Mercedes Cortes

 
What I've learned is that the Guide is the Ideal. I learned that the most effective instructors adopt the Guide style, which balances high structure and control (like the Controller) with high rapport and concern for student welfare (like the Buddy). This model avoids the pitfalls of being overly rigid or overly permissive.

I found the topic of Integrated Intelligences particularly resonant because it moves beyond viewing capabilities like IQ and Emotional Intelligence (EI) as separate entities. Instead, it highlights how these different aspects of our intelligence (cognitive, emotional, social, etc.) must work together for truly effective learning, decision-making, and personal growth. It emphasizes that being a successful learner requires the skillful interplay of both "smartness" and "self-management."

A key idea that stood out is the necessity of authenticity within this integration. To genuinely apply our EI skills, we must first be authentic—that is, acting in ways that are consistent with our true feelings, values, and personality. Without authenticity, our empathy can feel forced, our self-regulation might be unsustainable, and our social skills can come across as manipulative rather than genuine. The ability to be vulnerable and transparent is a prerequisite for effectively integrating all our intelligences.

I plan to focus on improving my self-awareness, specifically by pausing to identify and label my emotions before reacting to stressful situations or feedback. I will also make a conscious effort to practice empathy in group work by actively listening to and acknowledging the perspectives and feelings of my classmates, even when I disagree. By consciously applying these skills, I hope to foster better communication and manage conflict more effectively in my learning environment.

I found the context surrounding Emotional Intelligence (EI) fascinating, particularly learning about its formal origins and how it evolved beyond just traditional IQ. It's clear that EI, often associated with concepts like self-awareness, empathy, social skills, and self-regulation, is a critical factor for success and well-being, both academically and professionally.

A key takeaway for me is the understanding that EI is not a fixed trait but a set of skills that can be developed and strengthened over time.

I learned that taking an online course is a great way to understand your student's perspective when being an online instructore. It is essential that the syllabus has hyperlinks and materials linked in one location for easy access. The more we can provide assistance and materials and make it easy to find, the better we can assist students in an online course. 

Feedback is a form of communication. It is imperative that instructors provide clear feedback so that students may better understand how to improve or what to continue to repeat so they may score well. It is the job of the instructor to provide feedback continuously throughout the course.

As an online instructor, we must always have a presence and be available to our students. Making connections will enhance student participation and engagement of the class and ultimately lead to more student success.

In this module I learned to ensure my shedule allows for students to review course in or by week 1. It is also important to set clear objectives and goals for students to better understand what they will be expected to learn.

The knowledge learned in this course will be used to ensure that our work environment remains a safe place for all. It is important to understand that all individuals have the right to feel safe at work. If we discourage reporting and consider it a problem, then we are fostering negative behaviors and victimizing the true victims once more.