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  • Writer's pictureShaneigh Smith

Better Together: 5303/5313 Contribution to My Learning Community

Updated: Nov 26, 2023

This post reflects my contributions to my learning and the learning community for 5303 and 5313. As I reflect on my time in both courses, my self-assessment is as follows: 


5303 Applying Educational Technology - ePortfolio: 97/100

5313 Creating Significant Learning Environments: 97/100


My collaborative group for both 5303 and 5313 includes myself, Lauren Blasdel, Mattheiu Brooks, Deena Fell, and Lance Moran. This group has continued to be a phenomenal group to work with. Their continuous support through these classes has been vital to my success in the program. 





What Worked Well?

As we began our second round of classes for 5303 and 5313, our group consistently convened via Zoom every Monday or Wednesday, depending on our schedules. In these sessions, we delved into various aspects of the class, addressing due dates, assignment requirements, discussion posts, concerns, and successes. Additionally, we maintained an ongoing GroupMe thread, serving as a convenient platform for promptly sharing our completed ePortfolio final assignment links. This way of communication was beyond important as it was a way for us to quickly provide feedforward and serve as each other’s cheerleaders!


Furthermore, our collaborative efforts were reinforced through a shared Google Doc. Unlike in previous courses where I took on the leadership role of creating and maintaining the document, Matthieu stepped up this round to establish our 5303/5313 Google Doc. His dedication to consolidating all necessary information in one place for both courses allowed me to concentrate and stay organized (thanks, Matt!). Witnessing everyone's progress and projects was an enjoyable aspect of our collaboration. Being part of a group comprised of like-minded and passionate educators has truly been a rewarding experience.


In addition to collaborating with my ADL group regularly for both 5303 and 5313, I also enjoyed discussing and reading others’ opinions in the discussion posts. I committed much of my time to exploring the content as the readings, videos, and supporting resources were enjoyable for me. The content was not only interesting, but it made me reevaluate and question my perspectives on the realms of learning and education. 


Furthermore, in 5303, I appreciated the time to update my ePortfolio. It was nice to be able to explore different aesthetics and layouts. With this time, I was able to add an “About Me” page, update the ADL page, and categorize/tag my blog posts.   





What Could Be Better? 

Although I found participating in discussion posts enjoyable, I regret not spacing them out more effectively. The pressure to write posts for both classes consecutively, especially since they were both due on Wednesdays, created unnecessary stress. Had I allocated time earlier in the week for at least one post, I believe I could have managed the workload more smoothly.


Additionally, in 5303, I received feedback concerning the creation of my 5303 page. In response, I revisited the task and successfully integrated it into my ePortfolio.


Contributing to Learning and the Learning of the Community

Across both 5303 and 5313, I maintained a consistent presence in Dr. Grogan and Dr. Singh's Zoom meetings. During these sessions, I actively engaged by attentively listening, taking detailed notes, participating in break-out room discussions, posing questions, and fostering enriching conversations with my classmates.


In addition to my collaborative group interactions, I proactively sought out fellow students who had previously taken 5313, seeking additional clarification on assignments. These individuals generously shared their ePortfolios as valuable examples. Moreover, I demonstrated a high level of commitment to the course readings. I went the extra mile by printing much of the material, allowing me to annotate for upcoming assignments and enhance my learning experience.

Overall, I take pride in the contributions I've made, particularly given the external stressors in my life during this 8-week period. However, my journey would have been significantly less enjoyable and rewarding without the unwavering support of my group. Deena, Lauren, Lance, and Mattheiu have exhibited exceptional dedication and a willingness to share. I am thrilled to say that this has been another round of successful collaboration!

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