I've been home for a few days now from VirtCamp. I definitely miss everyone there.
I've ordered all of my books and I'm hoping that they will arrive in the next couple of days. I also ordered and received Adobe CS4. Bill had mentioned that using Dreamweaver was an easy program to use when building a site. I was so excited when the package was delivered today, but yikes... it takes a while to go through everything. I'm playing around with Fireworks and I'm really liking some of the things I'm putting together. I want to make sure that I do a nice job on my website, even though I know we will be updating and improving the site throughout the year. This is my first time making one from scratch and it's a little scary. Hopefully, I can put something together that is appropriate.
I guess this is yet another time that I have to not worry about it being perfect from the start....it's a difficult task for me, but I will get there. :)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The End of Virt Camp
July 19, 2009
We have completed VirtCamp and as far as I know everyone will be continuing with the program, thankfully. At the end of the day I had a hard time saying goodbye to everyone. I know that we will be in touch online, but it was really great to make those real-life, in person connections with my cadre-mates. I am looking forward to seeing everyone in Orlando.
We presented our projects and I was so excited that our robot went to the top of the obstacle. I was disappointed that our entire cohort didn't get a second chance to coordinate our robots. We didn't have one pass of the lego warrior go smoothly. I really would have like to have had a second go at it. I was feeling a little incomplete that we didn't try again. It's probably part of me that wants to have everything work out perfectly. I don't think I'm a perfectionist completely, but then again, maybe I am sometimes. Everyone worked so hard on their projects and I just wanted our cohort to have the satisfaction of having our robots coordinate. I think if we tried another time it may have worked out or at least one or two of the lego warrior passes may have worked.
I am concerned about my blogs. During out cohort learning circle time Paul reviewed how important these blogs are to our action research projects and the curriculum. Sometimes, I have a difficult time sharing my feelings, especially publicly. I have a difficult time letting people really get to know me and see my feelings. I am pretty sure I know where this fear comes from. I suddenly lost a very close friend when I was in college (I was there when she passed) and it's sometimes difficult for me to build deep relationships and open up completely with many people. I am going to have to get over that fear and be willing to open up. I understand that we need to reflect on the process and reflect on why we are feeling or acting a particular way. I guess this is one of my truly first reflections on why I am feeling fear about the reflection blogs...
We have completed VirtCamp and as far as I know everyone will be continuing with the program, thankfully. At the end of the day I had a hard time saying goodbye to everyone. I know that we will be in touch online, but it was really great to make those real-life, in person connections with my cadre-mates. I am looking forward to seeing everyone in Orlando.
We presented our projects and I was so excited that our robot went to the top of the obstacle. I was disappointed that our entire cohort didn't get a second chance to coordinate our robots. We didn't have one pass of the lego warrior go smoothly. I really would have like to have had a second go at it. I was feeling a little incomplete that we didn't try again. It's probably part of me that wants to have everything work out perfectly. I don't think I'm a perfectionist completely, but then again, maybe I am sometimes. Everyone worked so hard on their projects and I just wanted our cohort to have the satisfaction of having our robots coordinate. I think if we tried another time it may have worked out or at least one or two of the lego warrior passes may have worked.
I am concerned about my blogs. During out cohort learning circle time Paul reviewed how important these blogs are to our action research projects and the curriculum. Sometimes, I have a difficult time sharing my feelings, especially publicly. I have a difficult time letting people really get to know me and see my feelings. I am pretty sure I know where this fear comes from. I suddenly lost a very close friend when I was in college (I was there when she passed) and it's sometimes difficult for me to build deep relationships and open up completely with many people. I am going to have to get over that fear and be willing to open up. I understand that we need to reflect on the process and reflect on why we are feeling or acting a particular way. I guess this is one of my truly first reflections on why I am feeling fear about the reflection blogs...
Friday, July 17, 2009
Day Four Virt Camp
7/17/09 Day Four
It has been a long day. We finally got our robot to work properly!!!! When we were going to go to test our final robot Mike accidentally broke the contraption that our robot was supposed to scale. Now our group and the other cohort have to hold together the sides of the contraption. But the good news is that it is working. We had to try so many different models and it is very satisfying to know that we completed the project on time. I am very excited to see it our cohort run their robots tomorrow!
On another good note we finished our learning circle video. Aura worked very hard organizing the videos, pictures, and music that we gathered over the past week. I am very impressed with how well it has turned out. I can't wait to show our cadre.
I am very excited about this program. Being here this week and being given these tasks to complete in learning circles gave me some insight as to how the program is going to be run. I am comfortable with the relationships that I've built this week with my cadre-mates. We have learned to be comfortable asking for and giving help. I'm sure this will make the whole experience better.
It has been a long day. We finally got our robot to work properly!!!! When we were going to go to test our final robot Mike accidentally broke the contraption that our robot was supposed to scale. Now our group and the other cohort have to hold together the sides of the contraption. But the good news is that it is working. We had to try so many different models and it is very satisfying to know that we completed the project on time. I am very excited to see it our cohort run their robots tomorrow!
On another good note we finished our learning circle video. Aura worked very hard organizing the videos, pictures, and music that we gathered over the past week. I am very impressed with how well it has turned out. I can't wait to show our cadre.
I am very excited about this program. Being here this week and being given these tasks to complete in learning circles gave me some insight as to how the program is going to be run. I am comfortable with the relationships that I've built this week with my cadre-mates. We have learned to be comfortable asking for and giving help. I'm sure this will make the whole experience better.
