Date/Time

What I Learned

Reflection

May 16

6:00 AM

Having an assignment energizes me, at least at first. I printed out journal articles for the group.

I like being able to contribute to the group.

7:30 AM

I am surprised that teachers are not in favor of reinstituting Dress-up Days in Middle School.  We had a good discussion about late student work.

Exchange of viewpoints provides a good basis for making a team decision.
Celebration!

10:00 AM

There was an incident at lunch.  I am ultimately accountable.

I am pleased that the situation appears to be "resolvable."

10:10 AM

Conversation resolves conflict with parent.

Celebration!

12:00 PM

Used my lunch time to do an efficient search for URL’s for ADE 6381.

1:30 PM

I hate making copies.

I enjoy being creative.

2:00 PM

Jazz Assembly. These adults really enjoy their craft.

I love jazz. This music puts me in a good mood.

2:15 PM

Musician indicates:
I lay off practicing for 1 day—I know it.
I lay off practicing for 2 days—my colleagues know.
I lay off practicing for 3 days—everyone knows.

Wow! Celebration!

5:30 PM

The air conditioning unit noise is really annoying. I’m having a hard time concentrating and hearing the professor.

Barriers to learning bother me.

6:00 PM

Education in Florida is funded via sales tax.

7:10 PM

Teacher asked us to read but keeps talking.

I can’t concentrate with interruptions. Really annoying

7:40 PM

I’m done learning.

Fatigue is a barrier.

8:40 PM

Home and feeling not quite as tired.

Conversation in car  revived me.

9:15 PM

Dinner

I don’t like eating this late.

10:00 PM

Received an e-mail from Dr. Bryan. I like interaction and positive feedback. It motivates me.

I like support.

10:30 PM

Found cockatiel information for Lauren quickly. I’m much better at this than I used to be.

Celebration

11:00 PM

Peak Learning—Protein good for alertness

I’ll try this and see what happens.

May 17

6:30 AM

6,000 attended Marlins game.

I know why I wasn’t there.

8:30 AM

Rehearsed student speeches outside. I like being outdoors.

Need to do this more often.

9:30 AM

Chapel – I’m touched by 8^th grade readings. I’ll miss these kids, even though they’ve been a challenge at times.

Bittersweet celebration

12:15 PM

Organizing journal articles—I like to be on top of things

Organization is important to me

1:30 PM

Soup and Protein for lunch—okay, Peak Learning, we’ll see

I enjoy trying new ideas

4:00 PM

I don’t pay attention to exact change signs for tolls.

Perhaps I’m distracted, tired

4:45 PM

It’s fun to search for new building.

I like to make common things fun and adventurous—I can make my own fun.

5:00 PM

Native Americans receive $1500 per month

Wow. Tough thing to break out of. Sad celebration

5:20 PM

I feel overwhelmed by this work.

6:50 PM

Can’t concentrate on PowerPoint

Fatigue has an impact

7:00 PM

Paris intends Internet access for every household.

What about USA? What are we doing?

8:15 PM

Chapter outlines required. I’m angry about what I perceive to be busy work. As an adult, I expect to be trusted to read an assignment. I find this demeaning.

Why aren’t we practicing what we preach?

10:00 PM

I’m overwhelmed and want to quit this class. There’s too much—I can’t do it. I want to be able to do it all NOW.

I like control over my learning.

12:00 AM

I’m too tired to understand this Business Management material. Good night.

May 18

5:30 AM

Lots of anxiety, sense of being overwhelmed

Not conducive to motivation

6:30 AM

Found initial degree sheet in dresser drawer

Celebration

9:00 AM

Parent informs me child is afraid of missing school when he goes on special family trip next year. I’m surprised that he took me so seriously at Middle School Orientation last week.

I must have more impact over people than I thought.

10:00 AM

Mom of student thanks me for giving her "wake up call." She and estranged father will take control over daughter, who has gotten into "drugs, sex, and rock and roll."

Celebration. Risk taking is worth it.

12:00 PM

Wow! I fixed Matt’s computer.

Huge celebration!

1:30 PM

Figuring out how students will march at graduation. Spatial relations is always challenging for me, and I’m tired now.

I’m going to do this later.

4:00 PM

Let’s try hyper-coffee to see if it helps.

Adventure with chemicals

6:00 PM

Business management class. Students behind me are talking. This really bothers me.

I don’t learn with such distractions.

8:00 PM

I know how to learn this stuff! I was really apprehensive about  this course, and now I’m not!

Celebration!!!

10:00 PM

Too tired to study! Good night!

May 19

6:00 AM

This week is grueling. I’m tired and my ankles are swollen from sitting so much.

7:00 AM

I’m surprised that the family is cooperating. Their support means a great deal to me.

Celebration!

8:30 AM

Parent comes in as Principal for the day—bought my job at auction. This is fun!

Fun is a great mood enhancer. I need to have more fun.

11:30 AM

Sixth graders leave for SeaCamp. Hiring these buses is a good idea. We’ll do it next year.

