PROF.PAULA PORTFOLIO
Designing Learning Moments
Prof.Paula Portfolio My portfolio contains multimedia artefacts from professional and educational experiences. The portfolio demonstrates the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Teachers. For each standard, there is an artefact and a reflection.
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Profile I am a Canadian citizen with fifteen years experience teaching in universities, community colleges, private schools, and overseas institutions in Nicaragua and Panama. I hold an MEd in Curriculum Instruction Technology. Although I have primarily taught at Ontario community colleges, I have also worked at Trent University and Dalhousie University. Throughout my career, I have taught international students in pre-college entry ESL and college English; advised undergraduate and graduate students on academic skills; supported postdoctoral fellows in their grant research projects; and mentored faculty through instructional design workshops. My niche is in empowering faculty to explore innovative approaches to resolving design, development, and delivery challenges. My career interests include instructional design, curriculum development, distance education, health education, travel and tourism, and language arts.
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Teaching Philosophy “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most’’ (Williamson, 1992, p.190-191). Through backwards design, a constructivist approach, cognitive lesson planning, and portfolio evaluation, I encourage students to set high goals, achieve success, and shine.
I have fifteen years experience in education at the postsecondary level in Canada and abroad in Nicaragua and Panama. Throughout my career, I have taught international students in pre-college entry ESL and College English programs, advised undergraduate and graduate students on academic skills, supported postdoctoral fellows in their grant research projects, and mentored faculty and teacher candidates through instructional design workshops. My niche is collaborating with faculty on innovative approaches to resolving curricular, instructional, and technology challenges.
Applying the approach of differentiated instruction, I infuse authentic assessment with journals, role plays, debates, written reports, oral presentations, labs, and studios. Consistent with inquiry-based instruction, I use virtual field trips, webquests, case-based learning, problem-based learning, project-based learning, and simulation games and apps. In keeping with Taylor’s, technology as “tutor, tool, tutee” (1980), I use digital media with narrated slideshows, ebooks, podcasts, videos, and screencasts in addition to clip art in an array of print media like posters, flyers, postcards, and brochures. Using the distance education model of any time, any place, any pace, I use two-way communication with email, telephone, chat, discussion forums, web conferencing, and video conferencing. To meet the millenials where they are, I use social media like blogging, virtual pinning, social bookmarking, ebook sharing, podcast sharing, and video sharing. Ultimately, I encourage collaboration through global community projects, online competitions, and virtual fairs. !4
In my current role, in the centre for teaching and learning, at Sheridan College, I support faculty with the design, development, and delivery of curriculum, instruction, and technology using a research-based approach to innovative theory, practices, and tools. My current action research project includes developing a series of ebooks and podcasts for self-directed faculty use supported by in-course workshops aimed at implementing creative learning at the student level. As Williamson said, “... when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others” (p.190-191).
References Taylor, R.P. (1980). The computer in school: Tutor, tool, tutee. USA: Teachers College Press. Williamson, M. (1992). Return to love. Reflections on the principles of a course in miracles. USA: Harper Collins.
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Standard 1 To demonstrate the ISTE Standard "Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity" (ISTE, 2008), I have included this Beyond F2F Brochure.
As an Instructional Designer, Professor, at Sheridan College, I designed and developed an asynchronous online workshop, Beyond F2F, that I deliver for faculty interested in developing blended and fully online courses. The workshop encourages a constructivist approach to teaching and learning infused with inquiry-based instruction, digital tools, and global citizenship. The workshop meets the challenge of how to support faculty with course development. However, given the restraints for professional development time, the workshop is a little less than a one-hour per week commitment. Therefore, while the curriculum is strong, the workshop is not an exemplary model of what an online course delivery could be. There is little opportunity for faculty to engage in creativity, problem-solving, or collaborative group work. To try to overcome this, I do offer one-to-one consultations and peer coaching as well as workshops, seminars, and tutorials upon request.
