Hello!
My name is Nic Bartemucci. I am a fourth-year biology student at the University of Victoria (UVIC). I have been at this institution since 2020 and my graduation date is right around the corner after my last semester in the fall/winter.
I was raised north of Victoria, in the Comox Valley which is approximately a 2.5-hour drive up the island from UVIC. Almost all of my closely related family also currently lives there, which makes it easy to visit my family being only a couple hours away.
In the Comox Valley, my favourite activities are:
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Driving my car on back roads
- Spending time with family
- Visiting with friends
- Spending time in nature
The one I enjoy the most is swimming. I usually explore the vast area alongside the Puntledge River to find swim spots and fun trails. I take a long time to explore due to my habit of taking photos of different things I see along my adventures.
Image of Puntledge River, Comox Valley. – Nic Bartemucci
Aside from my background, the main content on my page will discuss open and distributed learning
My main interest in distributed and open learning is the expansion of educational opportunities. Things such as digital technology can help expand these opportunities outside the in-person classroom. Students may vary in their ability to learn, develop skills, or interact with other students. I find this interesting and beneficial, as students outside of the classroom can have a strong social presence online in terms of education and can be further engaged in communities, leading to more accessible resources.
Personal experience with digital tools
Currently, I use digital tools to further engage in my classes at UVIC and to have more direct access to the classroom when I am at home.
The digital tools that benefit my educational experience the most are:
- Zoom
- Brightspace
- Microsoft Teams
- Social media (Ex. Instagram, Snapchat etc.)
I use Brightspace to view my class content, connect with other students, and submit my work after hours. This is incredibly useful as due dates that occur at midnight do not have to be handed in person, which gives me more time to work on assignments while allowing the instructor to submit custom feedback directly on the file.
Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and different social media apps allow me to connect with classmates for group assignments, study sessions, or presentation practice. This allows me to communicate with group members or other students who are outside my geographical range, allowing for more flexibility for meet-ups.
My understanding of digital literacy
Digital literacy for me means the ability for an individual to connect, create, and utilize digital content. Regarding open and distributed learning settings, digital literacy is important due to communication and overall engagement, which fuels learning and education. This allows individuals to adapt to new technology which creates more learning opportunities depending on digital literacy. This can help with critical thinking, access to communities, and participation in society.
My experiences with open and distributed learning.
Experiences I have had with open and distributed learning have impacted my interest in the topic. most of my experiences have been in becoming associated with online groups to increase my education on specific topics such as connecting with other cultures, and science, and expanding my creativity and knowledge for things such as engineering and craftsmanship.
This is equivalent to how I will connect with the class and class groups, by using online communication with my Pod for group projects, reviewing material, or participating in public blogs. This will help me have a greater understanding of others, and to connect more often outside of the classroom to fuel my education.
Below I have attached a link describing online learning for students and the overall importance of classroom alternative
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/support/classroom-alternatives/online-learning
