When I initially signed up for this class, I really thought it would focus on my job as an instructor. At the University where I work, not only am I an instructor, but I also am what could be considered as a liaison for the students. I work in student services and I reach out to the students in a variety of ways. Early last summer, I was asked to track a student who was on academic probation. She was struggling with so many things, but most of all, she had no idea how to write a paper. She needed to approach her assignments differently than being directed to a website. She needed social interaction and motivational engagement to get her on the right track. So the time I spent with her gave her the confidence to continue on her educational journey and not give up. The following semester, she sent me a screenshot of a paper she wrote and was so excited that she got an A on an assignment when it hadn't been that long she was due to be dropped from the school. Up until the time I worked with her she had been isolated and did not know how to navigate her own educational journey. When she would attempt to write an assignment, she was given very basic feedback, and she had no idea how to correct any of her errors, so as a result, she put off doing her assignments to the point she was going to be asked to leave. So the part where the presenters in this class talked about efficient and effective feedback, made me realize that is what I need to do more for my own students. I put myself into the discussions and add my own thoughts to what the students are saying, but I also need to make sure I validate their assignments and not just leave them with a "Good Job!" I do write more than that for them, but I know I can do more. As Kathleen Watts mentioned about I too will implement more specific feedback that is in-depth to encourage students to continue learning.
