Week Of: April 11, 2010
Team Characteristic: Hard Work
Personal Characteristic: Time Management
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation: This week has been stressful. We got the draft back that we sent to Cheri. True to fashion, the document was chopped, diced, and sliced, but the feedback was invaluable. The biggest piece we in revision you have to be receptive to the feedback given. If this was a year ago, it would have hurt our egos, but not we use it as a tool. We are so busy in our normal jobs that we have not had opportunities to devote all of our time to this project, but we are making time even when it is not available. Now, that we have the feedback we are making the revisions as this paper is due on April 20th. On top of that we have to develop a presentation for this project. Anybody that knows me knows that I believe in Presentation Zen. The presentation must be hot!
Reflections: My reflections for this week are, we need more time! Between work, school, and home, I don't have any time! This is what we signed on for and I know the Capstone will be this times 10! I am managing my time, but in that management sleep is definitely lacking as well as family time. I steal a few moments away to be with my family but they have been extremely supportive and I thank them for it as I need it! Here we go!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Teamwork, April 11, 2010
Week Of: April 11, 2010
Team Characteristic: Teamwork
Personal Characteristic: Task Master
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation: This week is the week to get all of the pieces of this project together. We have worked hard individually and collectively on our project. This week has been more revising and making sure that all the pieces follow proper APA format. For the figures and tables, it was not an easy task as you move them from Excel to Word, the formats will are not compatible most times. Making it fit into what APA requires, made the task more difficult, but we put it together. I must give my group all accolades possible and they have worked tirelessly on this project and have really done their parts to make this the best product possible. Now that it is all together into a formal document, it is time for Dr. Magill to slice and dice so we can have the product ready for our client Dr. Teigen at Bird High School.
Reflections: One of my strongest characteristics, task master, came into play as we put the project together in its final stages. At times, I find that I take control but I don't want to push others too much as this was Spring Break and we all needed the break. I realized that we had deadlines to meet so when we met on Thursday, it was a work session, no time for idle talk. We worked hard and went to our homes and continued to work from there as well. E-mail correspondence came in handy as we to complete this project. I must say, I am proud of my group and the work that we have done. Also, I am amazed that most of my Spring Break has been spent working on projects. Again, these are the sacrifices made for a doctorate degree.
Team Characteristic: Teamwork
Personal Characteristic: Task Master
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation: This week is the week to get all of the pieces of this project together. We have worked hard individually and collectively on our project. This week has been more revising and making sure that all the pieces follow proper APA format. For the figures and tables, it was not an easy task as you move them from Excel to Word, the formats will are not compatible most times. Making it fit into what APA requires, made the task more difficult, but we put it together. I must give my group all accolades possible and they have worked tirelessly on this project and have really done their parts to make this the best product possible. Now that it is all together into a formal document, it is time for Dr. Magill to slice and dice so we can have the product ready for our client Dr. Teigen at Bird High School.
Reflections: One of my strongest characteristics, task master, came into play as we put the project together in its final stages. At times, I find that I take control but I don't want to push others too much as this was Spring Break and we all needed the break. I realized that we had deadlines to meet so when we met on Thursday, it was a work session, no time for idle talk. We worked hard and went to our homes and continued to work from there as well. E-mail correspondence came in handy as we to complete this project. I must say, I am proud of my group and the work that we have done. Also, I am amazed that most of my Spring Break has been spent working on projects. Again, these are the sacrifices made for a doctorate degree.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
March 28 and April 4, 2010 Reflections
Weeks Of: March 28 and April 4, 2010
Team Characteristic: Teamwork
Personal Characteristic: Perseverance
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation:
It is now time to put all parts of project together. We have been working as a team but individually on the pieces we assigned ourselves to do. The parts of the project that have been the most difficult was the literature review. The art of APA formatting and finding the correct sources is the challenging part. Now the challenge is making this project sound like the parts belong together. It should not be in broken pieces. At this point we are working long hours and coming home to finish this project. The best part is seeing how a work like this can be helpful as 3 students attempt to put the right pieces in order to make the best product.
