• What are your expectations for this program? What do you hope to accomplish?
I hope to come away from this program with a better understanding of the decision making process from an administrator’s point of view. Leaders cannot afford to take a myopic view. They are not only responsible for their building and all the occupants inside, but also must answer to their supervisors and the community at large. I want to better understand how to establish a vision and get others to not only buy into the vision, but also pick up the reigns and see it through. I want to be able to establish policies and master the task of delegating responsibilities. I also expect to continue to improve my writing skills because I do not believe you can be an effective administrator/supervisor without strong writing skills.
• Now that you have a good sense of the types of online activities and the rhythms of an active participant, what steps will you take to be successful in this program?
Some great advice was given during the synchronous chat session regarding ideas for being successful in this program. I will definitely take Ryan’s suggestion of logging in once a day, even if it is just for 10 minutes to review comments made in the discussion area or to see if the instructor uploaded any new postings. Additionally I will set aside 2 to 3 days out of the week to devote to the completion of readings and activities.
I will also use Evernote to help me remain organized using tools like the self-created checklists. This program is synced with my iPhone, which allows me to have my information handy at all times.
Using the RSS feeds is another great tool that I am utilizing to stay on top of newly added material from the ELC. I have the feeds going into my iGoogle Homepage so now I have up to the minute information from classmates/teammates and instructor.
Lastly, I will use Delicious. I used this tool extensively throughout my master's program and definitely plan on using it for this program as well. I will tag recommended links to resources suggested by my instructor and classmates.
• Where do you still need additional support to be successful?
Using APA format has always been a challenge for me. I plan on reviewing the Purdue Owl website and participating in some of the APA workshops listed on the site. I am also interested in some of the writing resources available on the Owl website and would like to spend some time on these sites as well.
