5313 & 5389 Score: 97/100
Oooo-ver halfway there!
As I entered the third semester of the ADL graduate program, I continued to take the role of learner and leader seriously. Approaching my first classes, I knew how to navigate Blackboard, how I intended to organize my files, and I had a plan to conquer the reading list. I also knew my classmates well and continued to work collaboratively with them throughout our time together. I wasn’t, however, prepared for the heavy workload. We had so many assignments due in 5313. Also, the assignments we did for 5389 were so time intensive and robust. And of course, life doesn’t stop just because I’m attending grad school.
Key Contributions
Glows & Grows
Glows:
My biggest glow was my commitment to myself and my implementation plan. This looked like intentional connections to my implementation plan with my work in 5313 and 5389. It also looked like connecting 5313 and 5389 together. Because I work with adults, my Alternative Professional Learning plan in 5389 is the same plan I outlined in the Three Column Table and Understanding by Design assignments. Finally, I also turned in my assignments on the early side most of the semester so that I could support others. I felt that while the assignments were many and robust, I was able to grasp them enough to support others.
Grows:
The workload this semester helped me to reflect on my main goals as I work through the ADL program:
- Build confidence: I can implement my plan innovatively! I know that I have the right pieces in place.
- Increase flexibility: I am going to listen to feedforward regarding my innovation plan for the paperless office. It will keep me from getting stuck. I definitely have room for improvement here.
Both goals were consistent with my work in 5305, 5303, 5302, and 5304. As I grow as a leader, I will continue to build confidence in my abilities. Also, I will continue to hold my ideas loosely that I am open to change. That way, I can refrain from getting stuck.
Another area of growth I noticed this semester was fatigue. As it is our third semester, it is important that I continue to take care of myself. They don’t call it “The Messy Middle” for nothing!
Collaboration
I continue to be a proud participant of two collaborative groups for 5313 and 5389. The larger group consists of Charlie, Kelvin, Ileana, Erica, Andrea, Kim, Stephen, Danielle, Pedro, Andre, and others. I am a self-identified empath. That is, I enjoy helping others so much that I have to work to identify my own needs. This semester, I kicked up my involvement in the larger group even more than last semester. Not only did I share my class with everyone in our chat, but I also heavily supported my peers with questions. Finally, I shared templates that I created for my assignments with several of my classmates.
I want to give a special shout-out to Kelven Wilson and Andrea Harrell in our larger group. They both heavily stepped up their game by supporting peers and sharing learning resources.
In our smaller group, I continue to grow my professional and personal friendships with Stephen and Kim. The three of us – coined by Stephen “The Three Amigos” – rarely go a day without chatting. I continue to grow with each assignment we share. I found it interesting that all three of us struggled with fatigue during this semester. We all have very different challenges in our lives, yet we all faced the same level of exhaustion. Regardless, without their moral and intellectual support, I am certain I wouldn’t have performed as well. I’m grateful for their friendship on this path.
To continue to hone my collaborative skills, I am going to consider taking notes and sharing them with everyone in the course in Blackboard.
Revisions
I made revisions constantly based on comparison and feedforward from my peers and from class, 1-on-1 meetings, and feedforward from Dr. Sue, Dr. Still, and Creighton. Examples include:
- As I tighten up my ePortfolio for my final grade, I improved my front page.
- I made small improvements on each assignment for 5313 and 5389.
- Finally, my drafts were continually changing with the support and feedforward of my group.
This semester, I read every book, watched every video that I found, and read most of the other required readings listed in the Classroom Modules in Blackboard. My intention in grad school – and in life really – is to keep learning, reading, reflecting, and connecting as long as I can. I see this as a constant need for improvement. I met all of the various course deadlines.
Supporting Contributions
Leadership Responsibility, Participation, and Communication
I’ve mentioned my love of writing in past Contributions to Learning. My blogs continue to be the basis of my learning in ADL – the opportunity to reflect and connect “dots,” or big ideas. By modeling my learning process, I believe I help others grow. Not a week goes by without a comment on one of my discussion board posts about how much someone enjoys my writing or how much they learned. That’s not to brag, more to reflect the importance of the active role I take in my own learning. Really, the active (or inactive) role any of us takes in our learning.
As I said, I love to write. However, I feel like I am unable to put into words how much the ADL program means to me. The connections I make – from people to ideas – continue to push me to be a better leader, communicator, and person.