Final Compilation
Introduction
I went into the class not knowing what to expect. I have a degree in English, and I love to write, but writing an article about teaching in a Technology Master’s program was not something I wanted to do. However, I set my mind to it and got to work. I first worked on the Publication outline. This helped me create the foundation of an instructional framework that was pretty original. I then used the outline to write the Rough Draft. After receiving feedback, I revised the rough draft and crafted the final draft the same night. Then I took all of the content from that and created the media project. I found that in the process, I had created something interesting. I found a framework that would work well for teachers who need to create artifacts around their teaching and fully integrate technology and traditional pedagogical processes into the learning environment. I began to work with my study group, another surprise that I neither expected nor wanted, and found that bouncing ideas off of them led to breakthroughs and innovation. It was very much like what I had done at work with my team. I actually enjoyed the process. I worked extremely hard on many aspects of the work in the class and was rewarded with ever-decreasing grades. My crown jewel of the video, which was the only thing in the class I loved, received the lowest grade. But I learned that I am not alone in wanting more from my school organization and my students. An interesting thing happened: one of my group mates wasn’t as well-versed in media technology as the rest of the group. We got together to not only advise her but also support her and encourage her to keep working. That supportive environment was welcome and allowed for more breakthroughs.
Evaluation of Successes
Collaboration has been a wonderful experience. Due to the situations we face at my campus, collaboration has been a lifesaver, and it was great to experience that same feeling in this class. I will never publish an article or write another one. I will never endeavor to be a researching academic. I am a teacher. I will use my research for my classes. However, looking into other classes reminded me that we are here for our students. We are here to encourage and develop them. It was welcome.
Areas of Growth or Improvement
Attention to detail. I would benefit from more of this because overcoming faceless adversity is important for growth and consistency. I have told my students for years that they would have situations that they could not control and that would test their resolve. After working hard in my craft for years, and then being found wanting in this class because of a simple hyperlink, it was humbling. I must recommit to attention to detail. It never occurred to me that a link was more important than the content, and I will learn from the humiliation.
Brief summary and reflection of each assignment
Publication Outline- https://www.theinstitution.info/habl-fr/assignment-1-publication-outline
This was the initial outline of our publication. I chose to create a framework for working in both traditional and technological environments in order to increase student retention and metacognition. It involved determining what would work, searching for research to support my assertions, and answering a fundamental question. The reading was supportive in this process. I looked at constructivist learning theory and generative learning research and found that there was not much literature on the hybridization of approaches when it came to artifact-centric project-based learning. This was my way in. I wrote it up and got great feedback from my collaborative discussion group. The outline also allowed me to research which publications would be best for peer review and publication, and it guided the quality of my research and the depth of my study.
Publication Rough Draft- https://www.theinstitution.info/habl-fr/o46vjte7b7h4yz19ge8yktm5w6wyxy
This was the most difficult part of the coursework. I employed a technique called a vomit draft. I poured everything into a Google Document and revised from there. The collaborative group was instrumental in this process. I had written way too much! They helped me reduce the mountain of information I had, allowed me to reframe the introduction into something more personal and applicable, and helped me trim the practical sections into short, effective summaries applicable to all departments. They also helped me to focus the article because my initial draft was far more academic and not very teacher-friendly.
Media Project- https://www.theinstitution.info/habl-fr/habl-artifacts-in-action
I worked on this for a long time. I enjoyed the process of creating a script from the publication rough draft and gathering all of the assets. This Media Project allowed me to present my research, my content, and my assertions in a visual and visceral way. I was able to couple the writing explanations with words and sounds that reinforced my assertions. I gathered royalty-free clips, shot new content, created voice-overs and graphics, and even tried my hand at generating AI clips. I loved the process. It was my lowest grade, but I think it came out pretty good, and I gained a better understanding of not only the framework, but also its various applications by working through the production phases and process.
Publication Final Draft- https://www.theinstitution.info/habl-fr/final-article
I worked on this the same night I submitted the Rough Draft because the feedback I received from the Collaborative Group was visceral and applicable. I understood exactly what they were advising me to do, and I was able to do it quickly and efficiently.
Reflection of your collaborative discussion group
The discussion group was initially the most annoying of the new experiences in this class. However, I quickly found that I had won the lottery. This group was professional, adaptive, helpful, supportive, and hard-working. I am a musician and filmmaker, and collaboration is my life, so this was eventually a welcome experience. I learned that I really don’t like going to school. I actually like learning, observing, and working with other people. I learned that my group members were also working to build whatever they needed to be successful and to help their learning community in every way possible. They also led lives, real lives, and were working hard to put their best work on display. 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.
Summary or Conclusion of the course and your learning
EDLD 5317 was meant to instruct me on how innovation and pedagogical ideas can be communicated and how they can be strengthened through effective collaboration. It presented the article as a professional, academically sound, and research-based way to speak to the broader educational community. This was reinforced in the creation of the media project, which extends the value of the lessons built into the course because it is where educational ideas can reach a wider audience, and educators and administrators can implement them quickly and effectively. I really appreciated the media project as well as the freedom of modality and genre allowed in its presentation. It was a great collaborative and innovative experience that allowed me to create something I really think will help students achieve more.
