Open education has a goal – to make knowledge and opportunity available to all. Open educators are committed to addressing the many barriers that prevent everyone from getting a better education. Some of these barriers are financial, which impacts ability to access materials and resources. Many open educators have addressed these barriers through open education …
Author archives: Derek
elud 2010 (12 years later)
I just glanced through a Tweet content dump that I placed in my drafts folder 12 years ago. I did some sifting through these small thoughts, and pulled out a few (see below). Strange to be looking back. Personally and professionally, has not much changed? Still independent. Still struggling. Seems like I’m going around in …
Intentional adapting
Not a stranger to OER Been involved in prompting the use, creation, sharing and adaptation of OER (open education resources) for years. Useful because of its “reach”! OERs are affordable for students, remove access barriers and are usually designed to encourage flexibility. I’ve been both a user of OER and developer, releasing materials with an …
Post-digital
“Post-modern” was a smug term I encountered 30 years ago at the end of my studies. It represented a questioning of the grand narratives associated with the enlightenment (and my 4 years of higher education). It picked apart the stability that modernity had promised me and my future. This phrase both annoyed and intrigued me. …
Ed Tech Intermediaries
“Innovate”, “transform”, “engage”, “envision”, “upskill”. Words drawn from the lexicon of Distinguished, Innovative or Certified Educators. Individuals employed by educational institutions who have been awarded a level or accolade from a global software company. A signal to distinguish the holder’s proficiency? A marker of mastery of a particular software suite. Or an electronic portfolio, a …
Ceilings and floors of a course home page
Picture the instructional designer. Putting together a course home page on the institutional LMS. How do you want to “dress” this page? To impress? Do we reflect the department or faculty “brand”. Do we watch the intended user, noticing how they interact with the page, and then make changes. Do we make the interface intuitive …
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Job Fog Blog
It is expected that you will package the “facts” of your career. Neatly select and present a list of credentials, previous employers and responsibilities held. Remember, they say, to sound professional. Inflated job titles. Humble brag your accomplishments. No harm in posturing? I’ve been watching this. For a long time. Tried pushing significant things that …
My experience in online teaching
I’m an independent e-learning consultant, who is focused primarily on educational technology and learning design. I’m home based, work online, at a distance, from offsite locations and through digital channels that suit my client’s specifications. My absence from an office on campus means that my commute to and from work has been drastically reduced. But …
What does my dad do?
This is “Job Fog Blog”. A series of explanations about my work, for my kids. I attempted to explain where virtual is – where I do most of my work. Below, I attempt to explain to my poor children (and perhaps to others who care to read), what I actually do. Every now and then, …
The Webinar – intro
In the first quarter of 2020, Zoom burst into our lives and onto the higher education institution (HEI) scene. Promulgated healthcare regulations led to the suspension of all on-campus activities and classes. In March, a state of disaster and a national lockdown was declared. Much like the rest of the world, South Africa’s educational system …