FM8: Stephanie Flores

1. Are the how-to videos still providing value? Please explain.Yes! These videos still allow me to visually follow the expectations that are required for each assignment. They are very helpful!
2. Are the documents and videos I am providing valuable? Please explain.The content that is provided through these via documents and videos have been interesting reads and great topics. So far the content in this section of assignments have challenged me to think more deeply, more critically, and think outside the box which is not always intuitive to do!
3. Is the syllabus still valuable? Please explain. The syllabus continues to keep me on track when reviewing whatever is needed for the week. I still go back and review as it gives me a sense of security as I start the next thing.
4. Is the textbook starting to become more valuable? Please explain.

The textbook really is a resource that reinforces the why and the how of the concepts driven home through the documents and videos. I think it all combines well when it comes to understanding business and project managing perspectives.

5. Was the information about audiobooks and text to speech valuable to you? Please explain.

It is a useful tool to add to studying, but I do find reading the text and visually processing is more helpful.

6. Is Plectica becoming easier for you to use? And does it help you learn more? Please explain.

Yes it is becoming easier. As far as concept maps go and the organizational features I feel it is happening faster and comes more naturally except for when my laptop slows down when on the website! I love the ability to arrange, rearrange, and just order things in a way that make sense to me.

7. Same question for Tableau,Rationaleonline.com, and Thinkquiry.

Tableau requires that I play with it more and look at how-to videos such as the dashboard, but the second one did feel easier to create. I look forward to finding out and understanding it’s useful features. I feel better about rationaleonline.com because when seeing it all come together visually, I feel like I am not only using a unique tool but one that makes life easier in a way. Finally, thinkquiry still does not come naturally to me, but it challenges me to think more deeply about certain topics.

8. What were your thoughts on complexity, emergence, innovation, and organizational learning?

These were such valuable concepts that I will continue to revisit. As an emerging leader who would love to be

9. What were your thoughts on the Cynefin framework and the OODA Loop?

These tools are a gift to each one of us when faced with the unknown.

10. What were your thoughts on the Toulmin Method? This is the method I would do first before the Red Team because it helped me focus and begin to deconstruct each argument as I went through each category.
11. What were your thoughts on the Red Team tool — Argument Deconstruction?

I admittedly struggle with this activity as I felt that my mind is not trained to think philosophically. I would find it felt counterintuitive to go back and try to pin point what exactly I was expected to answer. This is why I did take long to create these.

12. What were your thoughts on Double and Single Loop Learning?I appreciated getting an understanding of these concepts. Single-loop learning to me means trial and error or finding an error and correcting it based on the information that is already in place. My goal is to reach the double-loop learning because it involves great initiative as you create something new from what is already in place in order to improve it further.
13. What were your thoughts on Professor Bunch’s video and the video on Soldier and Scout Mindset?I like being challenged on the way that I think. It seems all too easy in this class to get stumped! It carries more weight to know experts and professionals are highlighting and making people aware on a scale like TEDex, encouraging them to think about how they think.
14. What were your thoughts on the Nominal Group Technique, the Delphi Method, and Context Analysis?

I was so intrigued by the Nominal and Delphi technique in helping teams efficiently and fairly give their input.

The Nominal I appreciate because it allows for each member to give their own input while they are all brainstorming. It prevents anyone from being talked over or skipped in a way. The Delphi technique makes it efficient to meet and plan when teams are not in the same physical vicinity. So, it allows for things to get done in this way.

15. What did you think of CM5? I enjoyed CM5 and starting to use Tableau to make the first Dashboard. I took longer to play around with it and finally get the right procedure, but I felt accomplished to have learned a feature in Tableau!
16. What did you think of CM6? I started with the Tableau Dashboard because I felt more confident completing it. I truly enjoyed learning the different techniques that help teams work more effectively such as the brainstorming ones.
17. What did you think of EM7? Do you still plan on writing a blog? What were your thoughts on using previous student blogs to deconstruct?

EM7 stumped me for longer than I wish because it compelled me to think more philosophically than I am used to. I believe this is great practice, but I frustrated myself as I would revisit and rewrite the different components in each of the deconstruction methods. I still plan on writing a blog.

18. What did you think of the Spiral Method in EM7? What did you think of the discussion on Logical Fallacies? The spiral method is aesthetically pleasing to begin with. However, when looking at how the content presented is structured, it is easy to follow. The Logical fallacies is still something I have to reread to get a better hang of, but I do understand the ways each of these can undermine an argument by not hitting the target and adding more “fluff” essentially or being irrelevant.
19. What did you think of the Thesis Generator in EM7? What did you think of the BDK Method and the Critical Thinking handouts? I am still in the process of figuring this particular part out and so I will be following up with the professor as soon as I can feel comfortable with it. However, the BDK Method is such a valuable tool that I personally need to continue to keep accessible to me for the “Healthy skepticism” they refer to. It is an ongoing challenge for me to generally be more of a skeptic, but I am aware that it is about training the mind. The Critical Thinking handouts as well are another way to help me view this skill. I am grateful for this.
20. What are your thoughts of this assignment (FM8)? Does this idea (Swarming Feedback) make sense?

I still feel it is very valuable for the professor to see how we are all taking everything in. I felt a lot more efficient when getting to the point and answering these, but the map itself being loaded was slow, and I a m sure that is just because of how big the file is. Swarming feedback does make sense as it is a compilation of all our ideas!

21. What are your thoughts with the Facebook group? How can we use it better?

I like the instant interaction and class support that happens on Facebook.

22. What are your thoughts with the WordPress Learning Community? How can we use it better?I still believe in its value as it keep everything centralized and allows for our assignments to stay in one place as well. I understand that our assignments as a whole are not compiled given we submit them in the order they come in. So, if there is a way to search our own work thus far that would be great!
23. If you connected with an expert (e.g. Dave Snowded, Rob McClary, Laura Cabrera, etc.) did you enjoy the connection? Was it worthwhile? So far, I have not connected with an expert.
24. What are your expectations moving forward?

I expect to continue the challenge that each week brings, yet with more confidence every time I take it on. It takes me longer I believe the understand the assignment, but once I complete it, it feels like I got over a hill I was initially unsure about. So it is reinforcing of my own abilities!

25. What would you like to see change?I would like to see myself becoming more efficient with these assignments as I find myself repeating videos before I get to the work tasked to us.
26. What is one thing you love?I still love the challenge as it still feels unlike any other kind of challenge I am used to. I like the different perspectives I am introduced to as it allows me to change or add to my own way of thinking.
27. What is one thing you hate? I do not hate anything, but I still find it tough to get through the feedback map as the laptop uses a lot of energy and it is difficult to get the program to work efficiently given it is a big document.
28. What can the instructor do immediately to make the class better?I do appreciate the applying our knowledge to recent topics or event so I would just say more of that! Otherwise everything is going great!
29. What is one question I should be asking, yet I am not? No new questions come to mind as the professor is very thorough in the videos!

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