1:30 PM

Pre-school wedding. Little ones really capture the essence of joy in learning. Everything is new and exciting.

Why can’t adults be like this? What are the barriers?

4:00 PM

I like sharing the drive to FAU. This trip is longer by myself.

4:10 PM

I missed the right toll lane again. This is a problem for me.

What’s the problem here, and how do I fix it?

7:00 PM

Dr. Bryan is willing to bargain with assignments.

Should I take a risk? I generally just "do what the teacher says."

10:00 PM

I need to see if I can do electronic portfolio with PowerPoint in FrontPage. I’ve not tried this before.

Yes! It worked. Celebration.

11:00 PM

The Learning Contract format is quite workable. I’m surprised.

I’m anxious to see if Dr. Bryan accepts my contract.

May 20

6:00 AM

I remembered how to do FrontPage!

This is play for me! Celebration!

7:00 AM

I like to work while family is asleep. I like to be organized. (Surfing for websites for group presentation, organizing websites, etc.)

9:00 AM

Finished first journal article summary. I write too much. Need to condense.

11:00 AM

Taking a break—talking about electronic portfolio. Husband indicates, "I see you’ve found something to turn you on in this course."

I seek ways to make a course interesting and fun.

12:00 PM

Beginning paper I realize that this type of work used to be exciting for me but now it's drudgery. And I’d like to have a stern chat with the APA style people. Why is this format so difficult for me?

I will persevere. I like to meet my own expectations. The problem is, the expectations I set are often excessive in terms of circumstances.

8:00 PM

Wow! I can work on this for 8 hours straight. Did I learn anything? Not sure. This is not the best way for me to learn about this topic. I’d much rather discuss. But now I can’t think. Need a break.

I used to get more out of writing papers. Working with computers has changed what I enjoy about learning.

8:00 PM

Son played well in tournament. He’s on Cloud 9.

Celebration! 

All that hard work for Will paid off. Family is important to me. Graduate school gets in the way. I’ll be done soon.

9:00 PM

No more work tonight. Sleep is important.

May 21

8:00 AM

The part of the paper that was difficult yesterday is a breeze this morning. I work well and can process information when I’m rested and the house is quiet.

11:00 AM

The paper is done! I feel fantastic! I’ve accomplished something difficult!

12:00 PM

Husband suggests I go to a movie. I can’t play until work is done. I still don’t feel comfortable in this class.

I wonder if I should change this. I’ve never tried to play before all work is done. Husband points that out, but right now, I’m not willing to change. Comfort is more important than play. I wonder what it would be like to try something different—interspersing play with work.

1:00 PM

E-mailed paper to Jack, Mike, and Mellany. I’m glad I know how to do this.

Thanks, Dr. Knee

3:30 PM

I actually have a Philosophy of Education, and it has really changed during the last year. No wonder I enjoy technology; it goes back to my dad’s influence on me.

Celebration!

4:30 PM

Will (son) asked me when I would be working on homework for Business Management. I told him I work better when I focus on one thing at a time. Today is Adult Ed. Day.

Is this a good thing?

10:00 PM

Half way through Peak Learning. Great book. Lauren tells me (so does my husband) that I need to "pull the plug." I know I need to get a handle on this first.

I’m a stringer.

10:30

Oops. I forgot to do the laundry. Oh well. Lauren tells me I need to practice saying that. Makes me say it three times.

She’s right.

1:00 AM

Finished Peak Learning—great read. I like reading a book in one sitting. I’m not sure how much substance there is, though. Adult Learning is slower, but more "meat."

I like to have an overview, and I like to be challenged—within reason.

May 22

7:00 AM

Discovered some interesting things on WebCT. Quiz page indicates that I submitted Learning Contract twice with no points given; Progress page indicated I received 5 points. Which is correct? I can’t really proceed until I know whether my contract is accepted.

I don’t like "limbo." I like to be in control of my learning. Vague expectations bother me.

10:00AM

Took day off to catch up on laundry. I’d rather be working on website for class.

I love FrontPage. It brings out the Constructivist learner in me. Celebration!

12:00 PM

Playing with PowerPoint—uploading sample to website to see if it will work for electronic portfolio (without conversion to HTML, since home computer won’t do that for some reason) and school computer won’t give me access to Geocities because of fire wall. What to do, what to do.

Experimentation—to a degree—is fun. If this becomes a real obstacle, then the fun is gone, and I’ll obsess over it. Lauren was really right. Learn to say "Oh, well."

3:00 PM

Going to class from home is easier than going to class from work. It’s tough to put in four hours after you’ve put in nine or ten already.

6:00 PM

I learned why typewriter keys are configured the way they are.

Discrimination!!!

8:30 PM

I wish there were more time to do this course. I don’t like doing so much in such a short time. I will not be able to do as well as I would like.

I feel compelled to do excellent work.

10:00 PM

I found Dr. VB’s response to my Philosophy Statement, but not to Journal or Learning Contract.