Explanation of the Metaphor

The chosen metaphor is related to the title of my ePortfolio which is ELLIPTICAL GO.  The word “elliptical” has 10 letters.  Each letter represents a specific course but also a particular aspect of this master’s degree in education, much of it dealing with educational technology.  It goes as follows:

E – for Educational Technology Foundations (ETEC 511: Foundations of Educational Technology)

L – for Learning Theories (ETEC 512: Applications of Learning Theories to Instruction)

L – for Leadership (ETEC 520: Planning and Managing Learning Technologies in Higher Education)

I  – for Investigation (ETEC 500: Research Methodologies in Education)

P – for Pedagogy (ETEC 532: Technology in the Arts and Humanities Classroom)

T – for Technology (ETEC 565: Learning Technologies: Selection, Design and Application),

I  – for Innovation (ETEC 510: Design of Technology-Supported Learning Environments)

C – for Constructivism (ETEC 530: Constructivist Strategies for E-Learning)

A – for Authorship (ETEC 540: Text Technologies: The Changing Spaces of Reading and Writing)

L – for Lifelong Learning (ETEC 590: Graduating Project)

GO – for GOals for the future

These letters represent many interrelated aspects directly or indirectly looked at during the master’s in educational technology (MET) at the University of British Columbia (UBC); all of these aspects are unified to form a whole package.  They all are essential elements educators should possess and pursue in their teaching practices.  They all can be found in each of the MET courses, but for the purpose of my ePortfolio I chose to elaborate more on one element at a time that I associated with one course (for example, when thinking of ETEC 565, technology comes to mind because this is the one course where I have experienced the most technologies.  When thinking of ETEC 512, it is the learning theories that we focused on).  With that said, the viewer can start with any of the letters — there is no definite order.

Just like an elliptical, an “electronic exercising machine,” new learning in MET needs to be put in action by its user.  New learning needs to be programmed, tested, reprogrammed and used accordingly by the learner, who is trying to reach new goals.  Each goal must be well defined and planned well in advance in order for the learner to achieve his/her dreams.  When the decision is made to go through this process of individual transformation, for educators it means going into a transition stage where decisions have to be made and hard work has to take place as this is the only way the user can obtain the results he/she is expecting.  It might mean getting in shape physically, but it might also mean getting the proper knowledge needed to succeed and reach new heights.  Hence, each time the “electronic machine” is used, it is a step toward real accomplishment, a new and unique demonstration of success.  However, it is important to remember that each time a new level of confidence is obtained, new goals must be set to ensure progress.  Indeed, the ellipse movement is in constant evolution and is progressively empowering its users as they look forward to new objectives to reach.

This metaphor also expresses the necessity for me to apply this learning journey by making the necessary improvements to the quality of my online teaching environment.  Clearly, the elliptical machine (the object) empowers its user if employed properly and consistently, using specific and personal goals.  With that perspective in mind, I plan to continue exercising, in order to be in shape and in good health, using appropriate tools just like an educator will do in his/her field of expertise.  Indeed, I have to continue building on the knowledge I have acquired in the MET program so I can develop the skills I need to perform as a 21^st century educator.

GO! GO! GO!!!

Consequently, as the ELLIPTICAL machine has empowered me in my personal and professional life, I now need to set GOals for my future as a professional in education which I do in the GO section of this eP.

Guided Tour

To learn more about the structure of my eP and how to navigate in it, you are invited to look at my guided tour.  Please, enjoy.