Hailey's Blog

 After reading many blogs throughout the semester, I noticed some clear differences between posts that were engaging and posts that were harder to stay interested in. The blogs that always stood out to me usually felt more personal and easy to follow. I liked when people explained their thoughts clearly, and could also connect the topic to their own experiences or perspective. I think I enjoy that because it makes it easier myself to relate to the topic and also keeps me interested. However, when blogs did the opposite, it felt like they were just repeating information without much reflection. It was harder to stay engaged as a reader.  In my opinion, one of the best practices for creating an engaging blog post is having a clear and direct focus. I like when a post clearly explains what the topic is and where the author is going with their ideas. It makes the blog much easier to read and quicker to find information that will be useful in terms of what you are looking for. I al...

  One video that I have added to my PLN is a TED Talk, How to Make Stress Your Friend , by Kelly McGonigal. In the TED talk, she discusses that the common belief is that stress is always harmful but she challenges that. She presents research that suggests our mindset about stress can have a significant impact on how it affects us. So instead of focusing on eliminating all stress, she talks about framing it as a response that will prepare us for challenges. Having this mentality when it comes to stress can actually improve performance and resilience as well.  What stood out to me is how relevant this perspective can be in professional environments. Most of the time, even in many workplaces, stress is viewed mainly as a negative outcome from things like high expectations or heavy workloads. In the TED talk however, she explains that when individuals view stress as just a signal that something matters, it can enhance the focus and connection. Rather than having the usual feelings...

Organization plays a huge role in student success in both online and hybrid learning environments. Many students struggle not because they lack ability, but they might miss deadlines or have information scattered across their different courses, and they might not know where to start. Canvas provides some built in tools, like the calendar view or to-do list feature. This was okay, but I wanted something a little better. I liked on Moodle, another school platform similar to Canvas, how you could track the percentage of work you have done in the class. It would show your progress nicely, along with due dates, and you could check assignments off as you go.    In my screencast, I show how the Tasks for Canvas feature works for me. This Google extension allows students to quickly see upcoming assignments across all courses and tracks weekly progress. By organizing deadlines in one place, week by week, it can reduce that overwhelming feeling and help students prioritize their school ...