Learning Kearn(el)s

Success begins with a single step towards a goal. When I registered for EDU 658, it was with a great amount of trepidation and fear.  I had attempted the course last year and failed miserably due to several health issues that prevented active participation.  Though there was a very valid and logical reason for my failure, I had a very illogical concern that I was somehow cursed and would bomb this course a second time. I never said I was a logical person, but I rarely admit to being wrong either... Ok.  I didn't bomb the course a second time.  In fact, I think I did fairly well.  I learned a few things from my previous attempt at the course, and I learned a TON of great things during this iteration. Lessons from Long Ago (Last Summer) As I stated previously, I attempted this course last summer.  Due to health issues, I had to request, and was granted, an incomplete.  Asking for an Incomplete was Mistake #1. An incomplete is a great tool to b...

"I don't know what I would do without my iPhone!" "Without Google Calendar, I would never be able to keep up with my kids' schedules." "I have no idea how to use Google Docs." "Why do we have to use this new data reporting system?  The old one worked just fine!" Technology provokes strong responses.  We love some things, dislike others, want more, wish there was less, and so on.  Even those who love to use technology can experience moments of frustration as they attempt to adapt to new gadgets and software. Even so, changes and advances in technology rapidly flood the market at an ever increasing pace. Technology, in many cases, can greatly improve productivity and enhance learning in the field of education.  Those working in education, however, experience a multitude of challenges when utilizing technology.  These challenges range from simple to very complex, but I would like to take some time to focus on four: professional d...

I had the opportunity to interview Claire Ricci, Director of College and Career Readiness at Alamance Community College.  Claire has been at ACC for  6 1/2 years, four of which she has served as director.  As director, she serves not only as the department leader, she also serves as the mediator between senior leadership and the department, as the spokeswoman for Academic and Career Readiness.  In our interview, I had the chance to discuss several technology challenges, but there have also been several strides forward as well.  Before we look at the challenges and triumphs, let us took a brief look at what exactly is Academic and Career Readiness. Academic and Career Readiness (ACR) encompasses a diverse group of students.  ACR students are not actual college students, as this department includes Adult Language Acquisition (as known as English as a Second or Other Language- ESOL), Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE, formally known as Compensatory Edu...

When I became the Distance Education Specialist for College and Career Readiness at Randolph Community College, I resolved to learn more about online learning in order to better assist current and future students in my program.  EDU 651 has assisted me with this task in many ways, especially since it approaches online learning from the perspective of debunking common myths. A few of the myths came as a surprise, though most were ones that I have heard frequently.  I was most surprised by the myth "students with significant disabilities cannot learn online."  I had never heard or even considered online learning as a barrier to students with disabilities.  It was interesting to learn about how why this was a prevalent thought about online learning and how it is erroneous to  believe that students with disabilities cannot learn in online programs. Though I learned quite a bit about various myths throughout the course, I think the most difficult thing for m...