Self Introduction

My name is Ishan Jassal, I am thrilled to learn everything EDCI 339 has to offer! I am pursuing a BA in psychology at UVic and I am currently in my 4th year, after I graduate I plan further my education at law school to achieve a large goal of mine to be a lawyer.

Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash

Distributed Education

Distributed education learning is where student, educators, and resources are connected through technology like Brightspace and Zoom. This allows for better accessibility and flexibility than compared to a traditional in person class. This includes online learning and blended learning, which decrease the need for locations and schedules. This makes education more accessible to a wide range of learners, like those who live in remote areas or those who have time constraints due to other responsibilities. These learners can benefit from flexible learning options like self-paced courses and virtual collaboration. For instance, students who need to manage their studies with work and other duties can take online courses from leading institutions from around the world. I have a family friend who complete her Masters degree for psychology at Yorkville University which is near Toronto fully online living in Vancouver. This is one great real world example of how online learning is an amazing method of learning, especially if you are not able to psychically attend the institution where you are learning.

Open Education

Open education system allows for free, accessible, and shareable resources, removing the cost and exclusivity aspects of learning like in traditional education. It advocates equity by addressing economic barriers by providing free materials, promoting inclusivity through global resource sharing, and making things accessible by having resources available in multiple formates. A great example of open education is Open Educational Resources (OER), which gives low-income students and underfunded schools access to free textbooks and learning tools. Through removing barriers such as cost allows for the creation of equal opportunities, open education supports learns and educators providing a more equitable and inclusive environment.

Modes of Learning

Learning modes like face-to-face, online, and blended learning, each offer their own strengths in terms of engagement and success academically. Face-to-face learning happens in a physical classroom, allowing direct interaction with peers and instructors, which improves engagement and provides immediate feedback. Online learning, in contrast occurs in virtual environments, which allows for flexibility and accessibility for student who have to manage their school schedules with other responsibilities such as work or for students who are geographically restricted. Blended learning is a combination of the previous two learning modes, it allows for direct interaction with in-person meeting times with online resources, activities, and assignments. My preferred learning mode is face-to-face, the reason I prefer this is because I am physically in the same room with peers and professors and I engage with the material way more. I never feel the same level of engagement for a lecture which is being taught on zoom I always get distracted. Overall, each mode of learning impacts everyone differently and success depends on individual preferences and what works best in your situation.

Digital Literacy

My understanding of digital literacy is that it is the ability to navigate, evaluate, and use digital tools and resources, which is important for open and distributed learning. It allows learners to access materials, communicate, and critically evaluate information. For example, I have used platforms brightspace to access assignments, quizzes, lecture videos, and additional resources, also I have frequently used google to find peer-reviewed scientific studies for assignments. These google requires strong digital literacy skills to locate credible information efficiently. Further more, during Covid I used Zoom and discussion forms to collaborate with peers, like when I had calculus and I was having trouble with understanding a concept my classmates helped me break down these complex concepts. My experiences show how digital literacy supports engagement and academic success by giving access to collaboration and having access to credible information.

Digital Identity

Digital Identity to me refers to how you represent yourself online, including social media and professional platforms. I manage my digital presence by curating my social media to reflect my personal interests like sports, cars, and snow boarding, while maintaining my LinkedIn profile for professional growth. My digital identity has supported my education by enabling me to participate in academic networks like clubs at the university. Professionally, it has helped me connect with individuals in the legal field by facilitating communication through email since it is available on their LinkedIn.