Online Learning Orientation Week 2 Reflection

• What are your expectations for this program?

I applied for this program thinking it really was the next logical step for me in my career and knowing that my husband and I wanted to have more children I decided it was best to get this started and completed before I had two toddlers in the house. So when a co-worker suggested this program (he was already admitted), two of us applied, then a third (we now have 4 of us in the program and one who is completing this month). I really had no expectations for the program except that because it was associated with ISTE that it would provide me with a better understanding of how to incorporate technologies on the administrative level rather than just in the classroom. Of course being a Johns Hopkins program you always assume the highest caliber of education as well so I guess my expectations are pretty high. I expect I will be working a lot on my classes, I expect that I will learn a lot, I expect that unlike other graduate courses I have taken I will feel that the course was useful and beneficial. I also expect that by completing this program with three other colleagues will help me to stay focused and on track.

• What do you hope to accomplish?

I hope to gain some confidence in myself as an educator, but mainly as a leader. I am new in leadership roles and while I have always felt comfortable leading in certain areas, leading in a school environment is very new to me and I hope to feel that I am a strong and capable leader after this program is complete.

• 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?

I absolutely plan to make a schedule with my family to ensure that I am able to complete my assignments. I will be adding to my family at the end of the second course and will be on leave from school for a couple of months with my newborn so I will have to learn to balance being a mommy and a student. I have confidence in myself that I will be able to do it but it will take scheduling. My colleagues and I also plan to have weekly lunch work sessions to make sure we are all on the same page and keeping up with the courses. I am looking forward to have a little face to face collaboration for the courses.

• Where do you still need additional support to be successful?

Like I mentioned above my family and colleagues support will make such a difference and I already feel like just this two week orientation helped me to gain confidence in myself. I am currently enrolled in another graduate course as well as a professional development course, so I juggled three courses at once, which was impressive in my book! I believe that JHU has set up a very strong support system and I feel lucky to be a part of this program.