Compilation & Contributions to Your Learning Post/Page
Helping Hands
Self-Assessment Marking Guide
Score 90
Reflection on what is working and what you can do better.
Collaboration has been a wonderful experience. I was in two ADL classes this summer and had a group that I enjoyed working with tremendously. We primarily worked on assignments for EDLD 5317, but the work I presented carried over into EDLD 5315, and they helped me immensely with it. The only reason my action research got off the ground was because of them. This group was professional, adaptive, helpful, supportive, and hard-working. They worked hard to build whatever they needed to be successful and to help their learning community in every way possible.
I found studying action research redundant and unnecessary. Any good teacher interrogates their process and works to improve their practice while they are in it. This is a problem. If I become so stiff-necked that I close myself off to experience, I lose the ability to grow and stay effective in the classroom and as an instructional leader. Worse, I’ll become what I resent the most in education... An out-of-touch administrator who is unwilling and unable to listen and learn. I did not complain, and I did not gripe. I buckled down and worked to really build something applicable to my classroom right now; though, it took too long to come to that decision. 25 years in education can build an ego until you meet a 30-, 40-, or 50-year vet. It’s the reason why I hate self-assessments like these. They almost force you to lower your own grade by really looking at your process as well as your work product. I can do way better being open and receptive to change and finding value in anything that allows me to develop skills and gain knowledge.
Contributed to, helped build, and provided feedback to your core collaboration group/ Took leadership responsibility in your base group and the course/ Contributed to your learning and the learning of your colleagues by participating in ALL activities/ Active contributions in the various course forums.
During the course, there were opportunities for me to apply my skills to assist my group. We had a member who had a great innovation project, but they were reticent about their ability to fully utilize technology in a concrete way. However, the issue she had was where I live every day. It happened to not only be my specialty, but where I have made the most impact in every aspect of my professional life. This was a great opportunity to provide assistance, and I took it. It was easy because my group spared no feedback, assistance, or blessing that served to make my work better. In the discussions in EDLD 5315, I got into the habit of quoting the people I was responding to; I wanted them to know I hadn’t skimmed their work or pulled something from ChatGPT. I wanted them to know I saw their work and their effort, and it was valuable to me. In the end, in both my collaborative group and in discussions, I was only able to contribute because people allied with me to produce the best work they could. I’ve written this before, and I’ll continue to do so; I have been blessed to have worked with Amanda Smith, Tina Noble, Payal Shah, and Lisa Ruffcorn. I highly respect them and hope for their continued success. I honestly wouldn’t have changed a thing about this group or this experience.
Revised all assignments and reflected on revisions in this contribution to a learning activity/ Completed ALL of the course readings, videos, and supporting resources/ Met the various course activity deadlines indicated in the calendar.
In this class, I paid particular attention to the class calendars, the videos and readings, the class resources, and the class meetings and recordings because I messed up an assignment and a deadline in the other class. It was the first time in the entire program. I was aiming for perfection and fell short, so I ensured that I wouldn’t make the same mistake in 5315. There was still a snafu in the other class that makes me twitch even now, but I worked hard to listen to everything that was offered and make relevant changes. There were two standout situations. First, I did push back on feedback that had to do with my research design, but only because of the nature and modality of the assessment my research is concerned with. I was only able to do this by being engaged with the process and revision and reflection based on the feedback I received. Second, a major part of the feedback I created was destroyed by Professor Meeuwse. I was crushed, but then I realized that if I kept that part of the framework, it would create major issues for my research design and data collection. I immediately removed it, and everything clicked together.
My work in this class can be found at https://www.theinstitution.info/action-research. It was an interesting and ultimately helpful course that allowed me to investigate instructional processes in a more involved and practical way, but with structure and research to back up my assertions and positions.
