Excited! Grateful!
Blogging and I go hand in hand, and with social media, I have made it my life’s work.
I’ll be taking it a step further this year when my dissertation is complete as I expand my learning in fandom and collaborative learning through microblogging/social media/digital storytelling.
I am just so very fortunate that I found a program that aligns with my goals and what I’ve been curious about for almost two decades now. With ballerrina.com I wanted to share my knowledge on things that provide a spark in this day and age, that could potentially tie into some sort of renaissance of learning. I’d like to do it through my work at ACE, with my clients, connections, research, and sharing.
My bio elaborates—
I believe in empathy and storytelling--that one’s life experiences are meant to be shared to help and engage with others, and that one’s unique gifts and talents can make a direct impact in their communities and in shaping the lives of others--particularly the youth, who are awakening to their own potential and champion inside. I’m excited to continue sharing and engaging with you all. Thanks and I’ll see you on the internets.
Annotated Bibliography
Annenberg Learner. (n.d.). About Annenberg Learner. https://www.learner.org/about/
The Annenberg Learner is an online resource and website that provides educational video programs and materials that can be utilized for teachers in K-12. These resources are available in both digital and print formats and extend to students and the general public who are looking to expand their knowledge across disciplines or to receive professional development at no cost. Higher education institutions can also purchase a license to use Annenberg Learner materials for course development.
Bangtan Scholars. (n.d.). Bangtan Scholars. https://www.bangtanscholars.com/
The Bangtan Scholars website is not only a hub for scholars studying all disciplines related to the South Korean music group, BTS, it is also an online community that promotes connection, inspiration, and professional development. The website houses a library that provides access to peer-reviewed research, books, conferences, videos, and reports which are categorized based on discipline or focus of study. Some of the prominent categories include fandom studies, technology, education, and media to name a few. This website and network of scholars will be integral in the author’s own research dissertation to explore collaborative learning through social media and digital storytelling as influenced by participation in a global fandom.
Black, D. R., Weinberg, L. A., & Brodwin, M. G. (2015). Universal Design for Learning and Instruction: Perspectives of Students with Disabilities in Higher Education. Exceptionality Education International, 25(2), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.5206/eei.v25i2.7723
This specific study utilized the framework of Universal Design for Learning as the framework to evaluate the perspectives of post-secondary students with disabilities specific to the teaching methods and strategies and explore their perspectives and experiences on Universal Design for Learning and Universal Design for Instruction. The study highlights the barriers to learning experiences by students with disabilities because of their learning preferences. The principles of Universal Design for Learning and Universal Design for Instruction were useful in their learning. This is significant in promoting differentiation for diverse learner populations, specifically in higher education. Universal Design for Learning and Universal Design for Instruction can promote student engagement and further learning in higher education.
The critical thinking community. (n.d.). Center for critical thinking community online. https://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/join-the-community-online/1512
The Center for Critical Community Online is both a learning and communication platform that promotes engagement with its members through a number of ways, including and not limited to learning activities and resources that can be utilized in the classroom; a comprehensive critical thinking library with articles, books, and media; study groups; blogs; message boards; and question and answer sessions with members and experts in the field. The learning and sharing within this community is similar to other digital communities. Critical thinking is a skill that will be useful for learners who will need to work both with technologies and collaborate with other individuals.
Dunn, R., and Burke, K. (2005). Learning style the clue to you (LSCY): research and implementation manual. https://webs.um.es/rhervas/miwiki/lib/exe/fetch.php%3Fmedia=lscy_rimanual_v1.pdf
There are at least 21 different variables to consider in learning and determining learning styles. This research and implementation manual is an informational guide as well as implementation resource for teachers and administrators in order to understand how knowing one’s learning style can aid in one’s learning. Environmental, emotional, sociological, physiological and cognitive processing preferences are some of the main learning variables. The prevalence of technology in learning and digital media is a hot topic, and the benefits of each technology and tool can specifically align with a learner’s preferences.
Kunka, B. A. (2020). Twitter in higher education: increasing student engagement. Educational Media International, 57(4), 316–331. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523987.2020.1848508
Twitter, a microblogging platform, can be a useful tool in student engagement, particular for learners in higher education. Increased interaction through Twitter can be evident in their engagement with their course content, their peers, and teachers. This study also highlights the increase of online learning as utilized by colleges and universities and reveals that Twitter aids in student engagement especially for students who are more withdrawn in person. Twitter is also a helpful tool to aid in communication intimacy and immediacy, sharing insights, and increase touch points between the students, peers, and their instructors. There are other microblogging platforms that also have the opportunity to increase student engagement, and the author hopes to explore the learning through collaboration specific to her dissertation focus.
Mashable. (n.d.). Education. https://mashable.com/category/education
Mashable is the only blog referenced and is one of the most popular up-to-date resources on the internet about technology. This specific webpage is categorized for topics that touch on education and technology. The most popular and recent articles about virtual reality on the blog discuss the trends surrounding virtual reality in the Metaverse, artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and more. This blog is a wealth of information on the latest news, tech trends–and for instructors familiar with technology, they can be informed about how they can be early adopters of specific tools to increase student learning and engagement.
Panopto. (n.d.). University of Nevada Las Vegas. https://www.panopto.com/resources/case-studies/university-of-nevada-las-vegas/
In consideration of the tech tool, Panopto, this case study highlights the experience of the University of Nevada Las Vegas as they implemented the video management platform which was integrated with their learning management system, Canvas. Panopto was integrated to provide a solution of video management outside of lecture captures as well as closed captioning capabilities and solutions to be aligned with accessibility requirements. Through Panopto, learners were able to watch a video without having to open up a new browser away from the Canvas platform. Panopto was also helpful for instructors who were able to record videos for use in their courses. This specific tool and its integration with another separate system was seamless and provides an example for the ways other tech tools for learning can be utilized and in partnership with one another.
RethinkEd Wins Award as the Best Solution for Students With Special Needs. (2022). PR Newswire US.
RethinkEd is a provider of tools and solutions for students to succeed through the development of academic, behavioral and social/emotional skills. As a Software Information Industry Association winner, RethinkEd and their tool, Vizzle, expanded on their offerings to bring additional interactive elements for enhanced learning. Additional tenets of RethinkEd are their solutions for creating awareness for and understanding mental health and wellness, creating health school environments by empowering instructors with the tools, training, and solutions that drive learning and overall school success. Their suite of tools and solutions can be significant in promoting differentiation for diverse learner populations, which bring teachers, administrators, and learners together.
Rahimullah, N. A., Damayanti, S. B., Izra, A. A., & Handayani, P. W. (2022). Assessing the factors influencing users accessing higher education content on TikTok. Cogent Education, 9(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2022.2148498
TikTok, a microblogging social media platform is expanding its reach and can be an influential educational tool. This study explores the specific factors that encourage and promote learning in the Indonesian population. This study reveals that in order to maintain and increase user satisfaction in learning, the elements of confirmation, enjoyment, system quality, and information quality must be considered. According to the data results, TikTok’s presentation of content and discussion of materials are easily digestible on the platform. This study encourages educational institutions to explore how TikTok can engage students through the use of these platforms and technology. TikTok can be adopted as a learning tool to help improve the quality of distance education.