December 11, 2016
As I look back on this semester, I see that I have grown tremendously in several areas, writing, research, philosophy of education and learning technologies, and argumentation including the construction of logical arguments. While I still have much to learn, my confidence is rising that I can do doctoral level work, and do it well. I have also grown my creative abilities as I’ve struggled with what to say and how to say it. I have developed a pattern that I recognize where I first decide on a topic, conduct research, select articles or books, read them over a day or so, then take a break to let it soak in. Then, motivated by deadlines, I ponder how to start the paper. Once I get started, it usually flows pretty well, although I often change my mind about what to say or what my argument is, at least once during my writing. This is probably normal.
I hope and plan to improve my knowledge of APA style to expert level by the end of Spring 2017. I also plan to bring more discipline to my writing by forcing myself to re-read it on a different day, so as to find the inconsistencies and flow problems that I find only after submitting the work for grading. I know my current skill level will not suffice for a doctoral dissertation.
For example, my first two minor arguments, were riddled with errors I should have caught. However, I believe I improved on the third minor and both major arguments. I have learned to evaluate each paragraph in relation to the whole document I write, to make sure it makes sense and supports the overall topic.
With regard to the philosophy of education and learning technologies, most everything in the Rosenberg book was completely new to me since I have a business background. Sure, I have taken an introduction to philosophy course, but as it relates to education and how we learn is completely new material. To be honest, some of it was boring at first, but the more I read, the easier it was to absorb some of the difficult philosophical material. On the other hand, some of it was very interesting, such as Rational Choice Theory, Behaviorism, The Mind-Body Problem, Constructivism, Holism, and Functionalism.
I look forward to further readings, research, and writing about learning technologies and becoming a real academic. I do plan to submit my first manuscript to SITE before the January 2017 deadline, since I was encouraged to do so by another instructor. Also, next semester I will have the opportunity to go to China for the first time, to attend the iConference in Wuhan, and meet with future colleagues. I will use this experience to grow as a writer and researcher.
rickwoods2018 