October 29, 2005 - Week Eight 1/2

Wow, we have our second site visit on Thursday. I don't know how the teachers do it! The classrooms are small and the student needs are demanding. One teacher, one assistant and 4 or more students. If the teacher is lucky they get two assistants. Experienced teachers spend over 40 hours per year per student completing assessments. A new teacher will spend 70 or more hours.

I think we got a lot of information that will get us started in the right direction. First, we were told to seek out the administrators. The people who get the portfolios each year and have them steer us to the excellent portfolios. Then we can read over those and get lesson plans and tips that we can map to the SOL's and compile for the website. Second, all teachers want it quick, simple and short. They don't have time for a lot of reading and trying to figure out what we are saying. Third, most teacher won't have time to help us, we will have to us the Administrators, T/TAC staff and possibly graduate students. Fourth, they all want exemplar examples. If the lesson plan won't give them a 4 out of 4 we shouldn't use it. But, this will give the teachers the opportunity to tweak plans. That's just the beginning and we don't have a lot of time. We will have to focus on one or two things that will give us the biggest bang for our buck. As the consultants say, "look for the low hanging fruit".

So, this project will be more work than previously thought, but in the end we will have learned alot about dealing with different people.

I decided my project for 732 will be Alternative Medicine - Cognitive Flexibility Hypertext Model.

October 27, 2006 - Week Eight

It's starting to come togehter a little more. I'm feeling more comfortable with my team and we get things done. I like that. Working on the PA was great because we have a system of assigning work amongst each other. This works and saves time, we can then come together and reveiw the work, add and edit documents as we see fit. I think establishing a yahoo group was the best possible idea. It allows everyone to contribute there ideas without any judgement as to good or great, but we build on what's there to make the doucments better. I also think it helps each one of us learn the various steps in the ADDIE model.

We've finally gotten a better idea of what we should actually be working towards. We hoped it would be more than developing webpages and it is! We will actually have to work hard and smart to get this project done. We have to map the SOL's to the lesson plans. This isn't an easy task, because teachers have not mapped to the new SOL standards. We will have to figure out how to get the already overburdened teachers to assist us with lesson plans and other tips, tools they are currently using.

We assigned roles for each team members, but I think we all kind of do what is needed to get assignments done on time. I was assigned the PR contact. But, it's a dual role since we don't want the SME's to be confused since another team member was the PR contact earlier.

This month I worked on and gave input on several projects for my team: personas, emailing SME's for information, attending work shops and compiling and analyzing survey results. I think we've done a great job! My team rocks.

October 12, 2005 - Week Six

This week has been great for learning. I am finding the work on PCD very interesting. I find these readings to be clearer and can I identify with them.

My team works well together. We were very happy to find that our "Briefing Report" was on target. Great WORK you all!

Classes are going well. The reading is getting better, but still a lot to learn. There's still so much to do. Projects, projects, projects. I've got to decide what my subject will be for 797 and 732.

September 29, 2005 - Week Four 1/2

Wow, this week was hard. I tried to be in class all day, but wasn't able to sit for that long. I was very disappointed on Thursday because the schedule stated that Dr. Clark's class was 1-3, but it was 10 - 12 and I missed it.

I spent four hours the night before proofreading, editing and formatting the PA document that the team worked on, just to come to class and see that they reformatted the document. I'm frustrated working with the team as I don't feel a connection with them, nor do I feel they value my input, which is strange since I am the only person on the team who has experience in the field, I have worked with Instructional Designers, trainers and facilitators, taken numerous courses on the same elements which we are working with not to mention the fact that I've met and socialized with some of the authors of the books we are reading.
I will continue to be deligent, and work with the team for which I have been assigned.

I felt an aha moment this week. I am understanding the readings and begining to see how things connect. I am no expert, but I do feel I can work on a project and see it through with some assistance.

I still feel overwhelmed but not a much as before.