References ISTE. (2008). ISTE NETS for Teachers. ISTE.org. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/ standards/standards-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008 
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Standard 2 To demonstrate the ISTE Standard "Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments" (ISTE, 2008), I have included this Emerging Trends Collection website.
As an Instructional Designer, Professor, at Sheridan College, I authored a series of epublications to support faculty seeking self-directed professional development. The content mirrors the curriculum in the Beyond F2F workshop but dives much deeper. It started out as a stack and shelf of viewbooks on Issuu, and today, it is a free educational ebook on iBooks. There are still a few chapters to add, and, of course, there will always be a new emerging trend to capture in the collection. Another goal is to add more Sheridan exemplars as professors try action research with these trends.
References ISTE. (2008). ISTE NETS for Teachers. ISTE.org. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/ standards/standards-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008 
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Standard 3 To demonstrate the ISTE Standard "Model Digital-Age Work and Learning" (ISTE, 2008), I have included this PCIRN YouTube Channel.
As a Curriculum Developer with the Medical School at Dalhousie University, I worked on an education grant with the Public Health Agency of Canada & Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Influenza Research Network (PCIRN). I developed curriculum, with problem-based learning, to bring researchers, policy makers, and health care workers together to discuss strategies to deal with an influenza pandemic. This included developing online modules and co-ordinating video conferencing and face-to-face seminars. At our year end symposium, the graduate students and post doctoral fellows presented their research, which we captured on video. I edited the videos and added bumpers and credits with iMovie and shared them across the consortium via YouTube. Not only did I grow in my education career, but I also learned a great deal about research and of course pandemic influenza.
References ISTE. (2008). ISTE NETS for Teachers. ISTE.org. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/ standards/standards-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008 
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Standard 4 To demonstrate the ISTE Standard "Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility" (ISTE, 2008), I have included this Trent Documentation Styles by Discipline website.
As an Instructor, at Trent University, as part of a team, in the Academic Skills Centre, I contributed to the development of a Documentation Styles by Discipline website to support students with sourcing information. In particular, I worked on the Council of Science Editors (CSE) citation styles. I was already strong in two editorial styles: Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA). I wanted to explore my interest in science writing with IMRaD (Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion). Diving into this somewhat new documentation realm led to a role at Dalhousie University Medical School working on an education grant and ghost writing for two medical research papers published in Elsevier Vaccine. References ISTE. (2008). ISTE NETS for Teachers. ISTE.org. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/ standards/standards-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008 
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Standard 5 To demonstrate the ISTE Standard "Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership" (ISTE, 2008), I have included this TESL Durham website.
To keep my Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) accreditation, I need to complete 5 hours of professional development per year. I chose to do this by contributing to the community of practice with the TESL-Durham chapter. I collaborated with the local president to lead a workshop and give a keynote address with the membership. The focus was on technology trends to engage learners and energize instructors. We explored puzzles and games, brochures, virtual pinning with Pinterest, and virtual field trips aligned to the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) and Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) curriculum. The participants had great discussions and contributions, and it was fun for me to re-connect with my roots in language arts.
References ISTE. (2008). ISTE NETS for Teachers. ISTE.org. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/ standards/standards-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008 
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Education Master of Education Degree: Curriculum Instruction Technology Grand Canyon University / online from Phoenix AZ USA / Jan 2008-Dec 2008
TESL Certificate: Teaching English as a Second Language Canadian Cooperative for Language & Cultural Studies / Toronto ON Canada / Apr 1997Sep 1997
Travel & Tourism Diploma Westervelt College / London ON Canada / Feb 1996-Sep 1996
Bachelor of Arts Degree: English Literature Queen’s University / Kingston ON Canada / Sep 1990-Aug 1993 
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Professional Memberships International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) ISTE Online Member / Online / Apr 2012-Apr 2015
TESL Ontario Language Instructor Certificate of Accreditation TESL Ontario / Toronto ON Canada / Mar 2001-Nov 2014
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