The logistics of group work can sometimes be a challenge, but more often than not, it is incredibly stimulating! I tend to think of it as building a mosaic; each member brings with them a unique set of skills and new ways of thinking. When you figure out how to make these different facets of skill and experience fit together, the results can be mind-expanding and the final picture can become much richer for it. : )

This very much describes how I felt about our rubric project. We were fortunate to agree on a base framework early on, then we each came up with a number of questions and aspects of importance to research. We started quite wide in scope, then we narrowed it… then we widened it again. It was a great experience. We decided that it was important to keep a systems-based framework that addressed important overall goals, reworking this where needed, and adding/tailoring important facets that directly applied to our context. We were hoping for a balanced approach that considered both the micro/macro levels. We also decided to make the sheet into a worksheet that can be printed and actually used to evaluate and compare LMS’s (each LMS gets a page to evaluate it, then these pages can be compared to weigh out the decision).  Since we were identified as members of the YesNet’s LTAC (Learning Technologies Advisory Committee) our rubric is geared towards the LTAC team.The sheet provides an opportunity to give an overall numerical score and observational notes regarding how each LMS addresses each specific criteria. Some minor inspiration was also taken from other systems/software/usability rating scales like the SUS scale and SSM.

The main takeaways for me are that it’s difficult to be narrow and comprehensive at the same time. Perhaps this balance is important in order to be flexible and transferable? Also, if two or more approaches work well perhaps they can help inform one another? A hybrid approach can be used in some cases too, although this is a bit scary to tackle. I also realized that it is difficult to take into account the needs of all stakeholders involved so I’m glad that we were a multifaceted team.

Anyway, that’s my thought bubble for today. Many thanks to my group and I hope we did well!