Reflections:
This is been a long process. Although this has been two semesters and the time felt long, it was short compared to the work that has to do. Once I heard the due date as on April 17th, I began to panic a little bit. Will that be enough time to produce a viable product for our client? Will Dr. Magill find this project worthy of all the time she spent working with us to get it right? Have we as a group worked hard enough to produce the product that we are proud of? At this point, I can't answer any of these questions as it is Spring Break and I am working on this project. It is a work in a progress. This week is the time to get this work done and maybe I will have the answers by the beginning of next week. Actually, I do not have a chose as it is due next week. Crunch Time! Perseverance has been the characteristic used most throughout this project. I am practicing it each day.
Team Characteristic: Teamwork
Personal Characteristic: Perseverance
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation:
It is now time to put all parts of project together. We have been working as a team but individually on the pieces we assigned ourselves to do. The parts of the project that have been the most difficult was the literature review. The art of APA formatting and finding the correct sources is the challenging part. Now the challenge is making this project sound like the parts belong together. It should not be in broken pieces. At this point we are working long hours and coming home to finish this project. The best part is seeing how a work like this can be helpful as 3 students attempt to put the right pieces in order to make the best product.
Reflections:
This is been a long process. Although this has been two semesters and the time felt long, it was short compared to the work that has to do. Once I heard the due date as on April 17th, I began to panic a little bit. Will that be enough time to produce a viable product for our client? Will Dr. Magill find this project worthy of all the time she spent working with us to get it right? Have we as a group worked hard enough to produce the product that we are proud of? At this point, I can't answer any of these questions as it is Spring Break and I am working on this project. It is a work in a progress. This week is the time to get this work done and maybe I will have the answers by the beginning of next week. Actually, I do not have a chose as it is due next week. Crunch Time! Perseverance has been the characteristic used most throughout this project. I am practicing it each day.
Monday, March 22, 2010
March 20, 2010 Hard Work
Week Of: March 20, 2010
Team Characteristic: Hard Work
Personal Characteristic: Time to Focus
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation: Our group has been working on some many things but doctoral and other work experiences. It has been a task to stay focused and complete the necessary elements to this program evaluation. We are nearing the end of a school year and the demands on administrators increase exponentially. For myself it seems each day I come in I get an new duty on task on top of the other 200 that are due. I am not complaining, it is just the nature of the job. As Dr. MaGill stated it is crunch time and we have to deliver. I have it coming all directions and I know my group is feeling the same way. The bad thing that is easy to loose focus, March Madness.
Reflections: I am regaining my focus and really putting my feet solid on the work and walking the walk. We got our assignments on last Thursday on the things that need to be correct in for this project to be the best it can be. It seems like a lot, but that is what doctoral work is about, revision, refine, and deliver a usable product for the program the product in a form the client to use. That is the reason why we are here. In the midst of March Madness College Basketball, I have my own March Madness called Program Evaluation. As for the team I am on, we will not be put out before the finals in May; we will win or complete this evaluation and win the prize, a "Capstone Project"!
Team Characteristic: Hard Work
Personal Characteristic: Time to Focus
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation: Our group has been working on some many things but doctoral and other work experiences. It has been a task to stay focused and complete the necessary elements to this program evaluation. We are nearing the end of a school year and the demands on administrators increase exponentially. For myself it seems each day I come in I get an new duty on task on top of the other 200 that are due. I am not complaining, it is just the nature of the job. As Dr. MaGill stated it is crunch time and we have to deliver. I have it coming all directions and I know my group is feeling the same way. The bad thing that is easy to loose focus, March Madness.
Reflections: I am regaining my focus and really putting my feet solid on the work and walking the walk. We got our assignments on last Thursday on the things that need to be correct in for this project to be the best it can be. It seems like a lot, but that is what doctoral work is about, revision, refine, and deliver a usable product for the program the product in a form the client to use. That is the reason why we are here. In the midst of March Madness College Basketball, I have my own March Madness called Program Evaluation. As for the team I am on, we will not be put out before the finals in May; we will win or complete this evaluation and win the prize, a "Capstone Project"!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Accountability (Remixed) 3-15-2010
Week Of: March 15, 2010
Team Characteristic: Accountability (Remixed)
Personal Characteristic: Feeling Overwhelmed
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation: Our group has been accountable for the gathering of data for this project. As we get deeper into this study I am finding that the more we do, the more that needs to be done. Jim is doing surveys and collecting data, Thomas is weaving the time management piece into the literature review, and I am working on the literature review, teacher goal statements, and arranging the data table and charts to fit APA formatting. Although it may not see like a lot, it is. This is additional tasks added to my responsibilities as an assistant principal right before SOL's.
