10 Feb February Feature Facilitator – Ms. Magali Santana

Our February feature facilitator is none other than Ms. Magali Santana – our 2020 Facilitator of the Year. Ms. Santana has been at Xspace since early 2020 and is also currently completing her Masters in Museum Studies at the University of Toronto. Before joining Xspace, she has had plenty of experience working with students of various ages in math and science!

After joining Xspace and working with students online, she was impressed by the power of technology and how it was able to connect people and facilitate education despite geographical barriers. She shares that she appreciates using new tools for the classroom that can only be used in online environments such as online graphing calculators and shared whiteboards. Ms. Santana feels these tools neatly complement the learning environment.

Ms. Santana loves working with students who are committed to their learning. Online learning requires more independent work that in-person classes. As a facilitator, she strives to create a relationship with the students that is based on trust and not on continuous supervision.

One of the things her students have taught her is that every person has a different learning style and while for some students is easier to work alone, some others enjoy and learn better when they share their knowledge with their classmates. They have also taught her to persevere even when the challenges look hard.

She advises students to manage their time such that they can finish their homework on time after every class so they do not accumulate overdue assignments. Accumulated work causes additional stress and impacts their learning process. It is always easier to solve assignments and practice questions when the concepts are fresh in your mind!

Ms. Magali Santana

Tell us about your own education experiences and how technology has played a part in it. 

Before joining the Xspace team, I had only supported students with in-person lessons (groups and 1 on 1). When I started facilitating online, I was impressed by the power of technology to connect people and facilitate education despite geographical barriers. I have learned new tools for the classroom that can only be used in online environments such as online graphing calculators and shared whiteboards. These tools neatly complement the learning environment. 

What do you most enjoy about teaching online and/or at Xspace? 

I love working with students that are committed to their learning. Online learning requires more independent work that in-person classes. As a facilitator, I create a relationship with the students that is based on trust and not on continuous supervision. 

What have your students taught you in your experience as an online educator? 

My students have taught me that every person has a different learning style and while for some students is easier to work alone, some others enjoy and learn better when they share their knowledge with their classmates. They have also taught me to persevere even when the challenges look hard. 

Any advice to students taking online courses? 

I would advice students to manage their time such that they can finish their homework on time after every class so they do not accumulate overdue assignments. Accumulated work causes additional stress and impacts their learning process. It is always easier to solve assignments and practice questions when the concepts are fresh in your mind! 

If you could have a super power, what would it be? 

That’s easy: I would fly. 

What is one food you cannot live without? 

Chocolate 

One more random fact about you. 

I am a vegetarian. 

Written by: Karen Chu