I’ve enjoyed this experience overall. Posting publicly makes me apprehensive so I am not sure I’ll keep this blog. Overall, though, learning a new platform is a mostly great experience. I write “mostly” because when it works, I’m excited, even thrilled. When I get stuck, like everyone, it’s frustrating.
What appeals to me about WordPress is the freedom to design a more permanent online home for my academic work. My other options are more limited. On Moodle, TRU’s learning management system, I must copy and paste skill-based exercises valuable to all students on each course site. Instead I can now post a link to my “Practice Zone” on this site. My list of publications also does not fit my TRU profile; here there is no length limit. Lastly, I look forward to future possibilities, for example sharing research findings, calls for research participants, or posting final projects on behalf of my students.
I’m very grateful for the professional development experience provided by TRU and the teaching leadership team of Jamie Drozda, Melanie Latham, and Hilary Schmidt in Open Learning. I took their Technology for Teaching and Learning course this Fall 2024. It was a valuable learning experience.