Web Conferences

Web Conference Reflections

Tuesday, December  4

I set aside time tonight to attend this conference, but it never started. I tried several times throughtout the evening and double checked the schedule thinking maybe I read it incorrectly…. Hummmmm???

Saturday, December 8

As my four kiddos tune into Saturday morning cartoons, I set up to attend this conference.  Yea! It starts on time.  I find out soon after starting, when someone else asks, that I was not the only one that tried to attend the Tuesday evening conference on Dec. 4.  Dr. Abernathy said she forgot to log on.  I was a bit frustrated, but we all make mistakes.  I knew then that I needed to schedule in more time into this busy time of year to attend or watch another recorded web conference.  I enjoyed the live feedback from hearing from the other attendees.  It is great to see the faces of some of the classmates and the professor.  Hearing or reading their comments about how they communicated with their teams was a good insight to how other teams were collaborating.  I was even able to see and hear from another attendee how she was watching an eagle on the lake. I wondered where she was sitting in the sunshine while I was bundled up from the cold northern that had blown in the night before.  I was glad I attended the conference live since at the end, Dr. Abernathy stated she forgot to record.  The chats do not have all the information, but luckily I was watching and we have plenty of other opportunities to attend another before the end of the course. 

Monday, December 10

I watched this web conference recording after my children went to bed.  I really enjoy the fact that I can still feel connected to the professor even in an online class. The recorded web conferences are a life-saver for me and my hectic life. Tonight Dr. Abernathy went over many aspects of our completed program such as graduation (too far away at the moment to be excited about), ILD, and certification exams.  I am familiar with all the information, but hearing it aloud helps to remind me that I need to schedule my ILD and think about when I will take my certification exams.  I am always glad to hear from the professor even if I am not attending a live conference.  Also after this conference it reminded me to look at my final grades again from the last course in Banner.  I felt ill when I read that I had received a D in my previous course!!!!  As I took a few deep breaths, I emailed both Dr. Abernathy and my IA for clarification.  I had no idea why I had a D posted as my final grade when I had an A in Blackboard (a 100% in fact).  I thought that maybe it had to do with my Tk20 submission, but from what I could tell, I had submitted everything correctly.  When I finally heard back from Dr. Abernathy a few days later and a few emails later, she stated that she had miss keyed my grade and I should have had an A for the course. She was applying for a grade change, but it might take a few weeks to reflect in Banner.  I was quite relieved I had not received a D!  As a teacher, I understand how a simple mistake can happen when typing, but as I have become a student again, I am more aware as I type in my grades although I still have made mistakes.  I am just GLAD that I will have an A on my transcript instead of a D.  Lesson learned…always check and don’t assume. 

Sunday, December 16

I watched this conference recorded.  I was quite confused by the end.  This is the last week of this course which has been very difficult to follow!!!  Blackboard assignments say one thing, announcements say another, weekly overviews read a different way, and often IA need clarification. After the end of this web conference I read the posted week 5 overview.  It said that we needed to post to the discussion board.  In fact during the conference it was suggested to post the discussion board a new feed.  I went to find the discussion board, but it was nowhere to be found.  I thought maybe I was missing something, but after an email to my IA, I was forwarded an email from the professor that stated there was no discussion board for this week.  After the week 4 assignments were null or not needed, I wasn’t wasting time trying to decipher the differences between the overviews and assignments.  I went straight to the IA for clarification.  I can’t help but wonder if I was the only one who felt so lost and frustrated and confused throughout this course.  I enjoyed the content, but the outline was very difficult to follow.  I have not had this difficult a time following the course content since I began my graduate studies in June.  I have been trying to embrace change (being flexible) and also trying to sympathize with the IA and professor when technology is undependable and changes have to be made, but as a student who depends on consistency, it is very difficult.  This course has definitely made me more aware of how necessary it is (especially with adults) to be consistent and prepared with my students.