Activity Eight: Changes in my Practice

When I first started this journey I didn’t know quite what to expect.  I knew what I wanted to achieve from my Mindlab journey, but I underestimated the true difficult of study and a profession that is hugely demanding on time.  In saying that what I have got out of this journey has enabled me to think more outside the square and explore different methodologies in leadership, teaching and learning and expand my knowledge and use of digital platforms and 21st century skills.

I had always used group work in my classes and encouraged my faculty to the same.  It was through my Mindlab studies that I began just how uncollaborative my cooperative learning.  It allowed me to explore strategies to build and develop collaborative learning further.  With every new strategy  I had to find a way to actually teach students how to be collaborative. This of course started with teaching my staff how to be collaborative.  This is a challenge as it involved a change in mindset that some were reluctant to undertake.  

Through mindlab I have learnt more about the online professional development available not only subject specific but also pedagogical development, which I have been able to share with my staff to help develop strategies and learning programmes that will benefit our students.  

I have learnt to explore digital technologies and platforms and to not be scared of them but rather to embrace and challenge my learning fully to create a new opportunities with the concept of learning and teaching in English.