Julie Gilbert

OMDE 601 Section 9040

Date Due November 23
E-Portfolio Task Questions for Reflection Current Trends

In your e-portfolio (learning journal), please respond to the questions for reflection for current
trends:
1. Review your group's (r)evolutionary grid. What are your thoughts about the grid as a
learning tool and the process used to create the grid?
I think the current trends section of the grid was a little more difficult to complete as a
group, only because there were fewer theories and/or key points to describe when
compared to the other waves of distance education.

2. Go back to your original definition of DE. What aspects of the course have influenced
your understanding of DE? Based on what you have learned in the course, revise your
original definition accordingly---and explain why you have changed (or not changed)
your definition in the way you have.
My original definition of distance education:
I believe distance education can be many different things depending on the student and
the intent of the program/class. I think distance education can incorporate learning
through print materials at one's own pace or at a pace pre-determined by an evaluator.
It can also include online learning through interactive modules, text, videos, or even
infographics. Distance education can involve communication among students, or even
just student to teacher interactions, but I think some form of communication to evaluate
understanding is necessary. I also believe that having a qualified instructor to monitor
progress, understanding, and learning, as well as evaluate assignments is essential in
determining the quality of the program/class.
I dont know that my definition would really change, except that I think some of the
theories that weve learned over the course, like connectivism, interaction equivalency
and heutagogy have more of an impact on instructional design and the manner in which
materials should possibly be presented in a distance education course.

Julie Gilbert
OMDE 601 Section 9040
Date Due November 23
E-Portfolio Task Questions for Reflection Current Trends

3. Consider the overall course objectives (see the Course Syllabus). Were all or most of
these objectives achieved? If so, in what ways and to what degree?
Yes, the objectives of the course were met.
To me, the wave grid provided a great means to achieve the course objectives. It allowed
us to pull out specific information (influences, characteristics, key authors,
methodologies, theories, institutions and approaches to distance education, etc.) about
the evolution of distance education, and it provided us with a tool to concentrate on the
major influences as distance education evolved. It also created a document that we
could reference as we progressed through our weekly readings.
I also felt the Skill Builders provided a wonderful opportunity to learn about new tools
available in an online learning environment. I especially liked learning how to
use/create an online portfolio.
Although I cant say my writing was stellar for this course (probably due to the length of
time since I last did any major educational writing!), but it did help me understand the
material in greater detail.
Lastly, I enjoyed the discussions that occurred. Although I wasnt a major contributor
(as far as posting), I did read other classmates posts as well as instructor/visitor
instructor replies and additional conversation. (I particularly liked how I could
automatically access the posts by having email notifications!)

4. Take some time to reflect on your study group experience: What did you think about the

experience of working together to create a collaborative document? What worked? What

did not? What could your group have improved in order to realize a more smooth
process? What do you see as benefits (or drawbacks) of online collaboration? How do
you think the activity could be improved?
Overall, our group worked pretty well, at least in terms of getting the work completed on
time; however, I dont think we collaborated or discussed as much as other groups may
have. There seemed to be a few people who were the leaders in the group, which is
natural, but it can be frustrating when youre trying to work together and you dont
receive feedback or assistance from all group members.
I sometimes felt the grid was very difficult to complete as a group, especially when trying
not to duplicate efforts and information.

Julie Gilbert
OMDE 601 Section 9040
Date Due November 23
E-Portfolio Task Questions for Reflection Current Trends

I think our group might have worked better if we could have a conference call or a group
skype call or something along those lines. I kind of felt that we were all disconnected.
We wanted to get the assignment completed, but I dont know that we all put in the same
amount of effort.
I personally enjoyed reading other classmates posts to the discussion questions, but I
cant say that these were necessarily discussions from just my group. I also liked how the
instructors responses provided value to our discussion, and often asked us to think of
things in a different way or to elaborate on our thoughts.
It might be better to work in pairs or triplets instead of such a large group. Might just be
easier to manage.