Reflections: I called this accountability (remixed) because with all that we have going on; we are meeting our deadlines and collecting the necessary data to make our work the best it can be. The remix part deals with us knowing and staying accountable for each task given. At the beginning, we knew we were accountable for our tasks, but now we know that for the success of the group, we are accountable to one another, the client, and the program. This training is truly getting us ready for the Capstone project. I must admit, I do feel overwhelmed at times and just want to be lazy and do nothing. This is not possible at this point or better yet, can't rest until June 2011. Overwhelmed or not, we will produce an excellent study for our client.
Team Characteristic: Accountability (Remixed)
Personal Characteristic: Feeling Overwhelmed
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation: Our group has been accountable for the gathering of data for this project. As we get deeper into this study I am finding that the more we do, the more that needs to be done. Jim is doing surveys and collecting data, Thomas is weaving the time management piece into the literature review, and I am working on the literature review, teacher goal statements, and arranging the data table and charts to fit APA formatting. Although it may not see like a lot, it is. This is additional tasks added to my responsibilities as an assistant principal right before SOL's.
Reflections: I called this accountability (remixed) because with all that we have going on; we are meeting our deadlines and collecting the necessary data to make our work the best it can be. The remix part deals with us knowing and staying accountable for each task given. At the beginning, we knew we were accountable for our tasks, but now we know that for the success of the group, we are accountable to one another, the client, and the program. This training is truly getting us ready for the Capstone project. I must admit, I do feel overwhelmed at times and just want to be lazy and do nothing. This is not possible at this point or better yet, can't rest until June 2011. Overwhelmed or not, we will produce an excellent study for our client.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Trust 3-7-10
Week Of: March 7, 2010
Team Characteristic: Absence of Trust
Personal Characteristic: Trust
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation:
This week we work on our literature review and the surveys. As we collect the data, we have to place the data into tables and graphs to interpret what it says. The surveys had to be developed, edited, approved, and disseminated. We were able to do all these things on top of our hectic work week. The teachers taking the surveys are just as busy if not more and have taken the time to do this for us to give feedback on a program that will affect everyone in the future. They understand that their thoughts matter and in this time of budget cuts they gave us their honest feedback.
Reflections:
I am happy to know that we have trust to give these surveys to teachers who have been through a lot in these past weeks. To know what they have been through and for them to say “yes” and take the survey seriously was powerful. That is a level of trust we have in them and it is the same with us. I know that Jim and Thomas have the best interest of the group when completing tasks. We shared our literature reviews and when it was critiqued, we did not have a problem saying yes, this is what we need to have in the literature review. I have found that I have matured and am happy to have the trust in group members that their expertise will make our project better. Trust is a hard thing to develop and maintain among members of a group, but once it is there the work produced will be phenomenal.
Team Characteristic: Absence of Trust
Personal Characteristic: Trust
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation:
This week we work on our literature review and the surveys. As we collect the data, we have to place the data into tables and graphs to interpret what it says. The surveys had to be developed, edited, approved, and disseminated. We were able to do all these things on top of our hectic work week. The teachers taking the surveys are just as busy if not more and have taken the time to do this for us to give feedback on a program that will affect everyone in the future. They understand that their thoughts matter and in this time of budget cuts they gave us their honest feedback.
