I had my first meeting with Dr. Value. Beforehand, I prepared some probing questions. I started with ice-breaker questions (so to speak) and then moved to more technical ones.
For example:
1) what class do you teach? How long have taught that class?
2) how may students do you have in your class?
3) how old are your students?
4) do you use blackboard? what do you use it for?
5) what kind of tools do you use inside blackboard?
6) what other tools are you interested in using? why?
7) where did you learn about those tools?
8) what do you think your students' reactions will be towards that specific tool?
9) and many other questions that develop from the questions above.
The meeting went really well. I feel it was a relaxing and fun meeting talking even about personal aspects (family, interests) and discussing issues with the use of technology.
Dr.Value explained and showed to me the personal and professional website that Dr. Value has. I could see that Dr. Value has a good knowledge of technology and is willing to try tools available out there to accomplish the objectives. However, Dr. Value made the comment about blackboard: "it's just awful".
I tried to approach Dr. Value in a more "collaborative way" to give confidence that the work can be done and that "we" will achieve something really interesting and useful, that "we" will work together to figure out how to do things. From time to time, I switched to "I" will be on your side helping "you" work on it, "I" will provide the tech support "you" need to do it.
From time to time Dr. Value also told me: "well, you are the expert, I will always come to you, I trust you". It makes feel fine because I know we can work in a good and friendly manner. However, it also scares me because... I am the expert....(?). I need to learn a lot, and I am sure I will do in this class, and much more with the project for Dr. Value.
As our conversation was coming to an end (I sensed it) I tried to wrap up by retelling Dr. Value what ideas were discussed, the priority Dr. Value gave to each of them, the plan for next week (lunch on Tuesday), my to-do list.
Here I summarize the ideas discussed.
For example:
1) what class do you teach? How long have taught that class?
2) how may students do you have in your class?
3) how old are your students?
4) do you use blackboard? what do you use it for?
5) what kind of tools do you use inside blackboard?
6) what other tools are you interested in using? why?
7) where did you learn about those tools?
8) what do you think your students' reactions will be towards that specific tool?
9) and many other questions that develop from the questions above.
The meeting went really well. I feel it was a relaxing and fun meeting talking even about personal aspects (family, interests) and discussing issues with the use of technology.
Dr.Value explained and showed to me the personal and professional website that Dr. Value has. I could see that Dr. Value has a good knowledge of technology and is willing to try tools available out there to accomplish the objectives. However, Dr. Value made the comment about blackboard: "it's just awful".
I tried to approach Dr. Value in a more "collaborative way" to give confidence that the work can be done and that "we" will achieve something really interesting and useful, that "we" will work together to figure out how to do things. From time to time, I switched to "I" will be on your side helping "you" work on it, "I" will provide the tech support "you" need to do it.
From time to time Dr. Value also told me: "well, you are the expert, I will always come to you, I trust you". It makes feel fine because I know we can work in a good and friendly manner. However, it also scares me because... I am the expert....(?). I need to learn a lot, and I am sure I will do in this class, and much more with the project for Dr. Value.
As our conversation was coming to an end (I sensed it) I tried to wrap up by retelling Dr. Value what ideas were discussed, the priority Dr. Value gave to each of them, the plan for next week (lunch on Tuesday), my to-do list.
Here I summarize the ideas discussed.
Dr. Value's priorities are:
1) build up a professional online community website for the SIG Leadership for Social Justice Group. Dr. Value would like to have it up by April 3rd (to be presented at the AERA conference)
Some ideas about the online community website:
* a repository of works/articles
* newsletter
* post
* webinar space
* collaborative space for scholars
2) Record lectures for classes
Some ideas about the recording:
* students miss classes. Recorded lectures will keep them updated.
* future possibility of offering class in a blended/hybrid or online format.
3) Incorporate an online application to engage students in interactive discussions:
* have students share ideas
* discussions online.
4) Improve blackboard
* links and organization of materials
* include audio (maybe video) lectures
I am not sure if the first option will be ok under our class goals. If it is, I am worried about time. (A possible mentor-mentee work schedule will be every two weeks)
Also, Dr. Value mentioned that the 2nd and 3rd options are something she might need to think about for a future plan. If the first option is not feasible, Dr. Value might participate again in the next CI 610 class when she might have decided to teach a blended or online course. This makes feel worried because it seems that if we do not focus on priority 1, I may end up without someone to work with.
I need to check with Dr. Nadolny whether building the online community website is fine.
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