Comments on Groups Blogs:
Joseph Morris:
Ross Reynolds: Group 2 and Group 5
Janice Miller:
Frances Robinson:
Project
To start the
month we felt like our recipe for the first group project was a success. We worked well dividing the work up, we
all put great detail into our parts, and it really showed. The only thing we feel like we are
still adjusting to APA format, but once we got our feedback from the Leading
Adult and Community Educators paper,
we fill like we learned from our mistakes. Also, Dr. Chang, provided resources about APA format that
would help us correct our mistakes.
For the next project we decided that we
would split up into two groups (Joe and Ross; Janice and Frances) and each
group would pick our own program to research. Joe and Ross would research a program that focused on Adult
Education and Janice and Frances would focus on a program dealing with
Community Education. We felt like
in would be interesting to research to different types of programs so that we
can see commonalities and differences between the two. Joe and Ross settled on Vincennes University
and Janice and Frances settled on ABCD (Assets Based Community
Development). When we were
finalizing our paper it became obvious that we did a poor job communicating. Many factors caused this: half the
group’s career are currently changing so talking to one another through
teleconference did not happen the last week before the paper was due. We felt like this caused a lot of
miscommunication on who was doing which parts. Although we were finally able to finish our paper, we felt
like we could have
done a lot more efficient and provide a
much better product.
Roles for Unique Adult and Community
Education Programs
Joseph Morris: Vincennes University
-
history, organization, implications and
proofreading
Ross Reynolds: Vincennes University
-
locations, educational purposes, and
learners
Janice Miller: ABCD (Assets Based
Community
Development) - locations, educational
purposes, educational perspectives,
learners,
organization, comparison, and implications
Frances Robinson: summary table
Good news is, we felt like we have
learned from this situation and we can develop a much better game plan for the
next project. We’ve already have
had a teleconference and sent multiple emails to one another. We are hoping that we can redeem
ourselves.
Class work
In the past month, in our class
discussions, we started out focusing in on what can effect adult learning and five
important concepts (theories/models/areas) of adult learning which are: andragogy,
self-directed learning, transformation theory, adult development, and
intelligence and memory. We have began to read more about education within
other countries and how different factors such as geographical conditions, demographic characteristics,
Socioeconomic
status, and cultural background globalization affect how adults
participate in education and why they participate. All of these effects and
concepts help us as educators learn the best way to teach individuals who come
from a different background than us, and will greatly improve instruction.
Future
For future class projects, we feel like
we need to do a much better job at communicating with one another through
emailing because we have one member who is going overseas for a few weeks (and
we are excited to see what she learns from programs over there!) and another
group member who started a new in a new location, so her hours of availability
will be different than her previous job.
We are starting to look up some background information for a program
that Janice will be working with overseas. We think we will be able to provide a new perspective about
educational programs that enhance the overall class experience.
Group work is often difficult when you are in the same classroom/space let alone trying to manage it coming from different locations with different schedules and different technology abilities. But either form, it really does come down to continual communication. And not just about the assignment. We are more than just students and it is the rest of our life that impacts what we do as students. I am glad that you have learned from the experience. I am confident that November is going to be awesome for your Group!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being so forthcoming. We all learn from your experience.
Group work is often difficult when you are in the same classroom/space let alone trying to manage it coming from different locations with different schedules and different technology abilities.
Delete---- Exactly!
Bo
Thanks for your transparency in your monthly review. I really appreciated the does of realism conveyed. It is indeed challenging to balance and unfortunately non-income generating communication is often the first to be put on the back burner. I personally have fallen pray to the tyranny of the urgent playing havoc on projects. For me, it is often my family the suffers for it. I don't have a magic answer for everyone, but learning the importance of balance is key for me. If we are out of balance in our lives, something must be removed. Hopefully by our own choice or if not, it happens without our choice and then it is always more damaging. A key to that choice is being frank with oneself and others about what's up as soon as you know it, and in so doing at least warning others of the impeding doom to befall all. Rather dramatic I know, but I really personally would rather be prepared for catastrophe than be hit with it out of the blue. I know sometimes there is no choice.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know why I went this way in my response, but I just wanted to say, that you all seemed committed and organized in your approach and even through it all you have somehow managed to deliver what was needed even if with bumps and bruises on the other side of the projects. That's a good thing!
Thanks Again!
A key to that choice is being frank with oneself and others about what's up as soon as you know it, and in so doing at least warning others of the impeding doom to befall all.
Delete---- Good suggestion! Planning is very important for students to achieve their goals steadily.
Bo
It seems that you have overcome some difficulties, but have managed through them. That is great, and there is a many great learning aspects through experiences like this. In the past I have also collaborated with classmates in the Middle East, Europe, and Japan, and I have been very happy with the results. Not only from getting different perspectives, but also the realization that others are committed to the team also. I also like the positive foot forward that you presented in your last paragraph.
ReplyDelete