EDLD+5363+Multimedia+Course+Reflection+Responses

 EDLD 5363 Multimedia and Video Tech: Course Reflection Responses Final Assessment

I first answered all pertinent questions then put them together in a narrative, reflective style as is seen below:  Throughout the multimedia course, I learned much about myself and my abilities with regard to leadership and technology. I started this course with certain outcomes already outlined in my head and I feel like I was successful in my learning. I wanted to be able to master the use of the Movie Maker software for editig video and to become, at least, proficient at the use of Audacity audio editing software. Although I do not feel like I became proficient on the overall use of the Audacity software, I believe that I was able to make a great start on my learning. I now have a thirst for learning even more about audio and video editing. The time constraints for the course, as well as work and home responsibilities, were all factors in my not achieving the highest level of proficiency with Audacity. This course was a wonderful experience for me both personally and professionally. I greatly enjoyed the assigned tasks and did not even really mind the rigor involved because what I was learning was valuable. I believe that I can immediately utilize my course learning and apply it to my personal and professional needs. My students and co-workers will benefit from me having taken this class. I have already been able to pass on some of the learning to my co-workers by producing an audio podcast on school related curriculum and posting it on my school website as an example. I then wrote a step-by-step document for the staff on using Audacity to produce their own audio podcast. My principal was pleased that the entire staff was able to benefit from this learning. I am working on many currciulum ideas for passing on my learning to my students in both audio and video production and editing which, can do nothing but enhance their learning and elevate their interest and engagement in the learning process. I discovered and confirmed many things about myself during this course. I confirmed that I am indeed very tenacious and will not allow anything to beat me when it comes to solving a problem. I stay with it until I figure it out. My technology skills were always very good but I learned that new technology doesn't scare me, I just jump in and see what it will do and do not worry about "messing up". I think that my leadership skills are good but discovered that I have to watch that I do not step on toes. I am undaunted and tend to forge forward and sometimes that could be misconstrued as "taking over". I am a take charge kind of person who does not mind delegating or sharing responsibility but I need to temper that with the realization that others may not process or work as fast as I do so I need to not seem like I am pushing too much with regard to pacing. I don't sleep much and tend to forget that others need sleep and downtime. Luckily I was able to reign, myself in before I steam rolled over my group members. I have a great attitude with regard to technology. I just jump in, see what it will do, and get it done. I tend to believe that I can do anything that I put my mind to but I also need to remember that this may not ALWAYS prove to be the case, one of these days I may lose.   1. What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?  I envisioned being able to master the Movie Maker editing software and get proficient at the use of Audacity audio editing software as well. For the most part, I believe that I was able to master the Miocrosoft Movie Maker software but did not quite reach the proficient level with Audacity. I was able to do what I needed for our PSA video but it has so much more functionality that I did not really begin to investigate to an extent to be considered proficient overall.  2. To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?  The outcomes are completely relevant to the work that I do in my school. As a result of utilizing the Movie Maker software, I have written a lesson plan for using this tool with my 4th graders toward the middle of the Spring semester. I was also able to produce an audio podcast on a currciulum relevant topic and post it on my school website as an example for the other teachers. I then wrote up a training document that I also sent to all campus teachers explaining, step-by-step, how to use the Audacity software to complete their own, basic, audio podcast. My students will also be taught how to do an audio podcast as well this year. I believe that the directions will be useful for them as well.  3. What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them? Although I do not feel that, overall, I would be considered proficient in the use of the Audacity software, I have a good start. I can perform the basic functions but have not touched upon the massive functionality of this audio editing software as yet. the main reason for my lack of mastery is simply the time constraints. I have no doubt that, in time, I will master it but with my job, home, and Master's related tasks, I simply did not have enough time to learn everything in the time alloted for this course.

 4. Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?  I was successful with completing my assignments both individually and as part of the group for weeks 3-5. I took on whatever role was needed and tried to work as quickly and efficiently as possible.  5. What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes?  I learned and confirmed many things about myself during this course. I confirmed that I am indeed very tenacious and will not allow anything to beat me when it comes to solving a problem. I stay with it until I figure it out. My technology skills were always very good but I learned that new technology doesn't scare me, I just jump in and see what it will do and do not worry about "messing up". I think that my leadership skills are good but that I have to watch that I do not step on toes. I am undaunted and tend to forge forward and sometimes that could be miscontrued as "taking over". I am a take charge kind of person who does not mind delegating or sharing responsibility but I need to temper that with the realization that others may not process and work as fast as I do so I need to not seem like I am pushing too much with regard to pacing. I have a great attitude with regard to technology. I just jump in, see what it will do, and get it done. I tend to believe that I can do anything that I put my mind to but I also need to remember that this may not ALWAYS prove to be the case. At some point I may lose to the technology.