Moving On Towards A New Journey

Well I have just completed my Final Presentation and am now considered a Graduate of Full Sail University. I will now embark on new journeys that will hopefully take me far beyond my wildest dreams.

Post to this blog from this day forward will be now about the Journey of my life, the friends I will make, my career search, my family and all that touches me to share with you.

Stayed tuned to see where this Journey takes me.

Who Has Time to Learn About Time Management?

I am at the end of the Beginning and going crazy. I have spent all month doing presentations and now I am required to do just two more and my mind is blank. I need to learn how to organize my time, but I can't find any time to do it. I had to laugh at myself.

I'll get it done and will be successful with the projects completion I hope. :+)

 

This comic is courtesy of http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/o/organizing.asp.

Education Media Project Development: Activity - Discussion Board Wk 1

Review courses Month 1-11:

·       Likes/dislikes:

·       How they apply to your capstone project

·       How they apply to your phases.

·       How did they help change your practice or environment?

Month 1 - MLR

I particularly enjoyed the discussion assignment from the Max Roosevelt article regarding a teacher’s expectations on students and What is more important: Effort or quality? This course was the introduction to what a Literature Review was all about so it helped start the mindset of preparation for the capstone and cycles.

Month 2 – MLT

The information in Eric Jensen’s ‘Brain Based Learning’ and Gardner’s ‘Multiple Intelligence’ book was interesting. I was really nervous creating my first podcast and website seeing that I could create an actual website was challenging but I loved it. The group and the team project that was created was a great experience (Group Project MLT@FSO website: http://www.drjuderathburn.com/MLT_Matters_at_FSO/Corporate.html).

I did, however, show struggle with synthesizing and understanding how to write and research for a Literature Review. When I received grades I didn’t think I deserved I was devastated. The Professor felt I just didn’t grasp the total meaning of the topic. So my most meaningful moments stemmed from the worst moments of this month.

Despite all the obstacles and the mistakes; no matter what life brought my way I couldn’t and wouldn’t let it steal my joy. So the meaningful lessons I learned was exactly what it means, what it took to be determined and reach for my goals. I learned that I have to push through it and just keep putting forth the effort to a greater outcome. There is a saying that goes, “You’re only responsible for the effort not the outcome”. Well whoever said that sure wasn’t taking a Masters Degree. (SMILE)

Month 3 – TMD

I enjoyed creating the music video and the Interview Use of Technology video Project with my students. This is when I realized my students had a great talent for writing and singing rap.

I had to wrap myself around being assigned a group each and every month during this point. At times it was difficult to get to know one another in a short period of time with various variables that could cause dilemmas for the group individually. I eventually learned to be more patient and understanding.

As far as the capstone, Month 3 focused on realizing the importance of an Action Research and what steps were necessary to help ensure that my results would make a difference in a real world environment or current practice. I can’t say this course has had a direct impact on my ARP but it has indirectly aided in my thought process and has increased my experience on the types of media and tools I used to create my Action Research Project.

My initial Action Research project started out with corporate business. My problem statement was Professional Development in a Corporate Setting Through Distance Learning (see Month 3 of AR). Though, before moving to Daytona Beach, FL I lost my job so around September 30, 2010 I was advised to change my AR Project because I did not have an intervention to develop data.

Month 4 – ETC

This class was the introduction to blogging. After this class, however, there was a large gap where we didn’t use it. I have grown to love my blog and have intentions to continue it after graduation. I also enjoyed Michael Wesch’s thoughts and theories on teaching, confronting the crisis of finding out what motivates a person to want to learn.

In October 2010, I began my Action Research Topic, “Engaging At-Risk Students: Integrating Technology To Build Their Self-Esteem” along with reflections about the assignment. Here I started to learn how to formulate the references for my Literature Review. The weekly ETC reading assignments came in handy for Month 11.

Month 5 - EDE

Here I had finally gotten a better grasp on the goals, learning objectives, and instructional approach for my ARP. This course was tough but educationally informative as far as the Action Research goes.This course for me has been like a good hard workout. You break a sweat, your breathing heavily, at times your body feels like it just won’t go on. You find a way through it and a few hours later your done. The areas you’ve worked on are tight and sore, you can barely move those same muscles that just got you through. At the end of the day, however, you feel great inside because that pain lets you know that you worked your tail off and if you keep it up the outcome will be worth it all.

Month 6 - DME

What I didn’t expect was that I would be taking a medical leave. My absence and their lack of drive had pushed them back a few steps. I did not like the difficulties I had with Adobe Flash. I disliked the setbacks that came up.

Month 7 - MUS

I am glad about this class because it had given me some great ideas to use in working with the students musically. Actually I loved this class so much. It got my motor runnin’ again. Learning to create music and add it to my poetry then share that with the kids was great. I disliked the feeling of not being able to properly help the students.

Month 8 – FPE

Another great recharge class. I simply enjoyed the discussions and analysis of filming. My instructor Emily Wray was and is a positive influence. Great class. It seemed that there was a certain amount of patience one must have in the field of Filmmaking. I have been blessed to be a patient soul, but in dealing with some of the students emotional issues and those of my own FPE taught me to dig a bit deeper in my understanding and teaching of these four students.

Month 9 – GSM

Gaming Strategies and Motivation had contributed to my understanding of how to find lessons in everything we do and how we live. I initially looked at games from an entertainment standpoint unless specifically marketed as a learning tool. Later I then learned the social and educational benefits of gaming. Then there was the first introduction to instructor Jason Gillett who was and is like a permanent smiley face that reminds you to have fun in life.

Month 10 – LMO

The learning process was met not only for the students but myself as well.

Month 11 - MAC

I enjoyed this class for getting me more engaged in blogging. Of course being the class right before the last class of the year was also a plus. (SMILE)

For me, I think Month 1-11 meant that I would remember from now on that I am bigger than all the issues I had and those I will surly face. I will learn from my mistakes and others. I am the learner and the teacher. I am the Dreamer and I am Determined.