Day Three Virt Camp
July 17, 2009 (for July 16th :) )
Well yesterday was interesting.... I am excited over the robot project, but still a little frustrated with each project that we try not working. I really want to make the robot successful by the time we need to present on Saturday. I feel lucky that my group works so well together. We know how to work as a team and we are focused. We are able to delegate tasks which in turn helps us to complete the robot more quickly. Which is definitely a good thing since we had to build so many!
I wish that we had kept our original robot in tact just in case our new robot does not work properly. Then we could use the original and the rest of our cohort will feel some satisfaction that we have completed the task. That is one thing that I worry about, that the other three groups will successfully complete their task and we won't be able to finish ours.
On another note, I was feeling a little bad because I missed where Margaret had gone for the library search. I realized last night that many other people missed it as well. I'm sure we will get it all figured out. I was searching around the library tab, but didn't find the page that looked exactly like the one Margaret was on.
Well yesterday was interesting.... I am excited over the robot project, but still a little frustrated with each project that we try not working. I really want to make the robot successful by the time we need to present on Saturday. I feel lucky that my group works so well together. We know how to work as a team and we are focused. We are able to delegate tasks which in turn helps us to complete the robot more quickly. Which is definitely a good thing since we had to build so many!
I wish that we had kept our original robot in tact just in case our new robot does not work properly. Then we could use the original and the rest of our cohort will feel some satisfaction that we have completed the task. That is one thing that I worry about, that the other three groups will successfully complete their task and we won't be able to finish ours.
On another note, I was feeling a little bad because I missed where Margaret had gone for the library search. I realized last night that many other people missed it as well. I'm sure we will get it all figured out. I was searching around the library tab, but didn't find the page that looked exactly like the one Margaret was on.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Day Two Virt Camp
How in the last 24 hours has your perception of community changed or been challenged?
My perception of the term "community" has been altered slightly in the past 24 hours. While I understood there was more than one way to view a community I think that I have learned there are far more than I ever could have imagined.
A community could be your family, your friends, your classmates, the people in your church, your coworkers, or the people in your yoga class. We are all involved and a member of many communities and our communities change throughout our lives. However, a community does not have to be face to face like many of us were raised and have experienced. People have changed and the way we interact has changed. People are communicating online. People are finding other people with shared interests online. It is a place to build a community with people that are like minded.
As we begin our studies at Pepperdine we are forming a community. We are a group of people that have agreed to attend Pepperdine University to study Learning Technologies. We will be communicating for the most part via the web. We will be a community of learners. We will not gather together in the physical sense, we will gather online to share ideas.
Although this is different from the traditional definition of community we are still a community. As technology develops it becomes easier to form these communities. I think this can be a great way to use technology. However, I think it is still important for people to form communities in the more traditional sense as well.
My perception of the term "community" has been altered slightly in the past 24 hours. While I understood there was more than one way to view a community I think that I have learned there are far more than I ever could have imagined.
A community could be your family, your friends, your classmates, the people in your church, your coworkers, or the people in your yoga class. We are all involved and a member of many communities and our communities change throughout our lives. However, a community does not have to be face to face like many of us were raised and have experienced. People have changed and the way we interact has changed. People are communicating online. People are finding other people with shared interests online. It is a place to build a community with people that are like minded.
As we begin our studies at Pepperdine we are forming a community. We are a group of people that have agreed to attend Pepperdine University to study Learning Technologies. We will be communicating for the most part via the web. We will be a community of learners. We will not gather together in the physical sense, we will gather online to share ideas.
Although this is different from the traditional definition of community we are still a community. As technology develops it becomes easier to form these communities. I think this can be a great way to use technology. However, I think it is still important for people to form communities in the more traditional sense as well.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Day One Virt Camp
July 14, 2009
Today is the first day of VirtCamp. After being so excited about starting school again (and a little nervous) it is finally beginning. The campus is beautiful. I am pleasantly pleased that everyone that I've met so far has been super nice and very outgoing. I think that this will make the year much easier knowing that the rest of my cadre is friendly and helpful. It is so nice to actually meet the others in the program. I have taken other online graduate level courses and it is nice to be able to meet everyone first.
Bill, Paul, and Margret have gone over the program. One aspect of the program that I like is that it is not being "taught to" us. We are active learners and our lives, careers, and backgrounds will help guide the program. I'm hoping that I'm able to secure a job so that I'm able to get the most out of this program. I am a little nervous about this but I'm sure that it will all work out.
I think that the most important aspect about my experience at VirtCamp so far is meeting my cadre. I am a lot more at ease meeting them. Everyone that I've had a chance to meet is very easy to get along with. If this is a preview as to how the year will go I know I will have an excellent learning experience.
Today is the first day of VirtCamp. After being so excited about starting school again (and a little nervous) it is finally beginning. The campus is beautiful. I am pleasantly pleased that everyone that I've met so far has been super nice and very outgoing. I think that this will make the year much easier knowing that the rest of my cadre is friendly and helpful. It is so nice to actually meet the others in the program. I have taken other online graduate level courses and it is nice to be able to meet everyone first.
Bill, Paul, and Margret have gone over the program. One aspect of the program that I like is that it is not being "taught to" us. We are active learners and our lives, careers, and backgrounds will help guide the program. I'm hoping that I'm able to secure a job so that I'm able to get the most out of this program. I am a little nervous about this but I'm sure that it will all work out.
I think that the most important aspect about my experience at VirtCamp so far is meeting my cadre. I am a lot more at ease meeting them. Everyone that I've had a chance to meet is very easy to get along with. If this is a preview as to how the year will go I know I will have an excellent learning experience.
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