As the course ends, I am reflecting on the journey I have experienced throughout the first two Applied Digital Learning Program courses at Lamar University. After reviewing the Self-Assessment Marking Guide for the course Concepts of Educational Tech ( 5302), I would give myself a rating of 95. For the Disruptive Innovation (5305) course, I have decided to self-assess my contributions with a score of 45.5. My scores reflect my dedication to the learning process, the significant value I have added to my student learning community, and my personal growth, emphasizing the impact of my contributions.
I engaged actively and diligently in every Zoom session for both courses and took detailed notes for each session. I managed to show up even when Hurricane Beryl knocked out the power in my home. Daily, I collaborated with my team members through email or group chat, and I consistently completed all assignments within the set deadlines. Additionally, I fully engaged with the learning materials by watching the videos, reading the articles, taking notes, and conducting additional research to enhance my understanding of the subject matter. I am maintaining an A in both courses, which is a testament to the time, effort, and engagement I have invested. Whenever I received feedback on my work, I made the necessary adjustments to ensure continuous improvement and growth.
In my reflection, I need to improve my grasp of the APA style format. My innovation proposal grade could have been higher if I had a better understanding of the format at the time. I last wrote an APA-style paper over 20 years ago! Additionally, I recognize the need to enhance my critical thinking skills for the discussion posts. Moving forward, I am committed to approaching my responses and replies to the discussion posts with greater depth and critical thought. I will establish a designated day to focus on the discussions more deeply.
I actively participated in and offered input to our core collaboration team. After posting my introduction on Blackboard, I quickly recognized the significance of engaging in continuous conversations with my fellow students to enrich my learning journey. By the end of the initial week, I became aware of the demanding workload of both courses. I promptly engaged in the group meeting chats, interacting with my peers daily. I provided support and feedback to my team members by sharing resources. I frequently clarified and offered additional insight on assignments I fully understood to help others. For course 5305, Paige E Shaw, Thaddeus R Komorowski, Melissa M Richards, and Nadia A Flores were part of my collaboration group. Joseph Perrone was not initially part of our collaboration group but was very helpful and contributed valuable insight and input in the class chat. Our primary objective was to thoroughly discuss the lesson to ensure that we all gained a clear understanding and had an authentic and enriching learning experience. Patty, Jelisa, Ennija, and Whitney were very helpful as well. The ladies gave feedback on my portfolio and were very encouraging. We all took the same classes and needed extra positivity to push through, even when contemplating dropping the course. One takeaway from this course is to surround yourself with positive, like-minded people who will motivate and push you.
The 5302 and 5305 courses, despite being challenging at times, allowed me to enhance my thinking skills and gain a deeper understanding. People with a fixed mindset tend to doubt themselves and may give up when faced with setbacks, but successful people persist in facing obstacles, which are often hidden opportunities
( Dweck, 2006).
Embracing a growth mindset has improved the effectiveness of collaboration and community in my learning journey. Engaging actively with peers and professionals dedicated to self-directed learning has provided me with the support and drive that will push me beyond the completion of this course. During the initial stages of my coursework, Joseph shared valuable advice after I provided feedback to a group member. His suggestion to take notes while watching videos and reading online content has been a game-changer, allowing me to engage with the material and structure my thoughts critically. This forward-looking guidance has enhanced my performance across both courses and instilled in me a sense of gratitude for the support and advice I've received.
As I acknowledge the areas where I can improve, I am committed to continual growth and progress through self-reflection, actively working with colleagues, making valuable contributions to our professional learning community, and advancing our shared educational goals.
Reference
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Penguin Random House.
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