Reflections....

This week we were asked to reflect on the different parts of the course. I found the reflections helped allow me to self-evaluate my progress in this course. I found this assignment very validating to my work over the past 5 weeks.
Lectures: Each week Dr. Arterbury and Dr. Jenkins gave a personal overview of what our week was going to encompass. I enjoyed listening to both professors discuss the area we were about to study. Because we aren’t “in the classroom” I felt like that the videos were time to soak in the professors’ purpose for this course. I enjoyed the virtual face to face time I had with both professors because again it made me feel like I was both just sitting in front of a computer reading information about my course. I was able to actually see the professors and if needed, communicate with them regarding my course.
Readings: During both reading assignments I had to pause a moment and use different resources to gain better understanding of what both authors were saying. Dana’s text I felt lent itself to be more academic. However, while Harris’ text was academic I felt it was more of any “easy read”. I gained valuable information from both texts. I feel both texts helped me in more than one way gain valuable insight into information during the beginnings of my action research plan. I would also say they were very applicable to my action research plan.
Searches, like electronic searches of topics and questions: During the five weeks of this course, I would use the internet when the text was unclear or if I needed to find more in depth definitions. It helped to have another author’s perspective to clarify what the authors were trying to say to us. I also found reading other action research plans was helping because it allowed me to see what an action research resembled.
Assignments and activities: The assignments and activities that I completed during this course have been very valuable. I feel that as an aspiring administrator, the more practice I have learning how to write an action research plan and how to develop appropriate action research questions, the more qualified I will be to my campus. I will use different tools to aid my research such as the CARE Model, Force Field Analysis, the Delphi Model, and the Nominal Group Technique. Each of these tools will allow me to gain a deeper insight into how to work with my faculty.
Discussion Board: The weekly discussion boards were like the classroom discussions that go on in a typical university setting. It allowed us to voice our opinion and allow for feedback that was constructive and beneficial at the same time. I feel that without the discussion board, the students in this course would feel isolated and alone. The discussion board feedback I received was valuable. I reflected on each student comments on my post and took into consideration what they had to say.
Blogs: I never thought I would have a blog. I am not private person, but on the other hand I didn’t feel I needed a blog in my life either. I am encompassed in social networking via texts, e-mail, Facebook, etc. The action research blog for me has allowed me to post my opinions on my coursework and allow for feedback. I have checked my blog every day for comments. I hope that as the course continues I’ll start seeing more. The ability to check others blogs in the same course really is neat to me. I like having the ability to see what others are thinking. The blog also has allowed me to share my views on educational topics that others may never known I had. I feel that my blog has given me second voice.