Reflection essay

So I have been writing all afternoon and the words seemed to flow from me, so I kept writing. However, I am now discussing how I identified my Areas of Learning and  although I have submitted two AOL's and I have a third one part written, I don't know if ultimately I am going to need more areas and if so, how do I write about them in my Reflective essay? 

Onwards an upwards

 So having submitted and resubmitted my Areas of Learning, I am now starting to look at my Reflective essay. The handbooks for both RPL and for this essay have been a great assistance. I am re-reading them and actually find I need both open as I am thinking of my essay. There are parts of the handbooks that I would like to quote - which I am sure is OK, but not really sure? If I do quote from them, how are they shown in bibliography - does anyone know? This sentence from DAN4510 handbook is very reflective of  my feelings in this module!

I am definitely not comfortable writing my thinking as I think it shows my muddled brain and also I don't think I write in a very academic way!

Friday 13th?

 So I have taken the plunge and submitted my first two Areas of Learning. I had forgotten it was Friday 13th, but I am sure it will be ok.  Questions in my head, are they good enough, are they along the right lines, do they adequately reflect my learning and more to the point will the assessors think that they do!
I  had almost completed my third essay as well, but I was struggling to complete it and find relevant illustrations so I have decided to wait until next semester to finish that one. Onwards and upwards, now onto my DAN4510 essay!! Fingers crossed for us all! 

Clarity!

 Following Adesola's Skype session this morning, I now have a better understanding of the requirements for this Module. I hadn't thought about approaching the AOL's as if I was creating a course/module for another person to learn from. This makes more sense to me! Also the fact that I don't have to get all drafts done and then final essays  submitted by 16th November has really taken the weight off my shoulders. I have been reading and writing and not feeling happy about the amount of time I have had to complete my further AOL's beyond the first one!

It was good to see the other participants and to hear their questions. I didn't get a chance to ask anything as my questions were mostly already answered by Adesola! Thank you!

Mirror, mirror on the wall, reflect on life and learning!

 Well I have decided I am not very good at reflecting back on things! I feel like, its happened I made a mistake - or I made a good job, now get on with it! I don't like to dwell on the past  even if it is supposed to make me understand how I have reached this point in my career. But I am digging and dwelling and hoping that I am heading the right way. Once I had decided upon my first AOL, another two came to mind really quickly, but who knows if they are going to be appropriate! I shall see!

Head down and into full writing mode

 Having been totally at a loss as to where to start with my AOL's, I am on a roll today!  I have started with two suggested titles and listed a couple of bullet points for each one and I am now going to try to draft my first one in full! Not 100% certain how it will pan out but planning on using Gibbs ( 1998) reflective circle to help me through as I have found this to be the most helpful for me to plan. How is everyone else doing? I keep checking Blogs and cant really find anything yet!  

Meaningfulness!

 Following my Blog yesterday about the discussion on Sunday,  I have enjoyed reading the paragraph on Meaningfulness and this sentence in particular I find very accurate.

If ‘learners can create any number of meanings, intended or otherwise, out of the same learning experience’ (Winitzkyand Kauchak, 1997), judging what is meaningful to a learner becomes basically a matter of informed guesswork because the teacher does not have access to the brain of the learner.

[Moon, Jennifer A.. A Handbook of Reflective and Experiential Learning)

We don't know how the learner is interpreting the material we as teachers are presenting them with and therefore, on occasions, I find myself offering various ways of imparting the same information to help with different interpretations. Some are successful, others are not! I have found though that the longer period of time that you spend teaching an individual( months or years), you can start to understand how they as individuals will interpret the information provided and you can adapt your delivery to that individual.