LaTrisha Jones OMDE 601 Section 9040 November 24, 2013 Current Waves Reflections

1. Review your group's (r)evolutionary grid. What are your thoughts about the grid as a learning tool and the process used to create the grid? I think that the revolutionary grid is a great learning tool. Because I am a visual learner its great to be able to see the changes from one wave to the other. The process in creating the grid had a few bumps in the road as we were unsure of who was doing what but we eventually got it together and it became seamless. 2. Go back to your original definition of DE. What aspects of the course have influenced your understanding of DE? Based on what you have learned in the course, revise your original definition accordingly---and explain why you have changed (or not changed) your definition in the way you have. Out of all the information that I have learned throughout this course the only thing that I would change in regards to my original definition is instead of saying through the use of media, I would say through the use of technology. I believe that my definition gives a direct interpretation of distance education and if I try to incorporate what I have learned it would get to be too long and drawn out. 3. Consider the overall course objectives (see the Course Syllabus). Were all or most of these objectives achieved? If so, in what ways and to what degree? This is actually the first course that I have taken where I can actually point out the course objectives in the activities and readings. All the objectives have been achieved and in great detail. The reading of course contributed to all of the objectives and each piece of reading covered at least one of the objectives. The one activity that I believe covered several objectives over the entire course was the revolutionary grid. This assignment allowed us to review technological changes, main theorists and contributors, theories, and universities that emerged throughout time. I believe this covered at least five or six or the objectives, which was a great activity. 4. Take some time to reflect on your study group experience: What did you think about the experience of working together to create a collaborative document? What worked? What did not? What could your group have improved in order to realize a more smooth process? What do you see as benefits (or drawbacks) of online collaboration? How do you think the activity could be improved?

Honestly, I have never been the type of student that enjoys group projects. I do not like to depend on others and I dont want to have someone depend on me for a graded assignment. Around wave three we were able to just agree that if everyone do the part they previously done, then things would run more smoothly because at first I think we lack communication in that area because we were not all able to meet at the same time. I think in order to make the process run smoothly from the beginning we could have just decided to choose a section and that person stick to that section the whole way through or choose a functioning rotation. The benefits of an online collaboration is that you can reach your team with one email or chat and if they are not there at that time they could view where the group is at and what needs to be done. The drawbacks would be that we cannot personally sit down and map out all that needs to be done and see if in a face-to-face environment. I think that the activity could be improved by making it a requirement that we have at least one group meeting prior to the start of the assignment, because I didnt even realize the assignment had began when my group had their first meeting.