vancouverislandcarpentry-blog

[vancouverislandcarpentry-blog]

Teaching Through Media

How I look making youtube videos, but with more saw dust ;)  

I have ambition to use media as a platform to assist my students.  My inspiration comes from two places: past and present experience.  The platform is Youtube.  In the trades sector, students are required to study a plethora of material (theory) in class, but also required to exemplify that knowledge in a practical setting.  The term length for my programs are 7 weeks.  It can be difficult to retain the material, never mind retain and apply in a real-world setting.  

Colleague’s and I have found that if don’t use it you do indeed lose it. Insert youtube, a theory and practical database from a Carpentry instructor in Nanaimo BC.  I offer unlimited access to in depth video’s on layout, tips, tricks and theory.  My gain would assisting students, not just from the university I teach at, but across the continent and possibly world.  My incentive would potential ad monetization though ad content.  There is limited info in this space, but I’d really like to fill these voids.  

[vancouverislandcarpentry-blog]

Trends In My Area Of Expertise

Global warming and energy consumption are two dominant issues when considering the future of planet earth. Buildings are responsible for 40% of the energy consumption in North America and also emit approximately 30% of our greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than any other sector in our economy. This is a well known fact to climate science academics. Intrinsic change is in motion to decrease or even mitigate these massive percentages. Say hello to the "Step Code". What the step code is implementing is a tiered approach to carbon neutral and energy efficient buildings. At the top of the pyramid is net zero buildings and Passive Home building. The simple definition of net zero is to produce more energy than is required of a building, for example: solar pv panelling, rain water collection, etc. Passive Home buildings are extremely well insulated, air tight and energy efficient buildings using solar heat gains as their main heat source. The writing is on the wall, builders will be forced to learn how to build energy efficient homes going forward. I have taken it upon myself to get ahead of the curve and train as a Certified Passive Home Tradesperson at BCIT in 2018. The training I have taken is a great example of Self Directed Learning. The knowledge I gained has a low return on investment in the short term, however in the long-term, I feel I will be in a good position for growth as a business owner or teacher. Best of all it is a good investment for the future of our planet. 

[vancouverislandcarpentry-blog]

Trends in Adult Education: Advances in AI

Technology based learning always piques my interest as I find it is rapidly enveloping our everyday lives, and our culture in Canada. Upon researching how artificial intelligence interplays with teaching I was intrigued to learn that studies show that students prefer human interaction with their teachers. Perhaps learning through AI lacks some aspects from the social cognitivism learning theory, notably: interaction with people and environment. I posit that students will benefit from co-assisted AI learning techniques as it offers teachers more time to assist students in their needs as learners; whether it is one on on time, or staying in class to assist a group. 

https://www.lexalytics.com/lexablog/ai-in-education-present-future-ethics