Learning Curves
Dear eJournal: Teaching students to track learning online
By Nicole Davis
A new and innovative technology called eDOL is quickly becoming the latest learning tool on campus.
The term eDOL—Electronic Documentation of Learning—is already ingrained into the vocabularies of more than 400 Master of Teaching students in the Faculty of Education and this number is expected to double by the fall.
Launched last September, eDOL gives students an opportunity to document their field experience as student teachers in an electronic-based eJournal.
“The great thing about the eJournals is that students can draw upon their journals to develop their individual portfolios,” says Susan Crichton, assistant dean (graduate division of educational research). “This new way of working is an opportunity for our students to showcase and reflect on the way they think and learn.”
The eJournal provides a detailed account of the students’ personal experiences during their field study as a student teacher. Observations, teaching methods used and overall experience are documented online, complete with photos, bringing life to text.
The eJournal acts as a personal archive from which ePortfolios can be developed. These portfolios can be used for everything from reflections on learning, to resumes, personal profiles, professional growth statements and testimonials.
For first-year Master of Teaching students, eDOL is also used in the classroom as a blogging tool as part of the students’ coursework. It serves as an online community for students and gives them an opportunity to exchange ideas with their professors in an in-depth manner not always available within the classroom.
“It’s really interesting to see for yourself what other people are doing; knowing what they’re thinking about an assignment,” says Joti Sharma, a first-year Master of Teaching student. “This is a great tool for diverse learners who seek deeper thinking and a chance to communicate their thoughts with their peers without the pressure of having to say it all in a classroom setting.”
Funding to implement eDOL into the Master of Teaching program has been received by the Teaching and Learning Committee and Crichton is hoping that eDOL will become part of regular coursework for all MT students.
“It is our goal to see eDOL carried over to the second-year students and also scaled to include all students and instructors in the various components of the MT program,” she says.