Introduction
For much of my working life (30 years), I was a computer programmer and then a system developer. I worked as an independent consultant and also developed and taught technical training courses in face-to-face workshops. These experiences were primarily “chalk and talk” (except I used PowerPoint). I began to realize that this teaching style is not particularly effective, and I needed to find better ways in which to engage learners.
I started out by talking with the students at break times and trying to understand where they were coming from, rather than delivering a content heavy course that did not necessarily relate to their learning needs. I still needed to understand the teaching process better, so I began to take adult education classes to learn better ways of responding to students needs and assisting them in gaining the knowledge they were looking for.
Also during this period, my health situation was changing and I needed to find a way to continue my career with limited commuting, and with reduced face-to-face teaching activities. Most of my development work could be done remotely, why not my teaching? This is when I really started to get interested in distance learning – both as a learner and as a future course developer and facilitator. I no longer believed in the model of instructor as the “sage on the stage”, and saw my role much more as guide and co-creator of understanding.
I have now rediscovered myself as an advocate for myself and others – particularly focusing on seniors issues, poverty, and disability. Although over the official retirement age, I intend to keep busy in the next few years as I engage in this new work. I plan many years of further study, as I have so much to learn in order to make my efforts count. I look forward to the adventure!
Comments
Rita Zuba Prokopetz
28 January 2018, 10:53 AM
Hi Paul,
You show evidence that you have put time and effort into your selection of artefacts and your articulation of your learning goals. You may consider listing each of the chosen artefacts and their respective courses briefly, and reflect on why you have chosen these five artefacts as a group, rather than separately. In your subsequent pages, you will have a chance to introduce each artefact both individually, and also in more detail.
As your learning goals will also be featured on the Conclusion, you may consider listing them here in a more succinct way; this will ensure your reader captures the essence of each of the three learning goals you have selected. You may use infinitive of the verbs for each bullet, for example: “develop the necessary skills to…; be an efficient adult educator…; become certified in… -- just a few ideas, Paul.
Your visuals help with your story-telling – thank you! I would like to emphasize that the focus is on “you”; therefore, you may wish to: 1) resize the photos accordingly; and 2) ensure the focus is on you. At first glance, I actually thought this portfolio belonged to someone else…
Paul, you may wish to introduce your portfolio at the top (you may remove the “Please feel free to give me your comments, etc.” and place it in the Forum), introduce yourself, and add your personal photo there rather than at the bottom. Just a suggestion, Paul, and I welcome your thoughts here.
Great work thus far, Paul!
Rita Zuba Prokopetz
29 January 2018, 5:42 AM
Paul,
Thank you for considering some of the suggestions. Would you be able to share your thoughts on your layout / visuals now (after the changes), and before you made these modifications to your page? I am just wondering if you are comfortable with some of the changes you have made.
Thanks, Paul. Great work so far!
Margaret Deiseach
30 January 2018, 5:53 PM
Hi Paul!
I have just finished reviewing your introductory page and artefact one. You are an absolute inspiration! Thank you for sharing your story. You are right we do have many parallels in our work history with being facilitators and moving into online and technical training.
I also really enjoyed the research MDDE602 and have chosen an artefact from the same course. I felt it provided a missing piece in my education, especially the qualitative research. I thought I could go out a research anything after that.
I really like your writing style, it is clear, easy to follow, and intelligent.
There were a couple of things I noticed that you may want to change. On the introductory page when I first saw the “Developments in my use of technology” title it appeared to have no content underneath it. On closer inspection I found the drop-down arrow that, when selected, reveals the text underneath. The drop-down arrow is very hard to see so I am suggesting that you remove the arrow, if you can, and just allow the text to be static and visible.
I am sure you are going to change this as you go along, but you are using two different spellings of “artefact” on the drop-down menu to your pages, and in the titles on the following pages. My vote is for the Canadian/English spelling “artefact”!
Thank you, Paul, for being so generous with your feedback to me. I hope you find something of value in my response to you.
Margaret
Susan Moisey
02 February 2018, 12:20 PM
Paul,
Your Introduction looks great, and your story is truly inspirational. My only suggestion is to adjust the sentence above your learning goals to show that these were your goals when you started the program.
Susan
Stephen Telling
03 February 2018, 9:24 PM
Hi Paul,
What an incredible introduction / story. Who knew I would find a fellow Brit (I was born in Leicester but most of our family live down in the SW (Exeter)) and someone who lives just down the street :) We live in Oakville at Appleby College.
Thank you again for all your great comments on my portfolio. Unfortunately, I do not have much to say about your intro page as I think it is great! I especially like how you have added a section on future plans. I also do agree with Rita in that perhaps it would be more clear if you moved the picture of yourself higher up on the page so that it is one of the first things you see.
thanks again and good luck with the rest of the portfolio. I hope we can communicate again soon.
Stephen.
Stephen Telling
03 February 2018, 9:25 PM
Please ignore my comment about the picture when I went back I noticed that you had already changed this :)
Paul Benson
04 February 2018, 12:15 PM
small World Stephen – I originally studied engineering in rugby and spent one summer working in the mechanical engineering labs at Whetstone.
Lots of English experiences to talk about!
all the best, Paul
Lara Ripkens
04 February 2018, 1:45 PM
A very well thought out and detailed introduction. I wish I could afford to fly you out to where I live to present to my students on overcoming and living with adversity because you're definitely an inspiration!
Paul Benson
04 February 2018, 5:56 PM
hi Lara – thanks for your feedback.
Re: “I wish I could afford to fly you out to where I live to present to my students on overcoming and living with adversity…” – It will be easy to set up a Skype session and I can speak to your group from my hospital room – either audio only or on WebCam. Let me know if this would be of interest to you.
Talk to you soon.
All the best, Paul
Siobhan Cook
02 March 2018, 5:25 PM
Hi Paul,
Fantastic introduction as I truly get a sense of who you are as a person :) I wish that I had taken 613 with you. As a aside, have you considered informal learning re: social equity? This course through ubcX has gotten great reviews: https://www.edx.org/course/reconciliation-through-indigenous-education as an example.
Siobhan