My prototype project is to create a blended unit for Cree Language instruction. Students will engage in my instruction based on the Nehinuw (Cree) view of home, culture and language are a child’s first teacher. Goulet & Goulet (2014) advocate for effective instructional practices for teachers of Indigenous students in both theory and practice by asking teachers to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and epistemologies through the use of Indigenous practices and methods that support learning and fully develop student’s potential (p. 5). My language unit will incorporate traditional Cree cultural practices supported by first language instruction. Language comes to life for learners when they are engaged in experiences using First Nations methods of teaching children.
The challenge for me as a digital citizen is using technology to assist with learning in my classroom. Creating programs and artefacts using online resources/tools is not something I practice everyday. One can say that I am definitely “old school”. Last semester I enrolled in the graduate course EC&I 832 Digital Citizenship and Media Literacies and learned lots of practical tech skills. I became a confident learner by learning with my students as I put theory into practices. My children are millenials and are teaching me more new things everyday. I have embraced the mindset that classrooms have changed and my teaching practices must also change. This prototype project is a good way for me to embrace tech assisted learning.
Time! Creating programs, curriculum and lessons for online learning is time intensive. Time is something I cannot buy so everyday I am working on my prototype: learning the LMS system, video creation, uploading, etc. What I bring to this project is my First Nations culture, language and worldview. This cannot be taught from books but must be a lived experiences. I will use my First Nations ways (epistemology) in a written and tech produced unit. Thank you for reading! Migwetch
Mrs. Ramona Alexson 
Hello Ramona,
Thank you for the great post! I really appreciate the meaningfulness behind your prototype project. Last semester, I was fortunate enough to read Teaching Each Other by Linda and Keith Goulet in EDL 829, and the quote you selected certainly supports your project and rationale.
I also appreciate sharing your personal growth with your children as you learn new from them. This was something I struggled with as well as I began integrating technology into my practice. I also had to shift my mindset to embrace these new challenges and the learnings that came with them. I look forward to reading your prototype and following your project as it develops!
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I appreciate that you took the time to read and offered encouragement. Technology use is something I have to work at everyday. It gets easier with practice. I used to wonder why my students spent lots of time on their cell phones, giving up break times to look at their small screens. Now I kind of know why….tech takes time!
In regards to my project, I decided to dedicate my time to develop First Nations centered resources for online/blended classroom support. I don’t see much from individual teachers being shared. Unless its out there on the web and I just haven’t looked to find them. I am excited to develop this project. Thank you for your interest.
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