Reflections

       My reflections on the Capstone journey: 

       What a journey it was. So glad it is over, so proud I did it, and reflecting back, as we always do, it was not as bad as I had feared. Now that is always easier said in hindsight, but is true. I'm glad we had Amy as our professor and mentor. Really made it easier with the small chunks and keep on adding them together for the 'Master'-piece. The hardest part was the literature review. Actual torture looking for articles and papers that were in the schema of what my paper was on or about. I guess appreciation for those scholars before and after my time is a way of stating how I feel.
       Now that I have a completed paper, which is the largest part of a Master's degree, a sense of relief is upon me. I can't believe it has been three and half years already. Some much learned, experienced, gained, and the friendships kindled is awesome. Seeing the other cohort where we were is a neat feeling. Seeing their stress and frustration is a reminder of how much I had gone through and saying it again, accomplished.

Climbing and getting closer

     Enjoyed the week off from school this past week. I like taking time and just catching up on ALL the little things that like to pile up everywhere. Got a lot accomplished and feels good. The paper was supposed to be on the front burner but didn't get to it until  Sunday Morning. But worked on it all day and was able to tweak it Monday afternoon and turn it in early, well early for me.

     I was glad to hear from Amy stating that the proposal format of the paper had been posted. That was a big help in determining the correct verb-age and direction to do my own paper. Plan on working on Chapter 3 hard as well. I did do some planning on it because of our needing the evaluation part first. I had to think of the means to the ends so to speak.

Don't look down ... just forward and up!

Its HUMP DAAAY YEAH-UH

Thank you Amy for that one, telling me that we are half way completed. (Then you said you would tell me anything I needed to here) Well it worked. I do feel better, but knowing there is still a lot of road out there to travel to completion.
I turned my Lit Review in on Wednesday, right on time ...... 11:50 PM.  lol  Needed that extra time. Like I stated in my previous blog I conducted the surveys I need for the needs assessment. Analyzing the data now from that and am writing the section for the research paper. I received feed back on the Lit review and will be making the necessary improvements and adjustments to that section of the paper.

 I kinda feel like this guy here. Well, only a few days left for the literature review part (Chapter 2) of the paper is due. Still a ways to go. Worked on the writing of it all day yesterday after finally getting some useful  reviews found and read/analyzed. Finding it very trying to show consistently the source of your information. Just when you think you're good to go, more research trying to show sources for your beliefs!   

I also had my students today take a survey so I can also be working on and turning in the needs assessment part. When are we at the hump part of this paper? Anyone please ....  :-\

Are We Having Fun Yet?

 Well, what a week. Very nervous!
At least with IDD there was, I think, some direction. A desired outcome, a lesson plan. This research and justifying and proving is by far more difficult I believe. Anyway, enough wining. 

I was able to find some articles, studies that is, in supporting my paper. Not much out there on my topic, Flipped Learning. Have been playing around with different keyword combinations and am amazed at the varied results that populate. I just hope it's the right stuff and am not going down a wrong pathway. I looked at the calendar and am really nervous about how quickly time is flying by and all the work that needs to get done. 

Driving in the dark - But I'm driving forward I think

Like IDD, a whole lot of upfront thinking, planning and analyzing. I was lost in that course in the beginning and was able to focus and survive. In fact I'm basing my thesis on most of what I learned and developed in that course.

With that said, had a bad week moving forward. Even though I'm using the same material and lesson, it is at a complete different angle - proving the methodology through research. I started finally doing some research queries only to be feeling like that drive down a secluded highway with no map. And to boot, the government shut down, I was unable to go to the ERIC site and research there, where the text suggested a good start. Am looking forward to class tonight to get some guidance and direction.

Research ...... Where to begin

This is going to be one of the hardest courses I'm ever going to take. Why? Because I need a class on doing research FIRST. It's like I've been put out in the middle of a field of tomatoes and told I can't leave until I come out with a pot of sauce. Just do it. Well where do you begin? EXACTLY! Kinda lost about how to research. I've never done this before and don't have a clue on how to start my "sauce". To be honest I've walked blindly into this course and am hoping on some strange luck that this paper will some how be written in the end and saying to my self, "Well that wasn't so bad now was it". Wish me luck.

And by the way who ever is reading this, Good luck to you as well! :-)