Assignment 1.1

Tough Decision

As pleased as I am that I have no critical decisions (that I am aware of) to make in the near future, it does create a problem for completing this assignment. There is an issue that I need to give some serious thought to, however, so this assignment will force me to address it.

When I made the decision to begin this program, a friend asked about attending graduation. I replied that I would not be attending a graduation—I live too far away and it wouldn’t make sense since I didn’t know anyone.  But the thought has crept into the back of my mind that it would be nice to meet my fellow classmates and share in the joy of completing this journey together. I will use the five-step decision –making process to decide what I should do.

Define the Decision Clearly

The decision is do I stick with my practical nature and receive my diploma (hopefully) in the mail; or do I break the budget and attend graduation with my classmates?

Consider All the Possible Choices

In this case, there are really only two choices: attend graduation or stay home.

Gather All Relevant Information and Evaluate the Pros and Cons of Each Possible Choice

Possible Choices	Information Needed	Pros	Cons
Stay home	None	Stress free, save money	Won’t get to share the experience with my classmates
Attend graduation	Will any of my classmates attend? Distance: RT=1612 mi. Drive time: 25 hrs. RT Hotel cost est.: $110x2 Gas: $250 (est.) Date, time, location of graduation?	Get to meet my classmates	Take time from work Expensive! Stressful If I attend graduation, I would want my 4 daughters there also. It is not likely they could attend and I would be disappointed.

Select the Choice That Seems to Best Meet the Needs of the Situation

Based on the information I have at this time, the better choice seems to be stay home. It is quite possible my classmates will not be attending either. I will still (I hope) graduate and get a diploma, but I won’t have the expense and stress.

Implement a Plan of Action and Then Monitor the Results, Making Necessary Adjustments

My plan at this point is to stay home and be envious of my classmates. If it turned out that my daughters could (and would) attend with me, I might reconsider my decision—especially if I knew some of my classmates would be there too!

Assignment 4.2 – Personal Development Journal

Completing the various learning style assessments has been a strong learning experience for me. On the VAK assessment I am Auditory; on VARK I am Read/Write; on the Felder assessment I am Sensing, Verbal, Sequential, and Balanced Active/Reflective. Although it may seem contradictory, they all kind of work together. Obviously I am not 100% on any of them, but rather a blend of all of them. For instance, I thought the Auditory and Verbal ones were off—I sometimes get confused by verbal information and I am definitely not a polished speaker. But I do focus on the task at hand, like sequential and specific bits of information, can memorize well (but not for as long as I used to), process information methodically, and prefer concrete information.

After digesting all the information describing my learning styles, it became apparent to me that just reading the text isn’t enough for me to understand everything. Just a lecture is not sufficient either. If I try and take notes during a lecture, I cannot focus on what is being said and I get lost. If I were in a classroom situation, I think a lecture accompanied by a written outline of points would be ideal. Since I take an online class, that is not an option. I am going to try reading the text (out loud when necessary) and writing down points I need to research further.

I understand now why I read out loud (to myself) when I am having difficulty understanding the material, and talk myself through the steps when I try to complete a process I am not very familiar with. I couldn’t figure out why I like clear, concise (and verbal) directions or explanations; but if someone starts giving me a lot of information quickly and in random order, I am totally lost. There is more to figure out, but I think I am on the right path. I hope to use this new insight to be able to communicate with people better—both on a personal and professional level. If I don’t understand what I heard, I need to ask for clarification and not just feel lost. Likewise, when speaking to others, I need to make sure I was clear in what I said, or if I left them dazed and confused.

Assignment 3.3 Blog Post:  Technology—Friend or Foe of Education?

Victor Hugo ROJAS B. made an interesting post to his blog, victorhugor, on July 28, 2009, entitled “The Networked Teacher of the 21^st Century”.  He referred to educators as Networked Teachers due to the fact that they maintain blogs, wikis, video-conferences, social networking, and various other technology-based tools for interactive teaching and learning. He maintained that personality and teaching styles are not enough to consider an educator well-rounded; technology must be integrated into a teacher’s daily routine. My question:  Is technology a friend or foe of education?

Technology is beneficial to education in countless ways. My personal favorite is the online classroom. Since January 2006, I have earned a 2-year certificate of completion in Office Management, an A.A.S. degree in Information Technology, and I’m working on a BS in Adult Education; I have had only three classes in a traditional classroom. Online classes enable students who would otherwise be unable to attend college due to job, family, and other obligations or restrictions earn a degree. We have soldiers all over the world (and on ships and submarines) that take classes.

Technology is also a great study aid for students. Word processing software is much easier than pen and paper. Information on any topic is at their fingertips in seconds! Nowadays, they don’t even need a computer—just a cell phone. Gone are the days spending hours at the library poring over books and encyclopedias. Students can even purchase an eBook instead of a paper textbook.  

Technology and computers are a big help to instructors also. There are endless resources and instructional aids available online. Need a video to demonstrate a task? Try YouTube.  Have a student that just doesn’t seem to learn from your lectures? Check out tips for visual learning styles. Speaking of learning styles, computers can be used to provide lessons that would be suitable for different styles. The teacher can present a colorful PowerPoint that incorporates pictures and graphs, narration, and written bullets. Students can read information on the computer, or listen to tutorials and lectures, or watch a demonstration.

So it looks like technology in education is perfect, right? Not quite. Like most arguments, there are two sides. Consider this sentence: “My too friends went two the store to get gifts fore they’re dads.”  Isn’t Spellcheck great! I have noticed that some students rely on it a little too much.  And as much as I love online classes, I cannot tell you how many times I have been stressed and frustrated because I could not access class or do research for an assignment because the Internet was not working. And yes, the computer is a great research tool; but I have noticed that students “working” in the classroom aren’t always working on assignments.

There are several articles available online about texting affecting communication skills, spelling skills, and writing skills. I chose to read Texting Affects Communication Skills” by Superintendent A. Barbara Wheeler of Kent Count Public Schools. She points out that while technology has some positive aspects, there are also negative aspects: children playing video games and texting instead of physical activity outside; children (and adults) texting each other (in the same room) instead of having actual conversations; parents not communicating with their children face to face; and the destruction of the English language with LOL, OMG, where r u, etc. The article ends with this statement, “Our challenge in school, as well as at home, is not to fight technology because it is here to stay; but school personnel will play a critical role in channeling technology in the direction of quality teaching and learning. Parents must insist that children understand the appropriate use of technology and the significant impact that poor judgment can cause.” I think that statement perfectly sums up how technology should be considered by educators. You can read the entire article at: http://www.kent.k12.md.us/index.php?otion=com_content&view=article&id=555:texting-affects-communication-skills&catid=54:superintendent&ltemid=188.