Reflections:
I am happy to know that we have trust to give these surveys to teachers who have been through a lot in these past weeks. To know what they have been through and for them to say “yes” and take the survey seriously was powerful. That is a level of trust we have in them and it is the same with us. I know that Jim and Thomas have the best interest of the group when completing tasks. We shared our literature reviews and when it was critiqued, we did not have a problem saying yes, this is what we need to have in the literature review. I have found that I have matured and am happy to have the trust in group members that their expertise will make our project better. Trust is a hard thing to develop and maintain among members of a group, but once it is there the work produced will be phenomenal.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
2-28-10
Week Of: February 28, 2010
Team Characteristic: Lack of Commitment
Personal Characteristic: Working Hard
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation:
This week we working on our literature review. We are back to getting the literature reviews and putting the ideas together to make a whole. I am actually happy with the progress we have made as a group. We all have our busy schedules, but the group has worked hard to get where we are. We are committed.
Reflections:
I have been working hard on the literature review and the data tables and charts. I have been doing lots of work on these charts. I have a new found respect for the Excel program. I am attempting to show the data in different tables to show frequency and distribution of goals. As I am working on the tables, I get see the data in different views and when I have to write the explanation of the data table and graph, I will be able to tell a complete story not just part of it. I am committed and so are my group members.
Team Characteristic: Lack of Commitment
Personal Characteristic: Working Hard
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation:
This week we working on our literature review. We are back to getting the literature reviews and putting the ideas together to make a whole. I am actually happy with the progress we have made as a group. We all have our busy schedules, but the group has worked hard to get where we are. We are committed.
Reflections:
I have been working hard on the literature review and the data tables and charts. I have been doing lots of work on these charts. I have a new found respect for the Excel program. I am attempting to show the data in different tables to show frequency and distribution of goals. As I am working on the tables, I get see the data in different views and when I have to write the explanation of the data table and graph, I will be able to tell a complete story not just part of it. I am committed and so are my group members.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Fear of Conflict 2-21-10
Week Of: February 21, 2010
Team Characteristic: Fear of Conflict
Personal Characteristic: Task Master
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation:
This week were should have gathered the bulk of our data. We want to send a survey to teachers at Bird High School to get the perceptions of the PGPP-T. We had to tweak the survey as the client Beth Teigen wants the data in a certain way. The only problem we had was just getting the survey back from her so we can go forward. This can create conflict between team members and client as deadlines have to be met.
Reflections:
As a task master it is easy to get frustrated at times when others are not meeting their deadlines. For this team we have worked very well together. We all are pulling our weight when it comes to the work. As the task master my role has shifted at times all of us are task masters. It has been good to have all the members of the group on the same page and doing their share of the work. We all have different personalities, but we have not clashed, and if we do as professionals we know how to handle it. This has come with maturity and working on various projects together. Fear of conflict, not a problem if anything conflict should fear us.
Team Characteristic: Fear of Conflict
Personal Characteristic: Task Master
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation:
This week were should have gathered the bulk of our data. We want to send a survey to teachers at Bird High School to get the perceptions of the PGPP-T. We had to tweak the survey as the client Beth Teigen wants the data in a certain way. The only problem we had was just getting the survey back from her so we can go forward. This can create conflict between team members and client as deadlines have to be met.
Reflections:
As a task master it is easy to get frustrated at times when others are not meeting their deadlines. For this team we have worked very well together. We all are pulling our weight when it comes to the work. As the task master my role has shifted at times all of us are task masters. It has been good to have all the members of the group on the same page and doing their share of the work. We all have different personalities, but we have not clashed, and if we do as professionals we know how to handle it. This has come with maturity and working on various projects together. Fear of conflict, not a problem if anything conflict should fear us.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Accountability 2-14-10
Week Of: February 14, 2010
Team Characteristic: Accountability
Personal Characteristic: Feeling Responsible
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation: Our group has been accountable for the gathering of data for this project. We all had separate tasks to complete within a week and I am proud to say I am impressed with the level of accountability each member has taken on. We all have busy days, but we find time to e-mail, text, or call one another to make sure no one is slacking. At first I really thought we would fall behind, but our progress has been consistent with each others assignments.
