DesignGalaxy

  Education is Changing As a teacher in Saudi Arabia, I'm always interested in how teaching methods are changing as a reflection on the new articles that I read talk about how our schools need to update their methods to better fit today's world. The story in The Saber-Tooth Curriculum by Peddiwell (1939) shows that schools should change as society changes. This idea is also discussed in the RSA ANIMATE video on changing education paradigms (RSA ANIMATE, n.d.). This video says that our old school systems don't meet the needs of our fast-changing world. This is something I've seen in Saudi Arabia too, where there is a big push to make education better fit the needs of today's job market. Finn and Fairchild (2012) in Education Reform for the Digital Era talk about how important digital learning is. They say we need to change how schools are managed and funded to really use digital learning well. This is a big topic in Saudi Arabia as we try to use more technology in ou...

Navigating the Digital Shift  Empowering Educators and Students in the Evolving Landscape of Online Learning Through my recent study of online education, I have gained critical insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by educators and students in digital learning environments. One of the key takeaways comes from the article “We Always Make It Work: Teachers’ Agency in the Time of Crisis” by Gudmundsdottir and Hathaway (2020). They examined how teachers rapidly adapted to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting that despite many educators lacking prior experience, teacher agency was activated, allowing them to find innovative ways to connect with students. This situation mirrors what occurred in Saudi Arabia, where online learning had almost no foundation prior to the pandemic. Despite this, teachers and educational agencies found creative ways to adapt quickly to the crisis, developing effective online practices with limited resources. Their success ...

  After reading about the expansive growth and current trends in K-12 online learning, it is evident that the field is rapidly evolving, with significant shifts from supplemental formats to comprehensive online education systems. This increase in online educational platforms underlines the changing dynamics of how education is delivered and consumed. As someone interested in the intersection of technology, design, and education, the detailed job descriptions and roles for online educators, highlighting both the rewards and challenges, have provided a more concrete understanding of what educators in this field experience daily. From explaining these articles, I recognize how vital it is for educators to adapt to these changes to effectively meet students' diverse needs and continue to work in this field to support both students and teachers in K-12. The complexities of online teaching roles, especially in K-12, which range from curriculum design to managing virtual classrooms, illus...

  I have gained substantial insights into the transformative roles of online and blended learning, as detailed in the resources provided below. Especially "Snapshot 2019" and "Snapshot 2024," illustrate the rapid evolution and integration of digital technologies in education (Digital Learning Collaborative, 2019, 2024). These resources highlight how virtual and blended learning environments not only make education more accessible but also personalize it to meet diverse student needs. This resonates deeply with me, reflecting on my own educational journey where access to such flexible learning models could have significantly enhanced my learning experience. Understanding online tools' strategic implementations and benefits has been particularly enlightening (eSchool News, Year). Learning about various digital platforms and interactive tools like Google Classroom and Khan Academy has shown me the practical aspects of how these tools can be leveraged to foster more...

  Hello! Hi! 👋  My name is Ibrahim Alkenani, Here's a bit about myself so you can get to know me better, and I'm eager to learn more about you. My Professional Self I am currently engaged as an educator specialist in Learning Technology and Design at the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) , George Mason University. I have been teaching computer science to K12 and high school students and have extensive experience as a teacher trainer. My journey in education has also included designing numerous courses in higher education, where I've worked closely with educational designers as a graphics designer assistant. I am completing my Master's degree in Learning Technology in Schools  and Design Digital Learning in Schools at George Mason University and pursuing further studies. My professional interests focus on innovative online teaching strategies, community building in educational settings, and the development and integration of digital tools in learning...

Book Review   The Art of Live Action Role Play Reading "The Arts of LARP" has been a truly enlightening experience. It’s fascinating to see how the principles of LARP—creativity, interactivity, and community—can be applied to digital learning design. The book has inspired me to think more deeply about how to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences and foster a strong sense of community among students. Simkins’ insights encourage us to think outside the box and continually innovate in our educational practices. It’s a reminder that learning, like LARP, should be an immersive, interactive, and dynamic experience. In this book, David Simkins introduces me to the world of Live-Action Role Play (LARP) with a clear sense of wonder, describing it as “ a unique intersection of narrative and performance. ” This immediately got me thinking about how LARP parallels the world of digital learning. In both LARP and educational design, the goal is to create environments where contrib...