DL program that runs out of the Alternate High School in the Cowichan District. Since it was a brand new program there was a huge learning curve. I was so excited to be a part of such a huge undertaking and it is what lead me to pursue my Online Learning and Teaching Diploma. Unfortunately I am low on the seniority list and I did not return to this position. My hope is to one day return to the District’s DL team and play an even larger role in the program.
Personally I think DL has huge benefits for students that are not living in a populated area and want better access to courses. I also think it is a fabulous way for more advanced students to work at a pace that suits their learning style and vice versa for students who require a slower pace. Online learning can be geared towards individual learning styles a lot easier than in a face-to-face traditional classroom setting. With that being said I do have fears for the students becoming anti-social and missing out on key personal interactions face to face. For example I do not see online learning completely taking the place of a Kindergarten class. Perhaps it is a foreign concept for me at this point, but I am looking forward to learning ways of incorporating online learning to the primary grades.
As a DL instructor I was teaching a Physical Education 10 course. This course was extremely easy and required the students to complete simple readings and questions followed by logging their 100 hours of activity time, which was to be signed by a coach, teacher or parent acknowledging the completion. As a teacher with a Physical Education degree I found it very difficult to wrap my brain around the idea of an online P.E. course. I struggled with the pre-set course content and its value. I wanted to make more of an impact on my student’s fitness level and have a better way of encouraging life-long fitness. Throughout our time in OLTD I hope to find ways of better executing an online P.E. course.