Learning Kearn(el)s

Description: This semester has been a roller coaster ride, to say the least. I have attempted to create a fully online HSE Proctor and Test Administrator Training course to use in my current position as Chief HSE Examiner. I focused on the Proctor portion of the course, as it is the one most needed. I have a solid start on the training, I think. I have much I wish to edit, but such is the nature of online courses and teaching in general. There is always room for improvement! Feelings: With a serious health scare this semester, it would have been so easy for me to push aside doing this training. I pushed to try and stay on track, however. I did discover a few things about my work process that I need to improve- including PLANNING! I feel so-so about my work this semester, but that is normal for me. I tend to be too much of a perfectionist. Evaluation:  This experience was great practice in designing a course. The only negative was my own perfectionism and lack of planning. I am defi

Description: I have continued to work on content. I still struggle with trying to get everything perfect on the first try, making this a slow process. Feelings: I've been reflecting on this process. I really think that I am not very good at developing things "from scratch." I have great ideas, and I can revise previously made content, but I struggle with getting ideas into reality. This has really made me ponder about what this means for me as I finish up this program. Evaluation: Reflection is a good thing, so this is a good experience. Throughout this program, I have learned much, and I've applied what I've learned. My professional goals are evolving, so my experience as I finish up my degree is colored by those changes. Additionally, my professional goals are changing as I figure out my strengths and weaknesses, my likes and dislikes, etc. Analysis: I am still considering what all this will mean for me. I will include what I figure out in my final pos

Description: Due to surgery and recovery, I was unable to do much this week. Feelings: I really could not focus on this project with the serious health concerns overwhelming my thoughts this week. Evaluation: Difficult time, but I am bouncing back now, and will resume my project. Analysis: As I've said before, I just do not do well when I am overwhelmed with personal or family issues. School work/ non-urgent projects get pushed aside. It's a hard habit to break. Conclusion: I'm not really sure that I could have done anything else. I simply shifted weeks. Since this week would be a break for everyone else, I will do this week what I had scheduled for last week. Action Plan : I will work over the Thanksgiving Break to catch up the work that I got behind on this past week.

Description: Continuing to work on content pages.  Feelings: Overwhelmed.  Evaluation: This has been a bad week. Analysis: Life is just crazy right now. Conclusion: Trying to keep it going. Action Plan: Just keep swimming...

Description: This week I continued to build content pages.I have  much clearer plan of how this course will go, and it is actually planned out now (smh). Well, the Proctor portion is planned, which is the one that I absolutely need to complete. The Administrator portion is not a priority at this time. I may tweak a bit more, of course, but I finally feel that I am getting somewhere rather than spinning my wheels. Feelings: Honestly, I've called myself 10 kinds of idiot. That does no good, so I used my frustration and channeled into getting something done. (I frequently get overwhelmed with life events and allow them to distract me from my work, in addition to being generally inconsistent- sometimes one must make realize and admit faults in order to make a change. I must say, this semester has done much to help me face this issue head on and make some changes. I just hope that it's not "too little, too late.") Evaluation: This has been a good experience. I do hope

Description: I am continuing to build content pages, add links and files, and just the general work of building my training course. Feelings: I feel like maybe I'm not working fast enough or getting enough done. Maybe I'm just too busy in general.  Evaluation: This is definitely the worst part of course building. This little slump where I feel like I've done quite a bit yet not enough. Analysis: Just keep swimming... just keep swimming.... Conclusion: I will continue to complete content pages. I hope to have the Proctor portion completed in the next week or so... maybe. I am also working on some video/audio ideas to supplement the text.  Action Plan: I hate to admit this, because it is going to kill me.... But I need to plan better (OMG- did that come out of MY head?!). I struggle with planning. I really do. I'm a last-minute, just-out-it-down-and-get-it-done type person. I'm finally figuring out that this actually makes my life more difficult. (No &quo

October 16-October 22, 2017 Description: This week I have continued to work on content pages. Feelings: Mostly that I want to get this done, but knowing that I will likely only finish the Proctor training portion. The Test Administrator portion will likely have to wait a bit. Evaluation: Mostly this is a good experience. I feel that I am just continuing to practice my craft. Analysis: I am just at the point in the semester where I usually hit a wall. I'm ready to be done, but know that I have quite a bit more work to do. Conclusion: I don't think there is anything I can do differently at this point. Just keep moving along. Action Plan: Continue to build content pages and design my training course.

October 9- October 15, 2017 Description: This week, I spent a lot of time uploading files. I also began creating content pages in Canvas. The file uploads were simply time-consuming, though necessary. The content pages are also time-consuming, but for a very different reason. I have created a splash page, but it needs some work. Feelings: I agonize over wording on the content pages. This makes the content pages a bit of a bear to create. I want them to be just right. This means my pages take longer than I really think they should to create. I am also struggling with the desire to be creative, and the fact that this training course can't have a lot of "froo-froo." I need everything to be neat and clean, and I want to add bells and whistles.   Evaluation: I'm glad I at least have the files uploaded. There were quite a few. I may have to add more later, but the bulk of them are done. I like that I am realizing the line that needs to be drawn between the extra