My Fascinating Adventures at WGU

Term 3 – The End

maggie2324 — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:48:32 +0000

It’s that time. The end of my experience at WGU. Student teaching was great, although by the end of 12 weeks, I was ready for it to be over. I just had to complete the last of the tasks that go along with student teaching. Some were annoying, but mostly they just took time.

Through student teaching, each week I had to attend a weekly conference call for my cohort. Also, I had to write a weekly 1-2 page reflection journal entry over that week of teaching including the topic of the week.

30/30 units completed for this term. My graduation application has been submitted and I’m waiting for it to get processed. Should happen pretty soon… so this is THE END of my fascinating adventures at WGU.

Term 3 Month 2

maggie2324 — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:17:39 +0000

I did start a new term in June because apparently you can get a free term extension when you are graduating. So, if I don’t finish everything by November 30th, I can extend into the next month. There should be no problems there.

I finished all of MJT4. I am working on MPT4 and I have to have these tasks finished by August 1st. I hope to have them turned in by the end of this week so that there is plenty of time for revisions if necessary. One of the tasks has about 6 parts to it, which is really annoying. I had already done the in class portion of it before this was in my term. What I knew about the task when I did that was much less than I know now, so I have to add a lot to my lesson to make it fit the requirements. That’s okay though – it happens with other in class tasks that you complete but don’t pass. You never have to re-do an in class portion of a task. This task says that it should be submitted 6-8 weeks before the end of a term to allow time for grading, revisions, posting, etc. I only have 3 weeks before it’s due, so I’m going to get it in as soon as I can. They have been very quick with grading though – about 2 business days for the simpler tasks. I’m not worried.

All I have left before DT is to finish the tasks for MPT4 and take the proctored exam for MJC4. It’ll be nice to have a break from this after that. There seems to be quite a lot of work in the DT portion though – 21 units!

I’ve completed 3/30 units this term so far.

Term 2, Month 6

maggie2324 — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:47:10 +0000

Well, it has been a long road, but this term is finally coming to a close. I met the April 1st deadline and everything went well to get into the cohort. EIT, ETT, and the EIO exam all went fine. It may have been a struggle for me, but these really aren’t meant to be done so quickly. I have also completely finished MVT4, which really was not that bad.

I enjoyed doing the in-class tasks even though it was a pain to come up with lesson plans that met the requirements for the teacher, the task, and the state standards. I also did the 2 in-class tasks for MPT4 and MJT4 even though they aren’t in my term. Since my term is ending, I didn’t know if I would have time to pass everything. I still had to do the in-class portions before the end of the school year, so that’s what I did.

My DT placement did not go as well as I had hoped at first. I didn’t hear anything for over a month, so I decided to switch gears. I talked to my placement specialist and had him switch focus to the high school that I attended. I contacted the principal myself and so getting a placement there was no problem. I don’t have a clinical supervisor yet though… not sure if that is a problem or not.

I have 9 units to accomplish before DT, so I really am very close. I am not sure if I am starting another term in June or if I am going to take a term break for a month and start in July. My mentor is going to get back to me about which would be smarter. Either way, I only have 1 more term before I graduate. =D

40 units/40 units complete this term

Term 2 Month 4

maggie2324 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:48:41 +0000

I have finished linear algebra applications and discrete math applications. The 2nd summative task for linear algebra was pretty difficult, but I got through it. Discrete math was really not all that hard. I finished Calculus III as well, the objective assessment went fine. The required tasks were much more difficult than the summative tasks, which I found to be very unusual.

Now for the interesting part. My application for DT was denied because I didn’t finish my math content in time (duh). I still had abstract algebra, mathematical modeling and connections… and the linear algebra and calculus III applications which were not done by February 1st. I got an extension to complete the linear algebra and calculus III applications by March 1st and I also had to complete 6 EIT tasks by then. I succeeding in doing so, but it wasn’t easy. Some of the EIT tasks are more difficult than others, but I had to wait until I had a PCE placement before I could start them!

Because I made the new deadline of March 1st for those tasks, I have been provisionally accepted to the September 2010 cohort for demonstration teaching. I have had my first call with my placement specialist and he sent out emails to the principals at my first two choice schools. I now am busy trying to make the 1st audit, which is April 1st. I’m not sure what EIT and ETT tasks I need to have complete by then, but I think I need to have almost all of those complete along with scheduling the EIO exam (not sure what the actual name of these courses are… I’ve been going by the acronyms.)

