I don't watch Glee very often but I do remember watching an episode where Sue and Will get into an argument. Sue mentions her PhD and Will counters with the fact that she got it on-line. For whatever reason on-line degrees are often not taken seriously but after working on things this past week, looking at the surveys about readiness for on-line learning, and listening to the lectures on teamwork I can tell you that this degree program is not going to be a casual in and out adventure a la Facebook.
So, do I have what it takes? When I looked at the checklists I felt very confident. I am very good at time management (I just wish I had more time to manage). I am a very organized person but will need to learn more about organizing materials on my desktop and on-line. I am highly motivated. I wish I could take these classes faster. I am independent person; I prefer to work on my own and not have to rely on anyone (more on that later). I am fairly comfortable with technology. I am fortunate that my husband is an IT person. I'm glad he's around to help if needed but I am determined to work my way through things and only use him as a last resort :) I enjoy a challenge...it scares me to death but I love it!!
One thing that struck me was the fact that a course could take up 10 - 15 hours of time each week. I had hoped to take 2 courses a semester but I'm not sure I can manage that much time. We'll see.
I enjoyed watching the two lectures about teamwork. Teamwork can freak me out and as Erid Irwin said it is about "lack of control". I tend to be a perfectionist and always desire to have good grades, so to entrust my grade into the hands of other people that I barely know is a challenge for me. However, as an educator for the last 18 years I truly understand the benefits of teamwork. I have attended many workshops and taught my students how to collaborate. Although it is not a natural way for me to work it is something that I am able to do. I can be an introspective, shy person but have learned to "put myself out there" I appreciated Dr. Ken Haycock's comments about the forming and storming stages of team development. I think those building phases are often overlooked and rushed in order to get to an assignment but it is vital to the team to explore strengths and weaknesses, clarify goals, set rules, and set-up procedures.
It struck me that the on-line surveys talked about the importance of being an independent learner and then there were 2 lectures on teamwork. Balance is the key. Being self-motivated and disciplined enough to keep up in an on-line world and yet being a team player when asked to be.
Hoping for the first snow day of the year tomorrow :)
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