Reflections:
I started reflecting in the above section so I will finish my thoughts here. I truly appreciate the comments given to me by Dr. MaGill as I am writing this literary review. I was able to go back and use them and it has been a major resource. I don't feel like I am writing blind, the glass are on and I cans see the destination. I just want to make this a solid piece of writing. I always thought of myself as a good writer, now I want to be a better writer. Someday in the future get some things published in a few journals. Imagine me with a literary review in a journal. Sounds funny, but could be very true. As for the team, thanks guys for having each others backs. We have had a extremely stressful week, but we got the work done and the finished product will be great. The client, Beth Teigen will get lots of use out of this study.
Team Characteristic: Accountability
Personal Characteristic: Feeling Responsible
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation: Our group has been accountable for the gathering of data for this project. We all had separate tasks to complete within a week and I am proud to say I am impressed with the level of accountability each member has taken on. We all have busy days, but we find time to e-mail, text, or call one another to make sure no one is slacking. At first I really thought we would fall behind, but our progress has been consistent with each others assignments.
Reflections:
I started reflecting in the above section so I will finish my thoughts here. I truly appreciate the comments given to me by Dr. MaGill as I am writing this literary review. I was able to go back and use them and it has been a major resource. I don't feel like I am writing blind, the glass are on and I cans see the destination. I just want to make this a solid piece of writing. I always thought of myself as a good writer, now I want to be a better writer. Someday in the future get some things published in a few journals. Imagine me with a literary review in a journal. Sounds funny, but could be very true. As for the team, thanks guys for having each others backs. We have had a extremely stressful week, but we got the work done and the finished product will be great. The client, Beth Teigen will get lots of use out of this study.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
PGPP-T Bird High School
Week Of: February 7, 2010
Team Characteristic: Teamwork
Personal Characteristic: Frustrated/Literary Writing/Researcher
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation:
Chesterfield County Schools has piloted the PGPP-T for the past two years at select schools. Bird High School was fortunate to pilot this form of evaluation for their staff. I am working with Jim Glass and Thomas Ferrell Jr. on the following objectives:
(1) To Identify content of goals that teachers have set?
(2) Is there a difference in pass rates versus the content of goals?
(3) The amount of time spent per teacher: observing, conferencing, developing goals, etc.
Reflection:
We have collected data and were able to speak to Dr. Beth Teigen the principal of Bird High School, to see exactly what she wanted as the client. She state the objectives were in line with what she wanted and told us to concentrate our efforts on the two main subject areas for accreditation, English and Math. As we concentrate our efforts, it has become easy to focus our studies and the collection of data. The main issue for me at this time is the Literature Review. It is hard to take large pieces of literature and pick out the most important parts to focus on one objective to which each member of the group selected. Just like the legal writing the literary review will come to me, it just gets frustrating when you put effort into making a product as good as it can be, but you still miss the mark. I know this is what being a doctoral candidate is all about, frustration, long days and nights, constant editing and research, second guessing, collective bargaining with group members, and most of all believing that your work does have meaning and will stand for something when it is all said and done.
Team Characteristic: Teamwork
Personal Characteristic: Frustrated/Literary Writing/Researcher
BRIEF Description of Activity/Situation:
Chesterfield County Schools has piloted the PGPP-T for the past two years at select schools. Bird High School was fortunate to pilot this form of evaluation for their staff. I am working with Jim Glass and Thomas Ferrell Jr. on the following objectives:
(1) To Identify content of goals that teachers have set?
(2) Is there a difference in pass rates versus the content of goals?
(3) The amount of time spent per teacher: observing, conferencing, developing goals, etc.
Reflection:
We have collected data and were able to speak to Dr. Beth Teigen the principal of Bird High School, to see exactly what she wanted as the client. She state the objectives were in line with what she wanted and told us to concentrate our efforts on the two main subject areas for accreditation, English and Math. As we concentrate our efforts, it has become easy to focus our studies and the collection of data. The main issue for me at this time is the Literature Review. It is hard to take large pieces of literature and pick out the most important parts to focus on one objective to which each member of the group selected. Just like the legal writing the literary review will come to me, it just gets frustrating when you put effort into making a product as good as it can be, but you still miss the mark. I know this is what being a doctoral candidate is all about, frustration, long days and nights, constant editing and research, second guessing, collective bargaining with group members, and most of all believing that your work does have meaning and will stand for something when it is all said and done.
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