Indigenous PERSPECTIVES online
Blended & online learning environments call for many of the important principles of Indigenous ways of knowing and learning:
Classroom technologies and First People's principles of learning has 8 modules ranging from context, digital storytelling, and origin stories to slam poetry & reconciliation, medicinal garden, and place-based learning.
Blended & online learning environments can be rich places of learning, linked to the outside world and grounded in solid pedagogical practices and philosophies.
- visual observation
- access to repeated practice
- learning from the environment
- learning from experts in the field (Elders and others)
- listening and communicating
- sharing story
- practicing shared leadership
- stewardship
Classroom technologies and First People's principles of learning has 8 modules ranging from context, digital storytelling, and origin stories to slam poetry & reconciliation, medicinal garden, and place-based learning.
Blended & online learning environments can be rich places of learning, linked to the outside world and grounded in solid pedagogical practices and philosophies.
Relationship with PLACE online
Instructors can lead learners - and themselves! - to be located in place. Anne's video in Place is a good example.
It makes a difference to experience, relevance, and knowledge retention to tie materials to place - local or multiple places, depending on learner locations and situations. This can be done through videos, multiple samples from learner communities, and bringing in local experts to the online learning environment.
It makes a difference to experience, relevance, and knowledge retention to tie materials to place - local or multiple places, depending on learner locations and situations. This can be done through videos, multiple samples from learner communities, and bringing in local experts to the online learning environment.
The pedagogy of CIRCLE online
Speaking from experience as both an online learner and instructor, it's important to be together in the larger group as often as possible. This creates a sense of connection and is especially important in non-synchronous courses where learner isolation is a high risk.
When in a large group, it's rewarding to include the talking circle explicitly, such as passing the talking stick or a designated object - this will be passing the microphone. Those not speaking can turn off their microphones and practice listening - dadirri - to each speaker.
A structure needs to be in place to differentiate between designated times for Chat participation to brainstorm and ask questions, and times where Chat is silent to practice focused listening.
It's also rewarding for learners to work in small groups online - Zoom, Hangouts, Skype other tools can help facilitate this. This is a flexible, highly portable way to get together and overcomes barriers of location, transportation, and other responsibilities. It is dependent on access to broadband.
The Circle can be widened by inviting special guests to an online class or meeting. This opportunity is easier online than in person - the Circle and learning environment is fluid rather than fixed. Learners can be invited to participate in selecting special guests!
When in a large group, it's rewarding to include the talking circle explicitly, such as passing the talking stick or a designated object - this will be passing the microphone. Those not speaking can turn off their microphones and practice listening - dadirri - to each speaker.
A structure needs to be in place to differentiate between designated times for Chat participation to brainstorm and ask questions, and times where Chat is silent to practice focused listening.
It's also rewarding for learners to work in small groups online - Zoom, Hangouts, Skype other tools can help facilitate this. This is a flexible, highly portable way to get together and overcomes barriers of location, transportation, and other responsibilities. It is dependent on access to broadband.
The Circle can be widened by inviting special guests to an online class or meeting. This opportunity is easier online than in person - the Circle and learning environment is fluid rather than fixed. Learners can be invited to participate in selecting special guests!
The power of STORY online
For me, the most important aspect of Story online is to create a narrative and use visual formats for conveying information. Narrative is engaging and helps make sense of the world of new material.
The next most important aspect is to encourage and honour voice in learners. It is richly rewarding and beyond comparison.
There are many formats that can be used and adapted to the online learning environment:
Elizabeth LaPensee: Her digital & video storytelling artwork, videos, and Indigenous-content video games are engaging and appealing to learners of all backgrounds.
Gaming Enhances Education! : Educator Miriam Bride's website leads educators and learners through many options and ways to use gaming, which is all about storytelling, in education.
Creating opportunity for community storytelling is perfectly suited to the online environment. This can be done as small group or pair projects. Learners can meet through Zoom, Hangouts, Skype or other tools.
The next most important aspect is to encourage and honour voice in learners. It is richly rewarding and beyond comparison.
There are many formats that can be used and adapted to the online learning environment:
- Digital storytelling
- Digital portfolio for assessment
- A place for learners to reflect on their learning, such as an online journal or document
- Video as instructor and learner medium of delivery
Elizabeth LaPensee: Her digital & video storytelling artwork, videos, and Indigenous-content video games are engaging and appealing to learners of all backgrounds.
Gaming Enhances Education! : Educator Miriam Bride's website leads educators and learners through many options and ways to use gaming, which is all about storytelling, in education.
Creating opportunity for community storytelling is perfectly suited to the online environment. This can be done as small group or pair projects. Learners can meet through Zoom, Hangouts, Skype or other tools.
The practice of MENTORSHIP online
Instructors can play the role of mentor to blended & online learners. They can support learners to find other, multiple places of mentorship and experiential learning. This can be a shift in the role of 'teacher,' and can free up focus for other support roles the instructor can take.
Instructor videos and screencasts (e.g. Kaltura, Screencast-O-Matic, Camtasia, and others) give learners opportunity to review and be guided as needed.
Inviting special guests creates relevance for learners and can provide mentorship and leadership to learners who may be feeling isolated.
Linking online courses to outside websites and materials can provide a multitude of places for learning to happen and takes the instructor out of the centre of knowledge. This also encourages the learner to seek and explore multiple sources of information and ways of learning.
Inquiry-based learning and projects can encourage exploration through learner-led initiative. This is especially well-suited to the online learning environment.
Instructor videos and screencasts (e.g. Kaltura, Screencast-O-Matic, Camtasia, and others) give learners opportunity to review and be guided as needed.
Inviting special guests creates relevance for learners and can provide mentorship and leadership to learners who may be feeling isolated.
Linking online courses to outside websites and materials can provide a multitude of places for learning to happen and takes the instructor out of the centre of knowledge. This also encourages the learner to seek and explore multiple sources of information and ways of learning.
Inquiry-based learning and projects can encourage exploration through learner-led initiative. This is especially well-suited to the online learning environment.
image credits
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spider web: Julie Falk CC Attribution-Non-commercial
red-winged blackbird: Jon D. Anderson place: J Carnahan circle: pixabay story: A Hilker mentorship: A Hilker all other images from Weebly or pixabay, no attribution required |
Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
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