Professional Development
Courses & Resources
Dr. Ruth Reynard

Dr. Ruth Reynard

Location: fayette, oh

About me

I founded a non-profit, Community Education for Development (CED) to focus on developing programs for communities in Fayette and Fulton Co OH that focus on education for development.  The website is: https://www.comeddev.com/

I also work as a freelance education consultant and a second language evaluator. I enjoy publishing articles and editing publications. My website is: www.drruthreynard.com

Interests

instructional design and development and program development.

Skills

faculty training / writing / editing / teaching / curriculum development / instructional technology

Website

https://www.drruthreynard.com

Activity

Dr. Ruth Reynard
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Discussion Comment
Blended Learning Opportunities

Great points, Marilu. In a very real sense, students can customize their learning journey like never before and I agree with you, the structures and designs of courses and programs of study will continue to change to suit those realities. While those change, however, teachers are still needed to facilitate that learning journey and to help students learn how to learn - the greatest skill any teacher can help develop in any student. The hybrid or blended learning environment can truly help students towards that end by integrating various modes of learning and various resources, so that more students can… >>>

Dr. Ruth Reynard
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Discussion Comment
Tablet PCs
Cindy, do you have specific examples of how you use the tablet PCs with your students to increase their organization? This sounds interesting...my sense is that this technology personalizes the experience for students and supports the "tutorial within community" approach to learning. I would love to hear more of your ideas...
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Discussion Comment
Using Technology to Develop New Skills

That's very true, Cindy, and I think the bigger challenge for instructors is to facilitate the use of technology in learning to the extent that students can be innovative and creative as well as accurate - this provides them a future relevancy even beyond the class. Innovative skills are essential given the rapid changes in technology and the fact that it is now impossible to stay "ahead of the curve" in any real way. We can, however, develop the kind of technology users that can go on learning and using technology for themselves in various ways we might not even… >>>

Dr. Ruth Reynard
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Discussion Comment
Blended Learning Opportunities
Good points, Virginia, and that is why the blended environment is more successful for most students - precisely because it merges the structure of F2F and the self structure of distance. The challenge is for instructors to maximize those strengths of each environment into one learning experience for students.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Discussion Comment
The Nomadic Learner
Yes, Virginia, there are positives and negatives with technology and the agreed-upon social norms and interpersonal rules still apply. It is important to still remain polite but I do think technology does change how we do what we do. Just today I was conducting a workshop for faculty and during one segment I was texting an IT person to find out answers to questions being raised in the session - immediate and effective!
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Discussion Comment
Wikis and Blogs
Indeed, CL and differentiated learning strategies would benefit instructors attempting to distribute the learning process. Using Wikis and Blogs do require facilitation by the instructor but also well-designed projects and relevant outcomes to keep students focused and progressing. Have you used either in your own teaching, Virginia?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Discussion Comment
Evaluating Learning
Yes, I do exist, Virginia :) I have a similar background to your own with language acquisition, instructional design, and I also studied critical pedagogy, which brings together various discourse themes such as anti-biased teaching and learning and transformational pedagogy. I like your cross reference to transformational outcomes as measurements of learning. My sense is that the fully online environment and the blended environment are perfect ones in which to develop holistic assessments - the environments themselves are self-directed and immediate. Both of these characteristics support holistic evaluation more than conventional teacher-led environments. Good discussion...
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Discussion Comment
Wikis and Blogs
Great points, Christina. Often those students who might find F2F interactions as somewhat intimidating will find the online interactions easier to manage.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Discussion Comment
The Effect of New Technology
Indeed, Christina. That is if instructors maximize the use of new technology with their students. If instructors still try to manage and predetermine every use and application of the technology, however, the learning environment will not necessarily change. How do you support the various learning styles of your students by using new technology?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Discussion Comment
Blended Learning Opportunities
I agree, Cindy. Hybrid also enhances the actual learning experience and provides access to technology and course design that suits more students.

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