In my final year of highscool, I decided to finally give in and take part in the Model United Nations hosted at my school. This was something my school was proud to host every year for other surrounding schools to come and partake in. I didn’t really know what it was and never cared enough to find out, thinking it was just doing “school” after school work was over. But boy, was I wrong.

For those not aware, the Model United Nations, or MUN for short, is a simulation for how the real United Nations operates. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among countries. It addresses global issues, including human rights, development, and humanitarian aid, through collective action by its 193 member states [1].

At MUN, you become the delegate of an assigned Country. You represent said country, advocating for its interests, and engage in debates on global issues. I was the delegate of Finland, so I researched Finland’s position, drafted resolutions and colloborated with other delegates in the aim to pass a motion. If the motion passes, the action stated in the motion is carried out by the committe

By the end of it, I specifically remember being very emotional about the whole experience. I realized that, over the span of the 3 days, I put my all in representing a Country that I previously knew nothing about. I now knew about its policies, relations with other countries, and stances on moral issues. I was on the edge of my seat, anxious about whether my motion would pass, along with my allies.

I was essentially tricked into studying all things Finland for 3 days. And it was one of my best high school experiencs.

This is the power of Open Pedagogy.

Open Pedagogy? What’s that?

My experience at HIAMUN would be encompassed under the umbrella of Open Pedagogy, which I am only finding about now. Open Pedagogy is a teaching approach that emphasizes collaboration and student agency through making students contribute to knowledge, by using openly licensed resources.

Everything present at the MUN was made my the students there. Everything. Teachers were only responsible for setting up monthly meetings for students to engage together. Students led volunteering efforts to set up the classrooms, set up debate topics, and to even make advertisements for it for other schools. To give you an idea of the agency of students, this incredible video was entirely made the student body:

Students cared for it deeply and waited for it every years. Alumni would even make special appearences and cheer on participants to do their best. Lots of tears were shed by the end of it. I didn’t understand why one would care that much for it until I was a part of it. When you are an agent of something, you care about it and you do your best to see it through to the end. Open Pedagogy brings out the best in students, shedding a light for educators on the strengths, weaknesses, and unique nature of each student. Students learn about themselves too.

How Open Educational Resources Complete the Puzzle

But without Open Educational Resources (OER), the key aspect of creation is missing. OER are freely accessbile, openly licensed materials like content and tools that anyone can use, adapt, and share.

They are key to open pedagogy because they empower educators and students to collaboratively creative something for themselves and others. At HIAMUN, every particpant had their footprint somewhere, whether it be through raising a motion, engaging in debate that spark ideas for everyone, or be part of the opening and closing ceremonies. Later students learn from the material previous students presented, especially the volunteering body.

OER: Open-Source Projects

As a Computer Science student and someone into Software Development in general, I understand the importance of Open-Source Projects in how our world’s technology is advanced today. Open-source projects are collaborative software where the source code is freely available for anyone to use, modiffy, and distribute. This model proportes community involvement and innovation. Just watch this video on the impact of Open Source projects on the software community – made by GitHub:

The foundation of most internet servers and android devices is built on Linux, an open-source operating system. Python, one of the most known programming languages today, and the go-to languages in fields like data science and automation, is entirely open-source too.

Open Source Projects is a clear consequence in the global effort to make OERs. It removes financial barriers, and connects the smartest and most enthusiastic of minds to make something meanigful for the world.

Being in Control of who uses your work

Creative Commons Licensing is essential to the world of Open Educational Resources (OER) because it provides flexible ways for creators to share their work while retaining some control. Creative Commons offers a range of licenses, from the most open “CC BY,” which only requires attribution, to more restrictive ones like “CC BY-NC-ND,” which prevents commercial use and adaptation. This licensing structure allows educators and creators to contribute freely to public knowledge but also set boundaries on how their work is used, ensuring it aligns with their goals—whether it’s for broad educational access or limited scholarly use.

The variety of Creative Commons licenses matters because it allows for a tailored approach to open resources, supporting different needs in open pedagogy. For example, using a more open license can encourage collaboration and adaptability, as educators can modify resources to suit their unique classrooms and learning objectives. More restrictive licenses can still allow sharing while preserving original intentions, such as maintaining academic integrity or protecting sensitive content. By enabling creators to balance openness with control, Creative Commons Licensing powers OER and ultimately helps expand access to high-quality, adaptable educational resources worldwide.

For example, I made a Fitness Log Manager tool that I published on Github. I wanted others to use the tool freely, but I wanted them to give me credits as the creator. I also wanted to prevent alterations to it, because of its unique nature. I gave it the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs (CC BY-ND) license to control exactly these permissions. My original work was preserved, and users could benefit from it as I intended.

Still on the Fence?

So I am clearly all for Open Pedagogy. It helped me in highschool through my amazing experience with HIAMUN, and still helps me to this day through all the open source projects I utilize and contribute to in my software development journey.

