Assessing Digital Learning and Instruction (EDLD-5315) Grade:85

Resources for Digital Environments (EDLD-5317) Grade: N/A

This eight-week section was a different change of pace from the first eight weeks within the ADL program. I will say that I did like that both classes (5315 and 5317) were very similar in aspect, dealing with research. During this eight-week term I worked within a cohort that included Adaliz, Paula, and Thaddeus, utilizing them more than I did within my last two ADL classes. I started out with the same research question for both classes before receiving feedback in 5315 to choose a topic that was not as broad for my action research outline, making the change from “The effect of one-to-one Chromebooks” to “Impact of virtual lab simulations in the Physics classroom”. During my time in 5315 I did not utilize the discussion boards as much as should have and that is reflective in my score. Feedback that I received in both classes helped me in improving my academic writing skills, including my APA citations. With everything that I had going on this term with 5315, 5317, finishing my practicum internship in 5398, and getting prepared for the STAAR I was surprised that I was able to keep ahead of deadlines in both classes. I feel that the work and research that I did in 5315 will help in improving the learning that is going on in my Physics class in the years that I get to teach them but will also help my colleagues. I feel the Literature Review for 5315 is a great companion piece to go with the Publication Article in 5317. Despite both being different assignments, they really do go hand in hand with each other and was very reminiscent of assignments that I had to do for my undergraduate degree. I will say that I enjoyed the way discussion board entries were handled in 5317 with have you work with your cohort on answering different questions through a shared document or video conference. As Dr. Harrison stated in class I felt that I got more out of the discussions than the typical post and reply to two posts method. Through the different approach to discussion boards, I also felt that I had more of an interaction with my cohort members than I had in the first eight-week term. I will say that if I had to do it again, I would have chosen with my group to have recorded conversations for the discussion boards entries and not have done the Google Doc, because I feel that it would give a more honest and real discussion the just posting comments to answers. At the end of 5317 despite the feedback that I have received on my rough draft and how I feel about my final draft, I do not think at this point I could bring myself to publish. Now that could change down the line but right now, I do not think I am there yet. As this term comes to a close, I have enjoyed both of these classes but I am glad to be finally done with school.