Abstract algebra has been the toughest course by far. I failed the pretest twice, but passed the third try. The first attempt I used as purely a pretest. The 2nd attempt I had read significant parts of the textbook, but still failed. Before the 3rd attempt, I followed the course of study religiously and did the required tasks (both passed on the first attempt! they were short and easy) and then I was able to pass it. It’s hard and takes a lot of studying to actually understand this stuff. My assessment is scheduled for 3/19. I’ll have to pass that and then gain access to the summative tasks… then I need to pass those by April 1st. I’ll also need to pass all the many many tasks of mathematical modeling, which I do not have access to. Typically, you wouldn’t get access to these before completing all other math assessments, but hopefully I’ll be able to gain access to them. Otherwise, I’m not sure I have a chance to meet the April 1st deadline… we’ll just have to see.

This term I am enrolled in 28 units so far with 17 of those complete.

Term 2 Month 2

maggie2324 — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:35:07 +0000

What can I say besides I’ve been very very busy. I started term 2 with 13 credits and as of right now, I have completed 9 of those. I completed Testing and Foundations of Teaching Practice Integration. Testing was not difficult – it was similar to other Foundations of Teaching work, and Foundations of Teaching Practice Integration was a big summative test over all the Foundations of Teaching coursework. It was not too difficult after all of those courses though. I am still working on linear algebra applications and discrete math applications.

Linear algebra applications has been very difficult. The required tasks were not too difficult, but the summative tasks are quite tough. I’ve had the first one returned for revisions and I am going to resubmit this weekend. Discrete math applications had fairly easy required tasks and I haven’t begun the summative tasks. I also have added Calculus III to the term, but the assessment still hasn’t been scheduled.

What really has kept me busy has been applying for PCE and DT. The Preclinical Experiences application part 2 took forever to complete. I got a copy of my background check, I eventually got a copy of my Praxis I scores, I filled out the FERPA form, I registered with the NEA ($15 student fee) to get liability insurance, and I had to find a school to do the tasks in. The school that I found was a private school since it is very difficult to get a placement in a public school in Ohio. Unfortunately, this school will not allow me to do all of my tasks there, but since I am cutting the deadline so close, I am getting started there.

The application due date for the Demonstration Teaching application was January 15. I applied on that day and thought that I had everything in order (except the school for PCE), but unfortunately my application was returned for me to revise my timeline. I didn’t get the notification for revision in time to revise it because they sent it on the day that it was due, so I am working on the appeal process right now. I am appealing to get it resubmitted and I’ll also have to appeal the fact that not all of my math content will be complete by Feb 1st. My mentor has been very helpful throughout this process and is much more confident than I am that my application will be accepted.

This term I have to complete something like 45 credits in order to be finished with everything before DT. This seems very do-able since I did 60 last term, but I haven’t been working as quickly as last term. The math courses have gotten progressively more difficult and take much more time now, so I am hoping that I don’t have too much trouble with the other courses. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Prep for Term 2!

maggie2324 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:21:26 +0000

The last of my tasks have passed. What a big relief!!!! That was a long and hard 60 units… term 2 begins the day after tomorrow. I’ve started reading some abstract algebra in preparation for term 2 – it’s tough stuff!

Less than 2 weeks in Term 1

maggie2324 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:47:02 +0000

I did pass calculus I on the 2nd attempt. Yay! I had to completely redo half of it because one of my “real world examples” did not fit according to them. Oh well.

Diversity and Inclusion is one of the last courses in my term. I have one task that I need to revise, but that is it. I’m confident that it will pass the 2nd time around.

For probability and statistics II, I am awaiting grading on my 1st attempt on the summative task. If it doesn’t pass, I’ll have to revise it very fast and hope they grade it in time. I am worried about this because Thanksgiving is coming up and I don’t know if they will take longer to grade because of that or not. Hopefully it is graded very soon.

The assessment for Discrete Math was horrendous – not because of the content. I went for my rescheduled appointment and I had a problem with the formatting. The symbols that look like V and ^ were not viewable and there were other symbols too that I could not see. All I saw was a square in place of these symbols. So, they lady at the testing center called people and they finally decided that it was their old version of java that was the culprit. They were unable to update it because of a contract with ETS – so they told me that I’d have to find another testing center. So, I found another testing center and when it was scheduled, I went. One guy gave me his direct number and said if there was any problem like before they could fix it easily. So, there was the same problem and that testing center called him to fix it. The correct updates were downloaded, but that did not fix the problem. So, I was given the option to try and take the test anyway (I had no idea how many questions were affected at the time) or to not take it with no real conclusive next step. So, I took the test anyway. 7/26 questions were affected by this formatting error, so on those I had at most a 50% chance of guessing correctly. At least one problem, I had it narrowed down between two answers, but because those answers appeared exactly the same (one was “^” – “and”, one was “V” – “or”), I just guessed. Despite all this guessing – I passed. Barely. 75% when the cutoff was 74% – Boy was I glad. (BTW, I got a 92% on the preassessment before studying for this exam – so I did know the stuff). Next proctored exam I take, I will have the option for doing a webassessor, which apparently they send you a webcam and you can take the exam from home. It’s a pilot program and that is all I know.