If you are on the fence as to if Open Pedagogy is useful to you, think about something that you really want to make an impact on. Whether that be in a professional setting, in a hobby you enjoy, or in whatever other avenue you are passionate about. Think about ways you can make it better for you or other people. Would you not want to? If the answer is yes, then that’s Open Pedagogy! 🙂

References

[1] https://www.un.org/en/mun

I don’t know about you, but this is my kind of accessible learning environment:

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

UDL is an educational framework for making learning accessible to all students. This is based on the idea that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to learning; otherwise, what would be the point of learning about teaching methods? If we had a golden formula for teaching, I wouldn’t have to take this course. 😉

UDL creates a more inclusive learning environment through diversifying how students engage with learning, how information is represented, and how students demonstrate what they have learned.

When I was in grade 5, we were reading Oliver Twist for my English class, a book that I’m sure a lot of you also had to read as kids. While I don’t remember anything about the book, I remember my English teacher having us reenact this famous scene from it:

I played Oliver Twist, and to this day I still remember how the scene plays out. I remember the costume my friends wore, and my feeling of excitement performing in front of my classmates and my family. This is why diverse learning is so important; it is great for making information stick in your head. This was one of my favorite memories from school.

Ensuring Accessibility in Online Settings

For online learning to be effective, it needs to be accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. Having accessible content, a user-friendly design, accommodations as needed, and ensuring accessibility are all ways to do that.

One specific tool that I have always appreciated is having subtitles on videos. Even as someone who isn’t hard of hearing, having subtitles helps me use more of my senses to absorb information. Watch this video by Vox that explains why subtitles are such a key component for most people when watching media:

Ethical Challenges of EdTech

Educational technology is great, but it has some ethical challenges. Here are some of them:

• Many educational tools collect personal data from students that have the potential to be misused.
• Some tech tools track how students learn for good reasons like personalized learning, but it can also invade privacy and be used unfairly if not handled correctly.
• Not every student has access to the same technology at home, which can create learning gaps where some students fall behind because they don’t have the tools they need.
• Some companies focus more on money than helping students.

This is why educators need to balance the benefits of technology with these concerns. Some ways they can do that are through using licensed software verified by third parties that follow established regulations. For equity, educators have to ensure that students who lack the technology are able to be supported through other ways, like being able to lend the technology for the period of the class.

Ethical Considerations in Digital Interactions

As a participant in online communities, you have some responsiblities. Being behind a screen can make you forget that you are dealing with other real people much like youself. This is why trolls arise on the internet. If you somehow don’t know what a troll is, first off I envy you. Joking aside, I love this video from ASAPScience that explains the science of trolls and why they do what they do:

That video highlights that while trolls are most likely unpleasant in real life as well, being behind a screen exacerbates these traits and makes them more potent.

If you want to be your best self online, you have to be respectful and kind. Think carefully about what personal information you share online, as it could come back to bite you later on. Be mindful of your digital footprint. The saying “what goes on the internet, stays on the internet” has some merit. Academic integrity is important since it upholds your own honesty as a value.

Applying UDL and Accessiblity Principles

I lead the Victoria Calisthenics community, and doing so means I deal with people of differing learning backgrounds, abilities, and ways of learning. I try to make the sessions accessible to everyone by giving a brief introduction to the sessions, what you will get out of them, and then opening the floor to questions. I show people the movements, then have them practice for a given time. If someone can’t do a movement, I give them an easier variation that they can handle.

I have had people who have been athletes for years, and others who have never really worked out before. I make sure that everyone can do something, so they benefit. One area I could improve in is engaging people together, maybe by partnering them up. Doing so would maybe add another dimension to their learning. I may have to try that next time around.

References

(1) https://dealsformomsblog.com/2021/05/16/ninja-warrior-basement/

What a funny word. If I were to guess what that word meant, I would picture it as the state of being a “pedagon”; which sounds a lot like a pentagon. I just picture the Pokemon Porygon, but maybe that’s just the kid in me.

What Pedagogy Means to Me

Unfortunately, that’s not what Pedagogy is. Pedagogy refers to the methods, strategies, and practices of teaching. It is basically the science of education, how one goes about educating others.

While the term is a new one to me, the concept’s importance resonates with me as someone who teaches people Calisthenics on the side. I am sure it resonates with most people, in fact, since most people have to teach others something at some point. I feel it’s an innately human thing.

It being formally defined makes it easier to become better at teaching, since you can research what works and what doesn’t under the umbrella of pedagogy. As a learner, I learn best when given quantifiable metrics to work with, the more details the better. This gives me an idea if I am on track, but maybe that’s just the computer science student in me speaking.

What about Networked Pedagogy?

Okay, this is not funny now. I am sure whoever made up these terms had Porygon in mind.

Networked Pedagogy is teaching methods that leverage digital networks to enhance learning. So basically teaching people online.

As someone who grew up on the internet, I have been exposed to this idea inadvertently through being on the web. Whether that was through going through game installation tutorials, participating in hobbyist forums, or learning on Coursera, I have always been growing my knowledge online.

Creators online who teach people have to learn to be good at what they do if they want to produce quality content. This is why I think they practice Networked Pedagogy even if they do not know of the term.

Learning Theories in Practice

Will I pick Cognitivism just because I am in Computer Science? Yes, yes I will.

