EDLD+5363+Week+5+Reflection

Listed below are this week's reflection questions, as well as my responses. Thank you, Lamar University, for another outstanding class. When I began this course five weeks ago, I knew I would enjoy it. I hoped the course would stretch me beyond my comfort zone, and it has definitely accomplished that. Although I teach “multimedia” at the high school level, there were many areas of this class that are relatively cutting edge, and cannot be taught at the high school level due to content and various filters that apply to minors. Although there were a few new technological advances I had to learn, much of the work was based on previously acquired knowledge. I would have liked to learn a bit more regarding video uploading. I felt too much time was spent with Audacity, and not enough time on file formats, what file formats email successfully, as well as the nuances between file types. Yes, I created a blog and a wiki. In my opinion, blogs are not as effective as a wiki is. I would rather share my opinion and have someone comment on it “live” than post my opinion, as if it were gospel, and have folks merely able to comment. This course is vital to the work I do in my school. May I go so far as to say that this course has been the most relevant course as it aligns to the work I do at school? Please do not add additional “research” classes to this degree plan. If anyone has discovered, through “research,” a cure for the ailing education system, then I truly believe their methodology would have already been adopted by all school districts, and we would all experience 100% graduation rates and job placements. No more “research” is needed. Hands on, real world application in the field of technology is what will be required to get the 21st century students to be employable. I need to be able to understand my students’ venues (YouTube), and need to be able to communicate with them via their own medium. I don’t really believe students would visit my blog nor my wiki, but when I shared with them my YouTube posts? They finally realized that I was not a decrepit 50 year old teacher with no “snap.” I cannot think of a required “outcome” that I did not achieve. There were a few personal outcomes that I did not achieve, but let me first address course outcomes. I was able to comprehend and carry out all required homework for all five weeks. Instructions, at times, felt redundant. Group work went very, very smoothly. I realized that I am not the only multi-tasking female out there. Most of my group members are also teachers / educators / full time employees. It was nice to collaborate and meet wonderful women, literally, all across the United States, who have found the Lamar University Masters of Technology Education to be a viable solution to their busy schedules. I still feel a bit inadequate when it comes to video and video capturing. Yes, I was a part of my team who captured video on my campus, but I forwarded it to another team member for their input, which is what we were supposed to do. Also, would love a part of this course to be an update on current software that is used in creating videos. Not the actual video part, but the words, screen shots, etc. It was assumed that students knew how and what software to use to compose the additional aspects of the PSA. That would not have been the case unless certain group members had a background in Flash or other Adobe products. I and my group was / were very successful in completing the course assignments. Initially on my own, I believed I could accomplish all aspects of the assignments on my own. Then, I was introduced to Julie Barber, an amazing educator. So the two of us plugged along, both type “A” personas, we finished most weeks’ assignments prior to their due dates. She and I were both reluctant to add additional partners during week three, when it was mandated that a “group” needed to consist of probably 5 students. Julie and I incorporated Ing Mu, Victoria Satterwhite, and Ranada Smith, a quintet extraordinaire! What I have gleaned from the mandatory group work assignment is that we (all Lamar University masters of education students, or at least the ones I have been blessed to have contact with) are dedicated to the education of the next generation, in a medium that the next generation is comfortable with, and we need to be skilled in their genre to educate them. ** // 5. What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes  // ** I, personally, have learned that the degree in Instructional Technology Education is right up my alley. I learned that I am NOT principal material. I have no desire to lead in that manner. I want to lead in my classroom via this additional diploma. I learned that, although I have a tough time delegating responsibilities, will totally acquiesce if there is a group member whose skills surpass mine (thank you, Ing Mu). I have also learned to let go, and believe that there are truly other individuals out there who are as passionate as I am regarding education, they are this program, and they are perfectly capable of creating a masterpiece for a PSA!
 * 1)  What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?
 * 1)  To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?
 * 1)  What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?
 * 1)  Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?