During this session, I completed two courses: “Creating Significant Learning Environments” (5313) and “Developing Effective Professional Leadership” (5389). This session was nothing short of being fast and furious! I must admit that it was quite challenging to fully invest myself in these courses due to the simultaneous demands of being a Graphic Design teacher and still learning my new position as an Instructional Technology Coach. However, this experience has taught me that we can endure and conquer much more than we initially believe. I am excited that I have made it this far and can see the end in sight. The amount of growth I have seen in myself as a learner and an instructor is immeasurable. I am glad I took this leap of faith!
Joining a collaborative group during the initial courses played a pivotal role in my success throughout this session. The core members of my collaborative group, consisting of Ashley Lee, Amanda Mask, and Hillary Turnage, have been invaluable to me. We continued to utilize the document that we created during the summer session, which serves as a collection for all our assignments and documents. This document allowed us to provide feedback and "feedforward." We also relied on our text group for quick support and advice. Although not as many as we would have liked to have, our Zoom meetings proved constructive in clarifying assignments and projects. Our group maintained consistent communication through Zoom and texts, creating meaningful bonds and even celebrating each other beyond this course. I feel like I have known these ladies longer than just 6 months!
The two assignments that posed the greatest challenges also turned out to be the ones from which I gained the most valuable insights. In 5313, the assignment that proved to be the most demanding was the learning philosophy. Initially, I assumed it would be straightforward as it involved expressing my beliefs. However, it turned out to be much more intricate, leaving me struggling to articulate my thoughts effectively.
In 5389, the assignment that pushed my limits was the PL connecting ideas assignment. Despite its alignment with my role as an instructional coach, I struggled with determining the optimal layout and deciding which components to incorporate. Nevertheless, I am thrilled that I have successfully mapped out the plan for when I implement this PL in the future. Learning how to organize a truly engaging professional development session has left me feeling well-prepared and excited for what lies ahead.
During the session, I actively participated in Zoom classes and discussions. On Blackboard, I responded to all discussion posts on time and gave feedback to many of my peers, both in my group and across the class. I embraced "feedforward" from my peers on my assignments and used their input to make necessary corrections and improvements. After receiving feedback on graded assignments, I revisited and revised my work. I made sure to read all the required materials, watch the assigned videos, and explore the provided links. Meeting assignment deadlines was a top priority, and I went the extra mile to learn more beyond what was required. I found the examples shared by other students to be very helpful.
In my core group, I assumed an active leadership role and made contributions to the Blackboard forums in both courses. I engaged in discussions, shared resources, and provided constructive feedback on numerous posts. I made it a point to post my initial responses within the assigned week to allow ample time for others to respond, and I actively participated in discussions with my peers. When it came to research, adhering to proper APA citing was important, and something that I struggled with. I am still learning and am willing to recognize that this is something I need to continue to work on.
Taking both courses simultaneously proved to be the right decision, even though I doubted myself for the first few weeks because of the demands of being a teacher, wife, mother, and daughter. I am thankful I did due to being able to connect with my collaborative group. They were very supportive and helped to motivate and inspire me to dive deep within and excel in these courses. The courses also went hand in hand. I was able to reflect on assignments from each course that would help guide me in other assignments and discussion posts. I plan to continue on the accelerated path for the remainder of the program.
In conclusion, this session's fast and furious journey has taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, adaptability, collaboration, and the pursuit of continuous improvement. Considering my contributions and efforts in these courses, I believe a grade of 97/100 for "Creating Significant Learning Environments" and a grade of 98/100 for "Developing Effective Professional Leadership" would be appropriate. Looking ahead, I aspire to enhance my classroom participation further and I recognize that there is always room for growth and improvement in both life and learning.
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