Assignment Wrap Up

Closing Reflections on the creation of the PDQP and the National University capstone class, TED 690.

 1.  What advice (do differently and do again) would you give them about developing a PDQP?
     2.  What advice (do differently and do again)  would you give them about selecting artifacts for your PDQP?
     3.  What advice (do differently and do again) would you give them about sharing a PDQP?
     4.  What advice (do differently and do again) would you give them about participating n a positive learning community?
     5.  What parts of the course were most beneficial to you?  

As I sit here, it is hard to believe that I am coming to an end of this Capstone project, the development of a Professional Development Quest Portfolio.  I was very intimidated by this project and avoided it for as long as I could the first week.  Thankfully with all classes, the due date for week one’s assignment rapidly approached and forced me to start addressing the project.  I didn't quite have a grasp of all that it entailed after that assignment, but I had opened the door.  Then week two arrived and we were asked to look at our long-term plans and to create an actionable plan for the next 5 years.  This allowed me to grasp the full value of this project.  It allowed me to see where I have been and celebrate the accomplishments of my teaching career, while preparing me to look forward and continue my own personal development.  

Getting our Master’s degree is a big accomplishment, which has taken time and perseverance.  However, we are on the threshold of being awarded the degree and should be gearing up for bigger and better things, that not only benefit ourselves and our students, but our professional learning communities as well!

Since I didn't fully appreciate what I was to be doing during week one, I quickly whipped up my project and threw it into a PowerPoint presentation similar to the examples that were provided and the creations of my peers.  My advice would be to not lock yourself into a particular presentation.  If you start one way, as I did, with the PowerPoint presentation and decide another way is better, do not hesitate to change.  I ultimately chose a website for my project and was able to move my week one content to the new format relatively quickly.  I was now working in a format where the layout and presentation just really worked for me.

If you have gone through BTSA or your student teaching recently, the amount of artifacts you can find from your projects for those areas of study come in quite handy.  Going through the volumes of papers I wrote and projects I created for my teaching credential was an invaluable resource to find artifacts.  But also, do not be afraid to do a Google search for resources as well.  There is so much incredible, credible content nowadays that there is an article of some sort on all the TPE’s contained in the domains.

Remember that when you choose your artifacts, you are looking to put your best foot forward.  You have worked hard, so brag a little.  Share your best lesson or the phenomenal review you received.  It is your time to shine!

With regard to learning communities, you get out of the community what you put in.  Since everyone was lost initially, a lot of the students clung together for support and worked their way through. A shared burden is an easier load to bear, so work with your peers!

The chance to review my accomplishments and focus myself, now that I have completed my Master’s degree, proved to be the most valuable to me.  This is not the finish line, but a new starting line to a bigger and more incredible race!