Module 4

A Moment of Madness

No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness.
-Aristotle

Yikes this week has been very intense!  It has been a frenetic, mad, amazing, invigorating mess.    I’ve learned so much this past week.  I’m trying things I normally wouldn’t do.  I’m gathering a collection of great information from everyone in the class.  I’m getting fantastic ideas for the classroom.  It’s been both a confusing and enlightening experience.  Therefore I thought Aristotle’s quote summed up my feelings of the course so far.  I’m learning amazing things, but it’s a wild and crazy ride.  There’s times when I’m completely overwhelmed and frustrated.  After some reflection, I’ve concluded that the following issues are adding to my ‘madness’:

1. Amount of Course Content

I feel that the course is a complete transplant of the same format and information coverage from a 14 week online course.  I understand it’s in a condensed and accelerated format, but I don’t think the on campus course takes in consideration that we need time to review and digest.  A concept is explained to us and the next thing I know we’re doing research, while the concept has just barely solidified in my mind.  We start at point A and before I reach to point B, we’re already at point C.  I’m lost.  I’m not sure if that mean I’m slow or lack the background knowledge in the theoretical concepts we’re investigating or that it’s an unrealistic amount of information we’re expected to cover in just 3 weeks.

2. Centralized Location for Information

I find the constant switching of windows and programs frustrating and distracting.  I’m losing focus.  I appreciate the recording of our thoughts into a digital format for easy access and retrieval later on, but I feel like I’m being pulled into multiple directions and locations.  I’m constantly trying to check my blog, Jenny’s blog, other classmates’ blogs, my twitter, our pearltrees, researching online articles about the concepts we’re discussing in class, reading links that other people have put up.  Where should I be looking or reading?

3. Discussion Format

I feel the course it not taking full advantage of having the entire class physically in person with face to face interactions.  We’re having great discussions within our groups but we’re lack a debriefing or reviewing portion.  We’re posting our findings online, reading them and then reflecting on them.  So how is that different from what I would be doing in an online course?  Since we’re meeting at the same time and place every day, I think it would be more meaningful bringing items into a discussion, i.e. doing research beforehand and discussing them in a group or as a class rather than the other way around.

Sorry that this blog has been my venting session.  This has not been a criticism on Jenny.  I think she’s great and I’m very engaged in class.  It’s just Jenny has the unfortunate task to teach a course topic itself that is a difficult and is continually evolving.

I’ll try to take the course in stride and do the best that I can.  Can’t wait to see what our next class brings!