This week for my inquiry post I decided to visit the Esquimalt Gorge Park and Pavilion Japanese Garden and cultural center. The garden is rich with the history of Japanese Canadians who lived in Victoria before the World Wars. The park itself was once a popular amusement park in the early 1900s complete with an…
Welcome back to my blog! This week in my journey to prepare myself for my upcoming practicum in Japan I have teamed up with the other practicum student Elissa! Together we learned some Japanese and researched more about Japanese culture and how to be respectful of their culture. Through our research we learned that Japan…
This week, we explored different ways to design for learning. In EDCI 335 last semester I learned lots about Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Backwards Design. However, the class did not cover the ADDIE model for design. Unlike UDL and Backwards design principals the ADDIE model works to improve lessons throughout the planning process…
Discussing the possible uses of Gen AI in the classroom has left me with some concerns. Using AI for lesson planning and classroom activities is a great time-saving strategy. However, it concerns me that the ease and accessibility of these tools will lead educators to become reliant on AI. I am a strong believer that…
Welcome to my inquiry blog! For my inquiry blog, I am going to learn more about Japan and Japanese culture! This spring, I am completing my 6-week practicum at a Canadian international school in Tokyo, Japan. There, I get the opportunity to teach grade 7 and grade 8 students. I am incredibly excited about this…
Touring around the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry (PSII) gave me a new perspective on what inquiry-based education can look like. In a sense it felt like they reimagined education. My experience with inquiry education has been narrow minded. When I think of inquiry-based learning I remember Friday afternoons spent doing genius hour in…
Game based learning is an easy way to engage students and promote collaboration. Incorporating games into the classroom addresses the core competency “Communication” and helps build positive class culture. On this webpage you will find a variety of learning games for middle school classrooms. They are organised based on subject area. If you have any…
Linked below is a co-created google classroom that can be used as a unit review for a Social Studies 8 class on what life was like in the Middle Ages. Please feel free to use this as a classroom resource or as your own personal review of what life was like in the Middle Ages!…
Emma’s Archive- Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Design I love how you integrated songs into your post! I have not heard that Glee version in years, so it put a smile on my face. Your blog posts are always very impactful because you connect the topics to your own experiences as a student teacher and as…
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) As CAST describes, the goal of UDL (Universal Design for Learning) is to create “learner agency that is purposeful and reflective, resourceful and authentic, strategic and action orientated” (CAST 2024). UDL is centered around creating a learning framework that works for everyone. To keep up with our ever-developing society, education…