Contribution to Your Learning and the Learning Community
EDLD 5302 & EDLD 5305
EDLD 5302 Concepts of Educational Tech- better EDLD 5305 Disruptive Innovation in Tech Bad
As I sit down to write my self-assessment I want to write this with a growth mindset, however, I must say that I am in a place where my fixed mindset seems to be overpowering me at this time. With that being said, my core collaboration group consists of my business partner in South Korea, my husband and business sounding board and Nancy Ellison, my main university contact in the United States. Throughout both courses I was able to use the information gained to look at changing my business model with technology as a foundation for teaching potential international students. As this is in its infancy stage, I do not have full data. However, I have been able to share some videos with students that are preparing to come over next semester. It was received well and I think the ability to build that much needed background knowledge will be beneficial when they come over. Approximately, half way through the courses, I was able to fly over to Korea and meet with seven of my partner universities. In our business meetings, I was able to bring up the possibility of creating a digital library that interested students could utilize. The reaction from the majority of the universities was positive. From that meeting I am now collecting videos about living in the United States and the cultural differences. Between Youtube and Naver, a Korean website, I have been able to create a decent beginning library of videos and information. In that respect, what is working for me is adapting my business to what I am learning in the class.
On the other hand, what is not working is the actual assignments. Excuse this upcoming writing as I understand this is coming from a fixed mindset with the hopes of changing to a growth mindset. The enormous hours spent reading the texts, studying the videos and researching is very difficult for me. I feel like if I was a native speaker it most definitely would not be this hard. Having to read and reread and reread again the text, while looking up all the academic words takes a long time and it is most definitely hard. There have been many nights while everyone else in my house is sleeping that I break down and cry because it feels like I will never accomplish my goal. There have been many times I wanted to quit, but I have my goal and I want so much to accomplish my goals. I know I can do it and I am so thankful for Dr. Bedard for her compassion and understanding. I want so much to walk across that stage and receive my diploma, but I understand there is much I need to do to get there. I have learned that I need to ask my husband for help when I am studying. He is able to explain things in a way that makes sense. Going into completing my assignments that are incomplete, I will ask more questions. The information I am getting is great and has helped me and my business very much, I realize that what I am lacking is the university way of expressing what I have learned.
In conclusion, if I were to mark my performance I would give myself a C- or D in what I did in terms of assignments. That is not due to a lack of effort. However, in terms of time spent learning I would give myself a B. I have learned so much about technology and how it can help my business, I have learned what it means to have a growth mindset. I have actually formulated a plan to use technology in my business. These courses have given my business potential to help others move and thrive in the United States. I started my business in order to help other Koreans, my brothers and sisters in Korea, realize their dreams. I have been very fortunate to be able to move to the United States and I found a good life. Korea is a wonderful country and I am proud to call myself Korean, but I am more proud to label myself Korean-American. I only hope this self-assessment explains what I have gained from Lamar University and especially Dr. Bedard. I am excited to complete and revise the work that was done incorrectly and go into next semester with a better idea on what to do. At the end of the day, I do have a growth mindset and I equate this as a learning experience.
As a new year approaches and time has passed, I feel I have worked hard to really study the expectations and have learned a lot since first writing this review. I am very thankful for the extra time given to me in order for me to learn and produce what I feel is better work as it has been clearer for me. I have began to make technological changes within my business to make it more efficient for my students and the universities I serve. Some of the changes that have been made is that I have begun to create a library of videos that have been made by others for the different categories I have deemed important. I have also started this week to script out and record a few videos specific to the U.S. universities that I work with and their admission requirements. I have also started looking at the TOEFL online test with the thought of creating a video selection for that seeing how important that is for attendance as a foreign student. I am very excited that I have learned so much and through my knowledge I feel I have shared it with my learning community specifically the students I work with and the universities I am contracted with. This is by no means finished and I do not believe it will ever be completely finished. I feel this is a foundation for my business for going forward with technology at its helm. Lastly, I feel that as technology continues to grow, I will be able to adapt to those changes and grow with the changing times. If we fail to plan, then we plan to fail.