Image created by Samara Marin Using Microsoft Copilot 2024

This is my third “contribution to my learning community” post; nevertheless, I look forward to creating one at the end of an eight-week rotation. This starkly contrasts the first time I read the directions to what a contribution post is. I did not understand what it meant to self-assess and self-reflect. However, as I moved through each pair of classes, I was grateful to know that I would have to create this post at the end of the class. This is because it keeps me on track and ensures I complete all the necessary reading, assignments, and collaboration necessary to succeed in these courses.

In order to collaborate with our classmates, Audrey Parcell created a Teams page for the summer classes to communicate. We had three EDLD classes this semester using the Teams page to communicate with each other. Thankfully, Mia Fayerweather, Rose Rayner, Maria Montemayor, Anna Gonzalez, and Amburh Jernigen were in both my EDLD 5317 and EDLD 5304 courses. During each rotation of courses these ladies have helped me work through and adjust my assignments before submitting them to Black Board. During this rotation of courses, I met Ashley Grundhauser through the Teams page and helped each other with our coursework.

Image created by Samara Marin Using Microsoft Copilot 2024

When it came to 5317, the assignments called for more specific types of help. We had to make a rubric for our rough drafts and peer-grade our articles. Sara-Ann Oro Santana, who was only in the 5317 course, created the rubric that we would be using to peer-grade our articles. We spent one to two weeks reading and grading each other’s rubrics to ensure we produced the best articles we could.

Once we had completed the rough draft of the publication, we moved on to our media project. I wanted to show the AI tools I mentioned in my Publication’s final draft, so I needed to record a video, not a podcast. However, the problem of having a monotone intonation to my voice arose if I wasn’t speaking to anyone. I asked if anyone would be willing to do an interview and Maria Montemayor and Amburh Jernigan helped me to give my media project a more natural sounding tone.

The second course, 5304, was more about discussing the assignments, making sure our projects looked correct, and keeping up with the due dates. These can be seen in the screenshots above in the “How Have I Helped and Been Helped” section.

Image created by Samara Marin Using Microsoft Copilot 2024

Even though the program emphasizes collaboration, it also creates an atmosphere for students to develop a learner’s mindset by creating the study habits that work for them. The self-reflection aspect caused me to panic during the first set of courses I took; however, it also caused me to create a set of study habits that worked for me. Through this program, I have sparked an interest in AI and how it can benefit students, educators, and those with a learner mindset. Through my research, I have learned and implemented a few tools into my study routine. One that has helped with my reading is Speechify. I can listen to the readings while cleaning, cooking for my children, or driving to work. Some screenshots of what this looks like are below.

5317

5304

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In regards to the discussion posts, I aimed for a minimum of three responses to each post in addition to my original comment, totaling four posts per discussion. However, I usually contributed more in each class, with only 5304 having two posts as the minimum. I posted a maximum of the initial response plus six additional responses in each class, but on average, I tended to contribute four responses.

5317

5304

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Finally, the assignment deadlines: considering this was the first time I took summer courses, I was afraid I would miss deadlines. However, this only caused me to over-prepare. I made sure to finish assignments early and submitted most of them on time and the rest of them early. I waited to complete my discussion posts until the day they were due because I thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning from my peers. I learned that if I waited until closer to the day the discussion posts were due, not only would my initial response get more feedback, but I could also respond to more of my peers.

Image created by Samara Marin Using Microsoft Copilot 2024

When push comes to shove, what is important is whether I did the absolute best I could. Well, I did what was asked of me in the contribution assignment, but as a person, I know I could have done better.

For 5317: 95

The loss of 5 points is due to always being able to improve. I kept striving to do everything I could; however, I felt like I had to move items around due to summer vacation. Some of the early submissions were simply due to scheduling conflicts, and I know if I had not, I would not have submitted assignments early. For example, this contributions post. I knew my scheduling conflicts and worked around them to complete all necessary assignments, readings, and postings, so I still gave myself a 95.

For 5304: 90

When comparing my performance in both courses, I felt the need to deduct more points from 5304. This is because despite turning in the same quality assignments for both courses, I felt as though the lack of effort showed in the discussion posts. I had fewer responses in 5304 when compared to 5317 which goes to show that there is visible room for improvement.