Personal Summaries & Our Trios of Plans

Personal Summary (Hindman)
This month, I felt chaotic.  Starting up classes again after a holiday break was difficult.  Plus, it seems like my job is also increasing in its demands.  Then again, my family too, demands their fair share of attention.  And I’m being pulled in many directions.

What do you prep for? How do you get organized? How do you make sense of syllabi that can be confusing sometimes?

I found myself having to take a deep breath and refocus.  I can’t function in chaos and I’m not likely to succeed in chaos so therefore I ended up taking the time and energy necessary to get myself organized.  Typically I like to be organized anyway and I got off to a slow start this semester because I…I really don’t know, but I was off-track.

I am now working ahead on the assignments I can, in all of my classes and this helps me feel accomplished as well as more organized.  And, I’ve learned to say “no” as sometimes it is a necessity.  You can’t keep saying “yes” and then not be able to successfully execute.

Next month, I look forward to collaborating with my group members and getting our project rolling!

January Monthly Summary (Martin)

This is my second semester as an on-line student at Ball State.  Last semester I took two courses, and this semester I am taking three.  I wasn’t quite prepared for the difference between these two experiences.  My first semester classes were in Gerontology (slightly boring) and Stress Management (this one was incredible).  In hindsight, both were light in expectations compared to this semester.  This semester I am having a tougher time getting organized and settling in.  Everything about the courses I am taking this semester feels more complex, and it is like I am never quite in step.  One aspect in particular that feels strange is taking a course in adult education, where many of the students have a foundational degree in education and I don’t.  It’s like stepping into the middle of a conversation.    I find it fascinating, but at times I question if I belong.  I am not as interested in educating the head (intellect), as I am the heart (for courage, compassion, connection and authenticity).   I am not as interested in immersing others in more outer authority, as assisting them in developing more inner authority, but so far I have had no luck finding a way to do so in any course catalog.  I am wondering if I am just going to have to carve my own niche.

Summary (Moran)

This has been a busy month of getting used to the rigor of this course, keeping on track with the reading, posts and assignments.  I have developed a project calendar in order to enjoy the process and keep on task verses finding myself behind and stressed.   I have spent several hours this month acquainting myself with the syllabus and following links to inform me of how to use online tools to create interactive projects and blogs.  I have enjoyed the process of posting and responding to posts, but with so many people in the class, it is a challenge to explore the dialog.  I think the group work will offer some peer learning experience that I enjoy with the on-line process. 
 
It has been helpful to gain understanding on the history of adult education.  Not only do I enjoy it from an educational viewpoint, but also from a sociological viewpoint.  I anticipate that as we explore the roles of those who have contributed to the historical development of adult education, we will even better understand the reasons behind the growth of adult education over the past 200 years.  I enjoy discovering how individuals have had impact on society, and anticipate that our next assignment will demonstrate how these leading adult educators impacted not only the field of education, but society as a whole.

Finally, this month I have gained some insight into my own desire to be involved in adult education, and in a small way, have begun to have a vision for how I too might create impact.

My plans for February are to hit the library and internet to collect as much information as needed to provide details on the designated leading adult educators.  This research will include background, perspective, contribution and impact information.  I also plan to be in contact with my groups on how we can best present this assignment and begin research on our program topic.

On a very personal level, I am tempted to panic because of my self induced work load.  But I will choose to take each assignment at a time, get to my computer each day to check in, and breathe.  I will discipline myself to say “no” to the social extras and family movie nights, and instead keep up to date on my work. 

This is my plan, and I plan to work my plan.