Lessons Learned from Unit 4

Still hanging in there!

My anxiety level is like a roller coaster. Good one minute and freaking out the next. I need to chill out and stop making such a big deal out of everything.

I've learned I need to put a filter between my brain and my mouth (or fingers in this case). I get along well with all my teammates, but it doesn't take long to lose someone's trust and I need to watch out for that.

I learned that I've been placed in a group with one person on the west coast and another on the east coast and it is challenging. What's the logic there? Are the instructors just trying to make this more difficult than it already is? I'm sure they are not, but that was my first impression.

I am learning how to work on a project that has no set guidelines or rubric. Until this very moment, I did not get it. It irritated the hell out of me and drove my frustration level through the roof. I get it now. This is why. In life, there are no rubrics. There, that's it! It's that simple. I didn't get it until right now, but after reflecting on all the emails exchanged between myself and the instructors.... I get it! If I were creating an eLearning environment in real life, there's no rubric to follow! I have to sit down with a team or by myself and ask the questions: What is my purpose, what are my values, what will the outcome of my eLearning session be. Then, and only then, can any form of a rubric be made and, AND... then it has to be made by ME! I get it! I'm worse for the wear trying to figure it out, but dangit I get it now!!!

On a side note, I also learned that bitching doesn't accomplish anything. I'd use the word complaining, but I have to admit I was doing a bit more than that. Patience and reflection are key here.

I guess I'm a slow learner, but to quote Genie from Alladin, "he can be taught!"

Lessons Learned from Unit 3

First and foremost, Aimee is an awesome team member. I was very impressed with her knowledge, leadership, and dedication to our group. I see that she is not in my new group; she will be missed.

We had to compile and summarize our instructional values this week which proved to be more difficult than I expected. I feel that since I am a teacher myself, I am now overthinking such questions as these. I have so many instructional strategies and values that I utilize them without thinking about them. Each student's ability, each subject, and each goal or purpose requires it's own strategy.

It was nice to sit back and read some of the other values posted by my teammates. I was able to once more see the forest and the trees thanks to them. I can see that this will continue to be one of my downfalls until I learn just to take the questions for face value and answer them as direclty as possible!

I have officially become a nerd.

Aint it cool!?