Fall Semester 2008 Review

As I was walking home from the library wednesday night, with my last assignment finished except for proof reading and printing, I began to review in my mind what I learned about myself, the department and the classes I took. 

 

First of all, each day is a great day at USU. I never wanted any day to end, much less the semester. The reading, learning, writing, the occasional lively class room discussions and more importantly, the private discussions with members of our cohort was all wonderful for me. I would come home and write and think into the wee hours of the morning, because I didn't want a day to end. The first bit of good news for me was that as I was walking home, I still felt that way. I am in the library right now getting ready for next semester and can hardly wait. 

 

I think I made a couple of important discoveries for me that have paid off and I believe will continue to pay off. 

 

I read the books over the summer thanks to Joanne and Yanghee. I was afraid that being older, I would put too much pressure on my self, reading this material for the first time during the semester. That was a very very good decision. Driscoll was at first hard reading, and then about chapter 4, something happened and I began to envision Marci, talking to me as if we were sitting together in a study room in the library. It was as if her voice was patiently explaining to me each concept. The topics became really friendly to me. Even if I didn't understand the words or concepts at first. Dick and Carey was also very hard reading. I just couldn't imagine a process for creating instruction being so detailed. Still I persisted and finished that book too. I read every other book I could that Joanne and Yanghee would give me. This really helped

 

The next thing that helped happened about 3 weeks into the semester. As I was reading the material for the second time, I decided that I would not go past a word I didn't understand without looking it up using wikipedia or the dictionary or google. Anything that got me a better understanding of the word quickly. I still don't remember all of the words, but for the moment, it made the rest of the reading of that night really meaningful. Over time as understanding of the jargon improved, I felt I could understand all the readings better. 

 

Learning by doing in Yanghee's class and with Joanne's Peanut Butter Sandwiches was perfect. Something I will use in the future myself. 

 

Brian had us go to the library and that trip opened a whole new world for me. I have downloaded several hundred articles. Of course I haven't completely read them all. I don't understand them all either, but what an amazing resource. 

 

Next came my discovery of Zotero. I still haven't mastered that yet either. But I am able to save stuff and find stuff and that is nice. It doesn't work quite like I would like it to. But I am working hard at making it work better for me. Organizing research is still under development but I think I will figure something out.

 

Brian's field trips were all amazing as were the Wimba's we had. Now that the sound system was improved, what an amazing opportunity to sit at the feet of some pretty amazing people, ask them questions and benefit from their wisdom. 

 

Since I had been reading, for a couple of years before coming here, I already had a feeling for what I wanted to learn more about. I found that his frustrated fellow class members as I repeatedly took opportunities to ask questions about my interests of the Wimba guests we were introduced to. This puzzles me. I think that others are still looking to find something and aren't quite there yet. Perhaps that is it?

 

Brian allowed us to write a paper on a topic of our choosing. That was a great idea and experience for me. It felt like graduate school to get to pursue things, specific things. 

 

I have some observations also where my preconceptions about graduate school turned out to be quite different that what I experienced.

 

Discussion

I expected more lively discussion in class that we had. I enjoy it when someone has a well thought out idea or opinion. It makes me stop and think. It also helps me reflect and clarify my own thinking. Joanne had a great way of promoting this by expecting us to come up with questions from the reading. If we didn't have questions she pulled a name out of a hat and that person was on the spot. So that was good. Brian has us lead class discussions. That was excellent because the teacher learns more than the learner. I found too often people shut down when opinions were voiced.  I know this is to be expected, but I still hoped for something different. 

 

Faculty Mentoring

At the Masters Level, I guess there isn't that much of a student/mentor relationship. We are all still finding our way. And instructors have pressures of their own. I would really enjoy listening in on a faculty discussion on a topic about 4 times a semester. I envision a topic selected and 4-6 faculty members having a friendly discussion about that topic, as interested parties observed. it would give us a much better idea of the thinking of members of our faculty, how they express themselves and where they are coming from. I think stuff like this happens at AETC or AERA. At least I have heard tales about such informal events. Andy told me that the faculty enjoys their autonomy. When I heard that I thought. "Great, I want to see this "autonomy" in action.

 

I had only one experience with Mimi's "opinion" and though I didn't understand what was behind her comments, the comments themselves were sharp, pointed and said in such a way that at least I wished I could have asked her, "Just what do you mean when you say....?"  Perhaps that is part of the PHD experience instead of the Masters one. I don't know yet. But if people on the faculty have different view points, what good are they if the viewpoints are not presented in a way that rounds out a topic for the rest of us? In managing a company, you come to LOVE the difference, because of how many poor decisions it keeps you from making. Autonomy is always valued in a great company. It's just that great organizations, like great families,  also have common space where people agree to agree for the good of the whole. Like clean kitchens and living rooms. I feel sorry for anyone who hasn't experienced a productive balance between private space and common space. In fact, I think private space is often enhanced by well thought out common space. Anyway, I think we would all learn more if we had the chance to observe a polite discussion between ... Well I was going to name names, but that won't do will it? 

 

I learned a great deal from nearly everyone in every class.  That was very helpful to me and gave me good thinking material for my walks home at night.  There were some who were so quiet, I can't say I know them better. I hope to get to know them better this semester.

 

I have become amazed at how much wonderful thinking in our field, never gets to the place where rubber meets the road. That is a huge conundrum for me. Even NASA's ideas and DARPA's eventually help us regular folks. I wonder if that is autonomy going to far, or if academia just attracts a more private reserved crowd? Were Merrill or Wiley the private types?  

 

 

I have so much more to learn. However, as I look back, there has been a lot of learning for me to build on. 

 

Thanks to everyone. Have a Great Christmas, or Holiday Season, New Year.