Describing Brunhilda’s Ideal Learning Context:
Brunhilda would best benefit from a distributed learning model. Brunhilda is seeking a very specialized program. Since she is upgrading her teaching credentials, having a recognized institution would be important for her. Brunhilda would also likely be learning with other teachers. Since collaboration and professional development are both important to Brunhilda, she would most benefit from a program designed specifically for ELL teachers from an accredited institution. Brunhilda would also likely benefit from a course organized in a Learning Management System, such as Moodle where she will have access to features such as a calendar for creating reminders and quick access to course features such as a syllabus.
Barriers to Flexible and Supportive Learning Experiences and Environments:
Some barriers and challenges that Brunhilda faces that prevent her from achieving this type of learning environment are the limits in her schedule, financial restrictions, and affordable childcare. Brunhilda has several young children at home and so she finds that her schedule is always full with tending to them as well as household chores and activities. These limits in her schedule only really leave her with free time in the evenings, once the day’s work is complete and her children are in bed. She also faces financial restrictions due to the fact that her family’s farm has faced certain financial turmoil in recent times, making it difficult for her to afford expensive post-secondary courses. Finally, from these financial issues, she finds that finding someone to take care of the children is unaffordable for her family at this time. Our group believes that these restrictions are preventing Brunhilda from experiencing a safe, flexible, and supportive learning environment. Her barriers of scheduling, finances, and childcare impact her options in how she learns, which is why we believe distributed and/or open learning could provide her with the environment and support she needs to achieve her educational goals.
Equity, Social Justice, and Cultural Considerations Preventing Safe, Flexible, and Supporting Learning Experiences and Environments:
Our group doesn’t believe that there are any pressing equity, social justice, or cultural issues that are preventing Brunhilda from achieving a safe, flexible, and supportive learning environment. The only possible cultural consideration is that she has taken on the role as the primary caregiver of her children since her husband is often working long hours throughout the day. This role has presented some challenges to her pursuing further education by causing scheduling and childcare issues as outlined earlier, but she has not been discouraged from achieving her educational goals. We believe that Brunhilda is able to achieve her education goals even with her role as primary caregiver and that she is choosing distributed and/or open learning in order to realize her goals.