what a difference this year has made...

One year ago today my first FSO course opened up for me! I remember being nervous and excited and totally overwhelmed by APA which I had no clue about! It was fun to start my website, scary to venture into Second Life (but I did love Mouseworld) and that first video... I'm sure I refilmed it at least 9 times!!!
Now a year later, my countdown to Graduation has dwindled to 4 days. I look back and see where I've been...the leaps from my comfort zone; the new tools and knowledge to use them; the times I laughed so hard I cried; the relationships; the shining eyes of my students experiencing the projects I created; the LATE nights working,chatting,or playing WoW; Wimba sessions; iChat, Skype video; the feelings of insecurity and achievement; the passion for filmmaking; the blog posts that make reflection so effortless! I accomplished more than I ever dreamed I could, and became a WoW addict on top of it (who would have EVER thought???) Like a comforter out of its plastic packaging, I no longer "fit" in the package of a year ago.
What changes will this next year bring? More of the story is yet to be written!

Can it really be.......finished????

final presentation...final discussion board post...crossing the bridge...celebrations ahead...
new chapters to write... new tools to create... priceless friendships to treasure... moving forward, but ok to look back...
words can't express... EMDT...soon to be alumni

How Growth is Measured Part 2

It's all in the way you look at things!!
I could look at this graph and see failure because the September results are not as stellar as the May ones, but I choose to look and see growth! Definite gains were made from the Pre test results at the end of March! Growth means that I don't pack up my action research and put it away in a dusty file cabinet, but rather think about how I can keep improving my teaching practices and build more and more retention of these concepts.

My Advice to Future EMDT Students...

EMDT…my advice to future students… you get out of it what you put into it!

Connections are really important to me and that would be my first piece of advice. CONNECT early on with classmates! Allow yourself to be who you are, and appreciate others for who they are! I found that people were quite open and honest in their profiles and I initially connected with my closest classmate friends during the orientation period. Each EMDT student’s journey is his/her own, but no one will truly understand what you are going through, except your classmates who are experiencing it with you! Their support is invaluable!! Skype, iChat, Facebook, email, texting, talking on the phone…all of these gain you access to your classmates’ lives and provide a way of knowing their family as well!

CONNECT with your course director each month! They welcome this, and communication helps any questions to be resolved quickly. Besides, they are awesome people to know and have certainly enriched my life!

Try to make each project applicable to your unique teaching/training situation!
I found this to be very beneficial in my action research, and it gave me ways to use my newly acquired skills during, and as I move beyond, my EMDT year.

Be open to learning and take something applicable away from EVERY course!

Laugh A LOT!! Have FUN!! Play WoW!! Do whatever you need to take care of yourself and get the most out of this experience!

You WILL be sleep-deprived. You WILL give up activities (I watch almost no TV now!) You WILL love your Mac! You WILL experience information overload at times! You WILL become immersed in projects! You WILL be pushed outside your comfort zone! You WILL learn more than you ever imagined! And if you’re like me, you WILL have a huge smile on your face whenever you talk about what you are learning/experiencing!
You WILL NOT regret embarking on the EMDT journey!

How Growth is Measured Part 1

I'm thinking about how growth can be measured. I know that I've grown this past year... in confidence, in knowledge, in creativity, personally and professionally. I think all these areas of growth are evident in this Program Reflection video and that filmmaking in itself is an accurate measurement of my growth.

Ready for Re-Entry???

Final videos completed...only two more discussion board posts...Graduation details on track...
Am I ready for the re-entry into my "normal" life? I know that my family is ready for that... but not quite sure how that looks for me. What will I do with myself? Spend more time with my family, play WoW, create new animations and udutu lessons for my students, learn about the SMART board that is coming soon to my classroom, audit courses, stay connected to EMDT in various ways, maybe even sleep more?

I am not the same. Really, it would be impossible to live the EMDT experience and not be changed, with all that was invested.

May the changes be positive, the transitions pass smoothly, the celebrations become treasured memories, and the connections remain strong...
and may I continue to create and soar as a life-long learner!