What is going well in the course?

The best thing right now is that we are almost done.  Seriously, I have enjoyed much of what we have done in this class.  I feel like our publication is pretty good.  I had never used Publisher before and it is really easy to use.  I hope to use it some in my work for sending out an annual update/report to campus departments, or something like it.

What is going not so well in this course? Frustrations

I think the thing that I am most frustrated about is my team project and cooperation.  Being that there are only two of us now, we must shoulder a bigger load and I am a little disappointed in my teammate.  In most classes where there is team work, I am used to communicating almost everyday.  My partner doesn’t communicate but about once a week.  Here it is Sunday night and I sent revisions to our publication to him on Friday and still haven’t heard back from him.  I am not trying to point any fingers, just a frustration on my part in that I’m used to communicating very frequently on team projects.

Your accomplishments:

As I mentioned earlier, I feel like I did a fairly good job on the publication but know that I could do better, in fact with every revision I learned a couple of more new tricks.  The whole constructivist project has been very interesting, first of all, I must say that I am very impressed with many aspects of Wal-Mart and there corporation, on the other hand, I do feel like they could do a better job, and I think they are with the environmental issues that have faced them.  However, from an educational standpoint, for a company to provide over $45 million in educational support, this is a group that we must support.

Your life as an online learner:

I continue to struggle with my job, classes (2 right now), family, and church.  Something has to give, so far it has been my golf game and working in my yard (please do not drive by my house), I just got my winter grass planted yesterday afternoon, was putting seed down as it was getting dark, the design should be interesting if I didn’t get it all over.  I have enjoyed my classes for the most part and enjoyed going back to school after an absence of almost 25 years, now that this part of the journey will be completed next summer, we’ll just have to see where and what we do with it.  One never knows where my background will lead us and what new challenges lay ahead.

What is going well in the course?

The only thing right now that seems to be going well is that this class is at the half-way point.  My partner, Edward, seems real nice and I think we are working together as a 2-person group well.

What is going not so well in this course? Frustrations

The frustrating thing right now is that we have lost 2 members of our group since we started this project and it is now down to only 2 people. That and I feel that the course is a little bit disorganized from the standpoint of assignment due, dates, and instructions on some of the assignments. A couple of forms and readings I could not find the information without doing a search inside our class area.

Your accomplishments:

I have completed my concept map and I am almost completed with my individual project (Web Quest).  I’m not sure if I’m on target with the WQ but it is definitely something I hope to use in my work with faculty and staff.

Your life as an online learner:

My life is always on the go, with work (and I’ve just lost my best technician to a better paying job in the district) and the changes there. I was informed this week that I will be reporting to a different Vice President and that there will probably be some changes coming down. I am not opposed to change, but change without discussion can be dangerous when no one knows my business like I do. My kids are both away at school out-of-state and so wanting to see them but can’t really take off from school is the pits.  I will be happy to be done so that I will have some freedom from classes, but I will be glad to finish what I started 5 years ago.

What is going well in the course?

That is a good question as I am not really sure. I felt like I got a decent score from my scholarly paper and was pleased with that. When I had to do my first paper after starting this program and I was instructed to use APA style, I had no idea what they were talking about, it scared me to death, but now I feel like I am starting to get the hang of it. I am looking forward to our group project; I think we have a pretty good group. I have always enjoyed working with groups for on-line as it is almost the only way to get to know others in the class.

What is going not so well in this course? Frustrations

I think the only frustration that I have right now is that I feel I am behind after being gone for all of last week. I will have to work extra hard to get caught up and I am starting another class (face-to-face) beginning tomorrow night (Tuesdays) for the rest of the semester.

Your accomplishments:

I have not accomplished this yet but I am looking forward to developing a concept map.

Your life as an online learner:

Sometimes as an online learner you feel as though you don’t have a life. You work all day (anywhere from 8 to 12 hours in a day), come home, turn on the computer and go back “to work” on school stuff. I almost burned out last summer as I was taking 3 classes during one summer session. I thought I was going to lose it but I am glad to have those done. I am coming down towards the end of this degree, I will finish next summer, so I am excited about seeing the finish line and the opportunities that will be afforded me with this new degree.

• Saturday, September 23, 2006 - Journal September 23, 2006