Today I was reflecting on the tongue-lashing we got from Dr. Jules.  610 words, not including the bibliography!! But really, I think we deserved it!!  There has been so much complaining and we have not been pulling together as "responsible pastors, elders and teachers", and we have not really been requesting his help when we encounter difficulties.  Seems like we have not even been talking to each other!  We have a long road ahead towards completion of this venture, hope we'll all improve.

Today I was asked to write a reference for a colleague who is about to pursue a Master's degree from another school.  She said that classes will be held on Saturday's from 8-4 and that the degree will be granted in 1 1/2 years. Hmmm!!  Sounds like one of those courses where when you pay, you pass!!

Oh my! This has been a really, really, interesting week at HFU!  It seems the complaining reached new heights, the class was in shambles, and more persons were at the brink of dropping out! Thankfully things look better now. Yeah!  Our professor has bent over backwards and adjusted the course - again!  Assignment 3:1 has been moved down and incorporated into Assignment 4:1.  Yes!  Giving us 2 weeks (unheard of!) to complete this assignment.   This should give all of us enough time, even for me, who must do this type of digital storytelling for the first time! Thanks. But then again, I'm sure I'm not the only one, and help is only an e-mail away. Although this is a weighty course, I must agree that there should be no reason for anyone to fail - given the professor's willingness to be flexible and to work with us!

I read a brochure at my workplace advertising online masters courses from a particular school.  The brochure said that courses would be taken on weekends and the degree could be earned in 2 years.  I thought immediately that this school must be offering pretty light stuff!  After all we seem to be constantly going! However I was not tempted to even consider this school.  What we're doing in our school might indeed be tough, especially with a full workload, but I would prefer to earn my degree and to know that it  is worth something and will equip me to make a valuable contribution someplace. Thanks HFU.

I've been thinking about this for a while, like about 3 weeks or so!  Concerning classes at HFU - I really like the schedule that has been posted - alternating 2 courses at once now, then another 2 courses next semester, followed by 1 course in the semester after that.  I can live with that, since it allows us to finish the course in a shorter time.  Yeah!  But what I've been mulling over is this - EDOL 620 has been a very intense course - manageable but rigorous.  The proof of this has been the number of casualties!  So I'm thinking that this particular course should have been a stand-alone course - offered by itself.  I think this would have been easier for all of us.  As it is, combined with another course where the course deadlines do not coincide, it feels like we are going full tilt all the time with no possible way to catch our breaths.

Note:  This is not a suggestion for HFU to timetable their courses as single offerings.  This would not suit me.  That would take too long to finish!  But a heavyweight course like this one, should be one that is offered by itself.  I really can't visualize any of the other single course offerings being weightier than this one!  But who knows, I just might be in for a rude awakening!

I'm a little calmer today.  Since the team project is what it is, we'll just have to see what we can do.  Needed first though is a topic!  Urgently!  We're using today to all think about one.

Just when I thought it was going to be clear coasting to the end of Module 3 of EDOL 620 in HFU, here comes another spanner thrown into the works!  The team project we thought was a fairly simple power point presentation has now morphed into designing a 5-module course, with lesson plans, assignments, and critical analysis! Brutal! And with only a few weeks to go too!  And the thing is I did not even know about this change until our team meeting - to discuss what turns out to be the old project!!!  I was completely unprepared for this - could not even think of an alternative topic to what I had already been mulling over for the past 2 weeks or more!  There ought to be a law (or something anyhow) about changing like this in the middle of a rigorous online course!!  What is this - a test to see who can remain standing?  Almost feels like I should give up too!!

Our team's decision was to do the best we can.  Thank God for pastors who have integrity.  I just needed to let off steam!!  Especially since my teammates think this kind of project should be so easy for me.  Really?

HFU courses continue.  Module 2 was pretty intense, but not as bad as it was touted to be!  The mind map was time-consuming but doable.  It reinforced the concept of "showing, not telling". This concept I would like to use more with my own students.  Some of them are far more artistic than I am!  I'm also questioning students more in order to increase their depth of knowledge, as well as sending them to do more research (and submit it to me), now that I'm aware of the breadth of information that can be accessed so easily.

Quite a few fellow students were brought to their knees by this module (coupled with additional work from another course).  Shocking to see who some of them were!  I survived somehow. Yeah!!  I think perhaps that even though both courses have their modules for a 2-week period, the deadlines are not the same, leading to a feeling of continually 'running'.  Coupled with work, home, church and personal responsibilities it's a little difficult trying to remember which deadline belongs to which course!   Something else to 'discuss' with HFU maybe!!  Module 3 looks easier (thank God) and more interesting - selecting software and tools for online learning.  HFU has notified us that they will continue to alternate 2 courses with one course offering to speed up the program. Yeah again!  The idea of finishing early appeals to me, so I'll embrace the challenge.

A really tough week this week!  General elections here, final exams for Grade 12, External exams for graduating students, HFU regular coursework + hammering out topics for team projects + topic selection for cumulative project, and on, and on, and on!  To quit or not to quit?  Why did we choose these courses again? Those are the questions!  But wait - I think I know! Dig a little deeper still :)

My reflections - week 2

There is an ad frequently aired on television here in my country.  (The ad tries to promote the importance of pap smears for women!)  Anyway it goes something like this - "I always thought women of a certain age ...................... Now I know"

I always thought the best education could be obtained in prestigious schools.  Now I know that an excellent education can be obtained even in a school that few people know about - like HFU!  A seasoned teacher am I, but I'm still learning new concepts to aid the delivery of information to my students.  An example - school was cancelled here on Monday due to inclement weather.  On Wednesday's I teach a class, including a boy who is 'challenged' in terms of behavior and focus.  This child gives me no problems because he sits next to my computer and is allowed to 'run' any presentations I am giving.  He wants to know how much more computer learning we can do!

The point of this story?  On Wednesday, the principal decided to run Monday's schedule to compensate for the lost time.  The young man met me in the hallway to tell me that he was angry at the principal because he was no longer able to see me on that day as he had anticipated!

Back to HFU.  The courses are becoming more challenging - as they should, but I just dig a little deeper within myself!  Facilitating in HFU's course has been good - new concepts/content  dangled before us (like carrots before a horse) - we choose to reach for them or not!  Background technical support is very good and very prompt - helping to reduce frustrations.

Learn on!

Thanks Professor Jules.  Although I'm just learning.  OTJ - on the job as they say!