Final reflection on participation in ETEC511
Dec 11th, 2010 by pcollins
My participation and contributions in this course were instrumental in facilitating my own learning and the development of a collegial learning community to which I belong. This was an exciting encounter. In the past, my University experience was one of isolation and competition. Perceptibly, this was detrimental to fostering any kind of beneficial learning environment. As such, it was a pleasant surprise to be exposed to what my colleagues were doing and learn from their endeavours. The opportunity to reflect on the readings and share as my understanding as it developed and changed, with other students was beneficial beyond measurement. The way the participation, with my e-learning community, unfolded allowed me to make more connections with students then I have ever been able to with other classes. I think back to my time spent in lecture halls, reading alone in libraries, being intimidated to ask a question in front of an audience of two hundred and juxtapose it with my experience as an e-learner where I was encouraged to share my reflections, participate in academic dialogue and share my progress and it almost feels like two separate lifetimes. I remember my first hesitant attempts to post and dialogue in September – actually sending an email comment to another student instead of posting my thoughts and I get a chuckle at how far I have come. In the past, school work was always a solitary chore: One that was meant to be performed as a means to some elusive end like a journey without a destination. The e-learning community and my participation in it have changed all of that. This journey doesn’t need a destination (although I am hoping to graduate eventually). The learning and discussions that have engaged and revitalized my own practice are fulfilling unto themselves.