5. LIFELONG LEARNING

Effective online teachers recognize ongoing professional development is a central component of their success.

Because technology is dynamic, our understanding of the most effective and responsive means to connect with students must be as dynamic. Ongoing professional development, then, is a central component to effective online teaching.

Reflections

A woman center with two young, male students on either side of her. All smiling at the camera.

With students Diego and Joshua at KCACTF 2019, after their acting competition

Where I'm headed

One of the reasons why I love theatre is that it is a field where you can never stop learning. There is always new plays to read, new techniques to try, and new visions to manifest. This is also one of the reasons why I've become so excited about online education as well. With technology always changing, we are always searching for the new tool, researching new pedagogy, and creating new opportunities for student agency. It's so exciting and every semester I have new elements to update and try out.

Examples

Professional Development through @ONE

My next step with @ONE Professional Development courses is to complete the Course Design Fundamentals Certificate. This will require me to take Introduction to Course Design and 10-10-10 Communication That Matters as well as a capstone project.

I muted the Q&A session of BAM's Hip Hop Theatre workshop to join a video group chat with my students.

Two computer screens that have a zoom meeting displayed on the larger one and the smaller one shows a group video chat with students.

While COVID has us teaching remotely, I'm also learning remotely. I continue to attend workshops and professional development workshops through my college and other associations.

I've been attending Distance Ed workshops at CCC to brush up on skills and to see what new tools and ideas our DE Committee have to share. I'm constantly trying out new online tools and materials to see if they will create more access, equity, and engagement with my students. I am also perusing more of an understanding of Universal Design and focusing on design for students with disabilities. I have Fibromyalgia, which is a chronic illness, and though it doesn't directly affect how I learn I feel it's important to build more accessible learning environments whenever possible.

I've also attending online workshops on equity issues such as Dr. Luke Woods' Black Minds Matter workshops, and webinars on Trauma Informed Pedagogy.

I also am attending online workshops in theatre with associations such as Black Acting Methods (BAM), Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), and the Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE). The focus of these workshops and meetings is how to transfer classes that we see as needing in person interaction to an online setting, and taking advantage of the opportunity as opposed to just forcing what we already do into a new medium.

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