EDLD 5363 Web Conferences

I attended one web conference with Dr. Abernathy and two with Dr. Tom Harvey.  I read the transcripts from several other web conferences that I was not able to attend.  I found the conferences helpful in answering questions and clarifying issues with assigned work.   And at the same time, I found them somewhat frustrating when the technology was not working optimally.  On one occasion, Dr. Harvey, our presenter, was the only one that was locked out of the conference.  The more he tried to log on, the faster it bumped him off.  It left the students in a unique situation.  We all sat quietly looking at each other until someone started asking questions and making observations.  The interaction was not only helpful but fun. It was good hearing ideas, successes and frustrations from fellow students.  During the second conference with Dr. Harvey, I was the only attendee.  He warned me that abobeconnect had scheduled maintenance and that we might be having troubles.  We did.  Video was fine but audio was impossible.  Dr. Harvey utilized another technology, our cell phones.  I was impressed by his thinking outside the box and combining the two technologies to get the job done.

EDLD 5363 Week 5 PSA

Producing the PSA on bullying has been a great experience - working with three team members, brainstorming and making and taking suggestions.  Once the tasks were divided, each member worked on their assigned area.  Team members critiqued and make suggestions and recommendations for changes.  Criticism was both constructive and helpful.  There were a number of experiences in working with the team that I found extremely helpful.  In working as a group, my problems and frustrations became their issues also.  They help to solve my problems and I hope they found that kind of help in my interaction.  

We all definitely brought our own strengths to the group.  The creative ones went about the business of creating.  The technical ones went about the business of designing.  In some of our conference calls, someone would suggest a concept and someone else would run with it.  The project offer definite challenges because of the distance and busying personal schedules but those challenges helped generate creativity and enthusiasm in finishing the project.  Overall, it was a great experience.

Podcast and video editing

Wow!  The learning curve has been substantial yet manageable for the course thus far.  I'm afraid that this week I almost did me in.  I'd like to blame it on the Thanksgiving holiday or the new dependance on our classmates to collaborate in doing our work but I think that the frustration came from elsewhere.  I realize just how much I am learning with this course.  Things that I have never been exposed to before are now just a part of our workload.  This week's assignment on podcasting and video editing stretched my abilities which is a good thing.  It was all new to me!  The readings were helpful and I thought that I understood them and would be able to navigate easily through the assignment.  Not so fast....I understood the concepts involved in the assignments but actually doing the work was more of a challenge than I expected.  I have to say that I enjoyed the assignment because I worked harder this week than in any of the other courses.

EDLD 5363 Multimedia and Video Technology

The master's course for educational technology moves rather quickly.  The five week courses are a bit intimidating, navigating through the sheer volume of material that must be covered in such a short time period.  Each course seems too ambitious.  This course was no different.  I had no experience with video and multimedia technology. I was encouraged by the enthusiasm of my fellow students on the discussion board.  Taking one assignment at a time, completing the readings and participating in the discussion board turns the experience from intimidation to excitement.  I have to wonder if that is the experience of the students as he or she is learning new things.   This course specifically gears learning to the level of today's students, students that are much more interested not in seeing graphics but designing graphics.   The assignment was a challenge for a novice like me but exciting and fun at the same time.  Perhaps this is one of the benefits of lifelong learning that I simply did not expect.

ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT

ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT

Action Steps	Persons Responsible	Timeline	Resources	Process Monitoring	Evaluation
Interview local historians in the school and city to design a survey	Sr. Amata Hollas Martha Massie	Nov 2010 to Feb 2011	School and Motherhouse archives	self	Principal and Assistant Principal
Prepare age appropriate study on the historical beginning of the school	Sr. Amata Hollas self	Jan 2010	Archives and retried religious Sisters who taught in the school	Principal	Convent administration
Survey students and staff on connection of the history of the school and its present culture and community	Principal	March 2010	Teaching staff	Feedback from the teaching staff	Survey results

Action Research Week 4

Week four has been helpful in reviewing the comments of my classmates in regards to my action research.  My action research project addresses both the school community and culture in relation to the long and rich tradition and history of our school, one of the oldest educational institutions in south Texas founded in 1867.  In the discussion board I shared my frustration with determining a way to best evaluate and measure both the students' and the staff's experience.  A couple of surveys at the beginning and the end of the school year was about the best approach that I could come up with.  Most of the comments were encouraging but did not offer any additional suggestions of how to "beef up" my approach.  The encouragement was helpful, however.  

Action Research Week 3

Week 3 has required even more refining for my action research plan.  Last week I considered three options and found myself most excited about an inquiry on the culture and community experienced in the school.   My inquiry is What part does the long history of the school play in the present school culture and how can that culture help in marketing and creating a stronger school community?  I am a bit concerned about being able to collect enough data and analyze the data for my research.  Because of the 140 year history of the school, I will be able to collect enough historical data but analyzing the connection between the history and its effect to the school culture and community may provide more of a challenge than I am prepared for.  I would appreciate any suggestions.