Course Log for 09/01-09/07/2002

UoPhx E-Edu (Online Diary)

Course Log for 09/01-09/07/2002

If I decide to keep a daily log, I'll create a new page like this one for each new day. I'll make sure to change the title and update the "most recent posting" link on the home page each time (Tripod 2001).

Wednesday, September 4

Today is the final day of Week 2 in EDTC 555 -- Internet and Distance Education Delivery. We've had one individual assignment due, in addition to discussion questions and directed weekly summaries. I'm on Team D with 3 other members who have had classes together before.

Today we have two papers due -- one on learning theories, one on instructional design -- and how these relate to distance education delivery.

Click on the link below for a bibliography of peer-reviewed papers on application of learning theories to distance education delivery:

Bibliography on Learning Theories

Thursday, September 5

The two learning team papers got posted before midnight, but the UoP servers were extremely unstable all evening. I didn't get to read the final versions until this morning.

I'm having to be the "bad guy" about APA format. Even when I referenced the page in the manual, 5th edition, I was using as my source, that wasn't good enough. I am very frustrated.

I realize that I have alot of graduate experience, as well as, professional experience with publishing. Still, the UoP writing guidelines require APA format. I've asked the team to reconsider how to solve this dilemma.

Our next team paper will be on assessment and evaluation in distance education delivery. Click on the link below to view a bibliography of materials on this subject:

Bibliography on A&E

Thursday, September 5 (continued)

I decided to add a note above the Team papers for Week 2 stating that the papers do not conform to the APA Publication Manual, 5th edition, as required by the UoP writing guidelines.

In addition, I will edit these papers, correct them for APA format, but they will then be authored by me, with contributions from the others. This is the only compromise I can come up with that I am willing to live with.

Team members haven't responded or my instructor yet. More will be revealed.

Friday, September 6

There doesn't seem to be any resolution within Team D on my concerns regarding having my work altered without my permission and without discussion first. In addition, my team members are not willing, as far as I can see, to discuss how we might find some consistency in using the APA format. I have concluded that perhaps none of them purchased the 5th edition and therefore aren't able to use it because they don't have it in their possession.

Grandma Rocking

Friday, September 6 (continued)

I've written my instructor with all my concerns, as well as my academic advisor. My instructor offered for me to remain in the class and work outside the LT (learning team) environment. I'm still thinking about that offer.

I also wrote another team and asked if they would accept me as a new member. My instructor wrote me and said that was something he should have done. I told him it seemed that he was bowing out and that I had no choice.

I probably won't hear from my academic advisor until noon or so. If I can adjust my schedule to restart this course after my move to Kansas in October, then that would satisfy me. If Team A will take me in and we can find a way to agree on a consistent use of the APA format, that would satisfy me also.

I decided to remove the Team D papers from the EDTC 555 Summary because I just didn't like having two versions or having a marked up copy online. I would rather not have that work online than to have such confusion.

I've written to my instructor asking if there is an Intervention Office for Team Dynamics or something like that. I've also asked him if there is a webpage that everyone could access equally which describes the rules of APA paper format and citation/references format. This would be one solution to APA conflicts.

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Thank Goodness! My instructor found a webpage which gives clear examples of electronic references from the APA Publicaton Manual, 5th Edition. I guess when I looked on the APA website I was too upset to see this the first time.

Click on the link below to see examples of various kinds of citations from electronic references:

APA style webpage for electronic sources

@2001-2002 Joelyn K Foy