Working with computers for a long time makes you relate to them – as sad as that sounds. In computers, there is the concept of a RAM (Random-access memory) which is a computer’s short-term memory.

Hard drives or SSDs would act as the long-term memory. Sometimes, you want to move stuff from the RAM to, say, the hard drive by copying it over. This is similar to how we as humans move stuff from our short-term memory to our long-term memory when we prove it’s relevant to our minds – through repeated practice for example.

The Role of the Instructor

For one, an instructor has to be enthusiastic about what they are teaching. Not being monotone helps people not doze off. They also have to be a good communicator, to make up for people not being able to respond in real-time (assuming they are teaching asynchronously). Being able to use diagrams and non-text material helps as well since we humans love images.

One of the content creators I follow on YouTube that raises the bar of what it means to be an educator online is 3Blue1Brown. He ignited my love for mathematics and saved my grades in calculus. This is one of his best videos:

Digital Spaces: The Good and The Ugly

Digital spaces are great – you can learn anywhere, at any time, only being limited by the amount of effort you put in. However, with that comes its downfall. If you are not disciplined enough to keep active in your learning journey, you will easily fall behind your goals. In person, you have some extrinsic motivation at play with seeing your peers interact with material and being able to interact with your instructor in real-time.

To succeed in a digital environment, you need to be committed to your goals. Set a plan, keep a calendar, and engage with your peers as much as you can virtually. If you do so, you will reap the fruits of being online.

Hello everyone! My name is Mostafa, and I am in my final semester of Computer Science as an undergraduate. I love problem-solving in general, and I lead the UVic Calisthenics Club, which I am very passionate about. Doing so has taught me the value of conveying information to others in a matter they understand, tailoring it to their knowledge background.

One of the reasons I took this course (besides it being asynchronous) is to learn more about education in the digital world. I do a lot of online learning in my own time to better my knowledge in varying areas that interest me, something that I take for granted. I can do a quick Google search and learn about basically anything I feel like learning. The limit to learning is simply how much time and effort you want to put in, as long as you have a computer and an internet connection. This is a fairly recent phenomenon, whereas before the age of the internet, people would have to go out and look for that knowledge, whether it be through finding a teacher to learn from or by indexing information yourself from books in a library.

So with this massive shift from in-person learning to online learning, one has to educate themselves about the digital world and how they can participate in it.

What is Distributed Education?

It is a learning model where instruction, resources, and support are spread across different locations, often facilitated by technology.

One example here that I use a lot myself is Coursera. You can go there, sign up for a course, and learn through pre-recorded lectures set by an instructor. You can find the resources and get support from the instructor through the course. This learning method is unique to the digital world, and is supported by technology.

What is Open Education?

Open education involves educational practices and resources that are freely available to anyone, with no or minimal barriers to access.

I was a little confused as to the difference between Open Education and Distributed Education, but the difference lies on the focus.

Distributed Education focuses on geographically dispersed learners and instructors, using technology to connect them. Its primary goal is to allow teaching and learning to happen across different locations, often through online or blended formats. The accessibility here is more about overcoming physical distance rather than cost or licensing.

Whereas open education focuses on removing barriers to education, making it accessible to everyone, regardless of geography or economic status. It emphasizes free or low-cost resources and open licensing that allows reuse and modification.

Modes of Learning

Different modes of learning exist that have their different strengths and weaknesses:

• Face-to-Face Learning
  • Advantages: Strong sense of community, easier to build relationships with peers and instructors, and immediate clarification of doubts
• Online Learning
  • Can be synchronous or asynchronous
  • Advantages: Flexibility to learn from anywhere, often self-paced
• Blended Learning
  • A combination of face-to-face and online learning, integrating the strengths of both
  • Think: Having a class-room where you are sitting together with peers, and the teacher is presenting on the screen
  • Advantages: Offers the personal interaction of face-to-face learning while providing the flexibility of online components
• Hybrid Learning
  • Similar to blended learning, but with more flexibility, often allowing students to choose between attending sessions in person or online
  • Students can choose to select to attend in-person or online
  • Advantages: High flexibility, accommodating different learning preferences and schedules

My favourite is face-to-face learning when it fits well in my schedule. I love the sense of community it forms, and how it forces you to interact with the stuff you are learning in real time.

At the same time, asynchronous online learning shines when you are internally driven and have a plan set for yourself as to how to utilize it best. For something like this course, this mode of learning is perfect since you practice learning about distributed learning, in a distributed learning environment. This is very meta.

Digital Literacy

It is the ability to effectively and critically use digital technologies to navigate, evaluate, and create information.

If you are able to fully participate in the online world, while being able to learn tools that are new to you, then you are digitally literate. For example, if you are able to navigate the contents of the course and execute them comfortably, then you probably have a high degree of digital literacy.

Digital Identity

Digital identity is very important in an age where anything you do is easily searchable online. I try to manage my digital identity by only posting stuff that is authentic to me and how I want to present myself. I keep my private life private to me and my friends.

Conclusion

I am excited for this course and for getting the chance to practice my blog writing skills. I hope I find my writing style as I write more of these posts, too.