Year: 2020 — Province: Alberta
Certificate of Achievement Recipient
Palliser Beyond Borders
Career and technology studies, psychology, early learning and childhood, grades 10 to 12
Vulcan, Alberta
[Ms. Krammer's] dedication regarding my success blew me away, as I had never met a teacher that worked so hard to get to know me as an individual, instead of another addition to a program.
Stephanie Krammer uses technology at her school board's online high school to build bridges to diverse people—whether she is helping a Mennonite student in rural Alberta to finish high school, a student with asthma to succeed in physical education, online psychology students to analyze Indigenous issues, or teachers in brick-and-mortar schools to embrace online learning.
Teaching approach
As more post-secondary institutions embrace mobile learning, Stephanie works to ensure her students are ready for that new world. They may not learn inside a school; instead, they may be doing research on a tablet on the bus or reading course materials on their smartphone at the gym.
In the classroom
- Teaches "Getting Online" orientation course: ensures students understand communication, planning and success strategies; discusses digital citizenship, plagiarism and netiquette; has had more than 600 virtual and face-to-face orientation meetings with students since 2019.
- Nurtures relationships with students: texts them and asks for feedback; ensures they don't feel they are learning in isolation; students reach out at all hours on Google Hangouts; former students stay in touch after graduating.
- Tailors courses to each learner: encouraged reluctant physical education student to see her own Highland dance expertise as athleticism; provided constructive feedback; student developed confidence and interest in independent sports, such as badminton.
- Allows learners to "write" tests electronically: students watch videos and then answer questions to gauge their understanding; use voice-to-text apps for long answers.
Outstanding achievements
- Develops mobile-friendly courses: creates a standard look and feel for materials; proportion of students using mobile Safari increased from 1.7% to 12.1% in one year.
- Ensures rural students have flexible access to education: one student became the first high school graduate in his family because he could study online while working and travelling.
- Redesigned a semester-long workplace safety course so it can be completed in a month; students collaborate using interactive technology; Stephanie helps them put content into real-life context; completion rates have improved.
- Spotted a student's mental health distress, realizing a student's message expressing dislike for Valentine's Day was atypical; contacted his principal, which triggered a violence threat risk assessment; student and family received and appreciated mental health support.
Get in touch!
Palliser Beyond Borders
102B 1 Street South
Vulcan AB T0L 2B0
403-485-6180
alison.hancox@pallisersd.ab.ca
https://www.palliserbeyondborders.com/
Facebook: @palliserbeyondborders
Twitter: @PalliserBB