MHRM 6100 + Week 4

     Over the past four weeks, I have not used different mobile technology or social media tools.  I tend to go with what I know and what has worked in the past for me.  Many times in my life I have made things much more complicated then they need to be.  This is one experience I have kept it simple.  Simple appears to work!  However, given that, there are some applications for mobile technology and social media tools that can enhance the learning environment.  Outside of actually calling a fellow student, my cell phone is a great tool for texting fellow students regarding a variety of topics.  Additionally, email, twitter and facebook tabs can be established on my cell phone home screen to provide on-going, real time dialog.  This would provide me with a better feel for how my class mates are doing, what the concerns or issues of the moment are and on-going communication on class topics.

     As to social media, the biggest opportunity for me at this point and time are professional social media groups.  Even though Indeed.com presents an opportunity to network with other professionals for purpose of finding work, it also presents an opportunity to talk to like minded professionals that also challenge my way of thinking, thus providing additional opportunities to learn. 

     Speaking of learning and discoveries, I have concluded that our virtual class team is in the norming stage of Tuckman's team stage development.  Tuckman identified team stage development as forming, storming, norming, and performing.  As characteristic with the norming stage, our team appears to be open and eager to sharing our thoughts, ideas, and concepts with one another (Chaneski, 2009).  There seems to be a level of trust among the group that invites respectful disagreement among class members (Chaneski, 2009).  Classmates have taken on individual responsibility for their role.  This is in the face of the fact that we have not dealt with a situation where buy-in for a team decision was required.  We have bought into and lived by the rules and policies established for the team by our fearless leader: Dr. Gravitt.  This evaluation is based on team dynamics that have evolved as the Professor has lead the process and members have complied.  The next evaluation of this team should come if the team becomes responsible for leading a particular project.

Chaneski, W. S. (2009). The stages teams go through. Modern Machine Shop, 82(3), 34–36. Retrieved from: http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/pqdweb?did=1843863981&sid=3&Fmt=4&clientId=70192&RQT=309&VName=PQD

MHRM 6100 + Week 2

Over the past couple of years, I have gained some experience with a couple of social media sites: Caring Bridge Blogs and Face Book.  When I think about the opportunity to influence the learning process among learners I often think of Kolb's work as it relates to his learning style model. Kolb recommends the implementation of a variety of activities that lend to the learning strengths of all students through a cycle of experiential learning.  Students learning preferences range from that of a concrete to an experiential learner.  At this early stage as an on-line learner, it is clear to me that abstract learners are in seventh heaven. Given my limited experience with social media, I do see a couple of opportunities to aid in the learning process for both the concrete and experiential learner.

A vehicle like face book could be used as a live chat session with students.  The chat session or dialog would be anything from how students feel about their learning experience to communicating about an article or assignment.  As a concrete learner I would have enjoyed conversing about Coarse's theory.  I noted through comments after the assignment was due that there were other people who had a similar experience, yet no one knew anyone else was struggling.

As you know, it is tough enough to identify methods, activities, or assignments that produce experiential types of experiences in a classroom environment, let alone in a virtual environment.  However, blogs may provide another idea for an experiential and concrete activity.  My thought is to place 4-5 people in a team.  Have each person blog about methods, practices, or strategies that relate to a specific objective embedded in the class learning process.  Once the individual blogs are complete, the next step for students would be to identify a new method, practice or model identified by a team member they would like to practice in real life.  The classmate who first wrote about the chosen practice would then be the coach or person who answers question of the classmate who selected their idea to implement.  The next phase of the activity would then move into implementation in one way or another.  Implementation of the new idea will look different for each student, thereby, the vehicle used to practice would also be different.  Although an instructor may want to provide a host of application methods for students to choose from, it would be important to do so to ensure students who can and can not apply the new learning to a work environment are given the ability to practice the chosen method, strategy or practice in one way or another.

New Beginnings

Wow, what an interesting process this educational journey has been in such a short period of time.  I was telling my husband yesterday how much easier it is to be a traditional student, one who attends a traditional classroom environment.  Yet, I am starting to believe I will learn more in this online environment then I might in a classroom environment.  I certainly have concerned myself with more things that I took for granite before (i.e. connecting with people).  Also, after posting my first discussion response I have noted it has been too long since I have been out of school because my writing needs to reflect more of the APA guidelines.  I say, another lesson learned.  So, good luck fellow classmates, unlike the show Survivor, we are in this together.

Louise