Lesson 4

Things are feeling a little overwhelming right now. I'm sure it will be better once the presentations are over and I can focus on creating the unit once my proposal is approved. Since the unit proposal is quite similar to ETC 677 I can see the growth that I have had since last semester since I am finding that I am able to plan the unit much more fluidly than last semester. At least that is what I think I will just have to wait and see what feedback I get once it is graded and returned. Just hoping to keep going strong through the end of the semester and that there are no major technology hiccups during our presentation!

Lesson 4 Reflection

Understanding the difference between a positive team experience and a negative team experience has definitely been clarified with the team I have with this course. What a great lesson!!! At the end of lesson 4, we are getting ready for our presentation on Wednesday. Although we all have hectic personal and professional lives outside of this class, each member seems to place a high level of commitment to getting our group assignments completed. I am quite fortunate to have such a compassionate team as well. With still dealing with complications with pneumonia, both of my team members have been extremely understanding and concerned with my well-being.

I am alittle nervous about our upcoming presentation. However, not due to quality of presentation but only because of us going first and not having a model to base our presentation on. But I am confident with the quality that will be presented. Admittedly, I deal with a high level of personal anxiety with any presentation I participate in. It is a negative behavioral trait I have been plagued with for most of my life, so once again my nerves are starting to creep up on me. :)

With the close of lesson 4, we are beginning a highly active couple weeks with moderating Wetpaint and Diigo discussions along with individual assignments. Hopefully, the most recent batch of medication will wipe out this pneumonia once and for all. So far so good......! :)

Thanks Becky & Jennifer!!

Lesson 3 reflection

I now have faith in groups again. We all had different issues that came up these last two weeks yet we all participated in accomplishing our tasks. Everyone did what they could when they could. I now know for sure that I can count on my group to complete any and all assignments. I have had negative problems with groups before, but none with this group. We all work well together!

Lesson 3 Reflection

I am quite pleased with the final product our team put together for assignment 4. We coordinated well even though a couple of us were out of town and one team member even became quite sick. It is always interesting to me how each group member can contribute individual and important pieces to assignments including reminders of parts that I would have forgotten about without them. I prefer being in a small group since in my other class I am in a group of 6 members and it is incredibly challenging to coordinate and get feedback and work cohesively. For this assignment our group utilized the Google doc quite well which allowed us to each add parts and pieces and references when we were able. I am a little nervous about going first on the next assignment but at least if we go first we will be done first!!

Lesson 3 Reflection

This has been quite an interesting lesson.  Specifcially, learning the relevant differences between hard and soft structures involved with network structures built upon what I already new but altered the specific categorizing that I previously had used. I have enjoyed listening to VoiceThread postings, posting and responding to various discussion posts.  In addition, I have really enjoyed the process the team utilized with completing Assignment 4.  I have enjoyed to communicative style both my fellow team members have demonstrated.  As this course progresses, I seem more at ease with the ability to work with my ETC647 team.  The team really came together smoothly and with no unnecessary stresses which is still a pleasant surprise working with any team.  :)

The team did not have any challenging aspects.  If I were to pick one, it might have been the ability to coordinate the team assignment around circumstances that inhibited daily communications such as going out of town, lack of internet access.  However, this did not present any challenging aspects and the team worked around without complications. 

Technology and instructional strategies that has been learned from this lesson provided a curious look in the varying differences in network policies and procedures from school to school to even public and charter schools.  The overwhelming issue present to provide efficient network capacity and utilization stems from funding issues that seem to plague all areas of education.  It seems as though there is a lot of desire and expectations from the advances in technology.  However, due to financial restraints inhibiting acquiring necessary tools, the distance to making educational technology a major contributor in education seems a one step closer three steps back" approach.  If there could only be an easier and less costly solution available.

I look forward to the next lessons and continuing work towards our team presentation in November.

Reflection #2

I am glad that our team is focused on our first group assignment and that we are all working hard to obtain the necessary information so that we can begin the analysis and writing. It is nice to not have "all our eggs in one basket" so that we will be able to accomplish it no matter what. I am really glad to have two proactive team members who are both wanting to work ahead this week and get the group assignment done. I feel that we are communicating well and have not had any group issues. We will see how things are once the first assignment is graded and returned!!

Lesson 2 Reflection

The part of this lesson that I am most proud of is also the part I found most challenging. I have never been a fan of Twitter. Although it seems to make sense for a class as far as updating announcements, I still do not see the value as a continual communication tool. I had issues posting my first tweet but eventually succeeded. However, I was unable to find out if anyone responded directly to my tweet. The comments on the running twitter gadget were sometimes 4 days old. As far as team work, we have all been discussing what needs to be done for the next assignment so I am glad we are all looking ahead together instead of having just one person planning the assignment. It is great to have teammates who are as conscientiousness about school work as I am. We communicate frequently and respond in a timely manner.

Lesson 2 Reflection

With Lesson 2 ending, the class study into network technology, mobile learning, and connectivism was quite captivating.  Twitter and Vista was used for class discussions to utilize Web 2.0 technologies firsthand.  Looking at the discussions through Vista and Twitter, I have enjoyed reading and interacting with my fellow class members but specifically with my team members.  Both have provided substantial and thoughtful postings that have been enjoyable to read and response to.  Although I have entered this course with a hesitation towards teamwork, my team members have provided me with a sense of understanding and ease to my hesitation.  We have begun to work on Assignment 4 with an interactive and cooperative dialogue.  I am positively looking forward to see how our group assignments progress throughout the semester.

I personally have not found our teamwork challenging up to this point.  Our communication is steady and timely.  I cannot honestly write about an exceptionally challenging aspect to our teamwork up to this point in time.  However, during October 11-15 an unexpected family circumstance will take me and my family out of town.  I am worried but hoping that this will not cause any unnecessary challenges for our teamwork.  I have never had to leave my ability to connect through the web; for any length of time, ever.  Needless to say, I am a bit worried!  While my fellow team members have assured me there will be no problem, I really do not want to let either of them down.  L

This lesson deepened my understanding of connectivism and clarified how mobile learning is a beneficial aspect; even with some negative issues that might occur (security/privacy), to learning environments and society.  This lesson has demonstrated to my insecurities with Twitter.  I never really explored Twitter prior to this course and more so, this lesson.  The process in the beginning was to say the least confusing.  I would say I actually would rather call someone than “Tweet” them.  However, with responding and looking over tutorials I became more comfortable with use and understand more why it is a popular communication tool.  Will I personally continue to use it outside of this course; I am still sort of up in the air about it but is it a applicable tool with mobile learning, absolutely!