Catching Up

Tuesday, March 17th - Happy St. Patrick's Day! Today I interviewed a colleague because he has a totally online first year course in micro economics. I wanted to know whether his course has any of the components that make up a good online course. Amazingly enough, it does not include any group participation but it has a lot of interaction with web sites. If students have a concern, they email him. As far as he knows, students don't know anyone in the course unless they email each other privately. He doesn't make a point of pursuing any group activities.

Yesterday I met with Kathryn Brillinger who interpreted assignment 1 and the rubric for me, and gave me some pointers to begin the assignment.

On the weekend, our group was unsuccsesful in having a Wimba meeting. It's really difficult because of the time zone difference. However, I made a stab at reading and writing, but am far behind in my journal. However, it has been comforting to receive emails and posts back from colleagues who are felling as overwhelmed as I am. We have exchanged Skype names so it might be easier to communicate that way. As well, I did have a short chat with Theresa on the weekend.

I was reading about reflecting in action and on action. Donald Schon's suggested that the capacity to reflect on action so as to engage in a process of continuous learning was one of the defining characteristics of professional practice. Atherton's article suggests that the cultivation of the capacity to reflect in action (while doing something) and on action (after you have done it) is seen as a particularly important aspect of the role of the mentor of the beginning professional. He indicates that real reflective practice needs another person as mentor or professional supervisor, who can ask appropriate questions to ensure that the reflection goes somewhere, and does not get bogged down in self-justification, self-indulgence or self-pity! I really wish I had such a mentor. I feel so alone in this course at the present time. I can understand now that by deeply reflecting on action, instead of just superficially reflecting in action, can result in lifelong learning.