I am finished with classroom management and supposedly I will receive a packet in the mail about PCE. I have yet to receive it, and it is making me slightly nervous. I am supposed to contact a school and set-up my placement for these experiences, but I am not allowed to do so until I receive the packet. I think I need to have the application submitted by December 15. Hopefully I can do that.

My count is still 60 units this term with 55 completed.

What’s left to complete this term : Diversity and Inclusion 3 units and Probability and Statistics II applications 2 units.

1 last month in the term

maggie2324 — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:09:12 +0000

I finished and passed the summative tasks for precalculus and calculus II. Calculus I took longer – it was extremely difficult. I just finished it today and so hopefully it passes, but I’m not expecting it to on the first time around.

My reasoning and problem solving 2nd task passed. It really wasn’t too hard.

The summative tasks for geometry weren’t bad at all, so they’re all passed and I’m done with that class too. Yay!

Diversity and Inclusion is still going. It hasn’t been my priority because I needed to get more math tasks done, but I got the books for referencing other cultures that I need for the one of the tasks.

I still have a few tasks left on Classroom Managment. So far, they really haven’t been bad. Lots of watching video clips and answering generic questions on the guided reflection protocol form.

Probability and Statistics II applications has been pretty difficult. There are 5 required tasks (COS tasks) and I just submitted the last two. This is my third attempt on the 4th task, so my fingers are really crossed on that one. That was really the difficult part. The other tasks weren’t bad. Hopefully the summative tasks aren’t bad because I won’t have very much time to do them once they’re opened up.

I passed the linear algebra test, but it wasn’t easy. Although requested the learning resource a little too late so I didn’t get to use that to study. I wouldn’t recommend doing that. I pretty much just studied the topics that the preassessment listed using the internet.

I haven’t been able to take the discrete mathematics test because when I went to the testing center, there was some problem on Prometric’s end and there was nothing they could do. They’ll be rescheduling it soon.

I am still hoping to complete all the content by the Jan 15 deadline, but I don’t know if that’ll be possible. This many units is a little bit crazy and I wouldn’t recommend attempting more than 40 unless you truly have no life and want to be on a computer all the time.

I have access to Part 2 of the PCE application but I am waiting for a packet in the mail. For the Preclinical experiences, you have to find your own site to do them at and you need the packet before you are allowed to contact area schools. I’m pretty nervous about this because I didn’t know that I had to secure my own site for these. We’ll see.

I’m not adding any more classes this term. I was going to add Calculus III but the preassessment is having problems and so I am not able to take it. I’m not that confident in my calculus III skills since I have only taken up to calculus II at another university. So, without the preassessment, I think I’ll have to wait until next term to take that assessment.

So, my count is up to 60 units this term with 48 completed.

What’s left to complete this term : Discrete Mathematics 2 units, Calculus I applications 2 units, Diversity and Inclusion 3 units, Classroom Management 3 units, and Probability and Statistics II applications 2 units.

Crunch Time

maggie2324 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:36:51 +0000

I have been working on the summative tasks for precalculus, calculus 1 and calculus 2 (which I added a week or so ago). They’re going okay.

My reasoning and problem solving essay was graded and I passed on the first attempt! Now I just have to do the 2nd task, which is another 5-7 page paper.

I got my background check done and I took the Praxis I. That was not a fun test – it was really really long. I have passed the reading and math sections and it takes them a few weeks to grade the writing. My fingers are crossed! So, I submitted the PCE application part 1 and everything was approved. I still do not have access to part 2 yet.

All of my Human Development and Learning tasks have passed, so I’m finished with that. Yay!

College Geometry is tough because there are more tasks than the other math courses. I have submitted the 3 COS tasks and I think 1 has passed so far. I haven’t started the summative tasks.

I did pass the probability and statistics II and calculus II assessments. The probability and statistics II is tough because a lot of the material on the exam seems different from the problems that they have you work through. It’s very similar to the preassessment though, so you’d know what to expect.

Diversity and Inclusion is going slower than I’d hoped, but I’ll get it done.

I’ve added Classroom Managment, Probability and Statistics II applications, and Linear Algebra.

I didn’t realize that I had to complete all the math content before applying for DT, so that is an extra 8 classes that I didn’t know about. Hopefully I can still do it, but I am slightly worried. I have a meeting with my mentor and another person to talk about it tonight. We’ll see.

So, my count is up to 60 units this term with 38 completed.

Nearing the end… maybe

maggie2324 — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:45:07 +0000

I submitted my probability and statistics I summative task! It was graded in one day and I passed on the first try. I was absolutely astonished, but very happy.

My summative tasks for precalculus and calculus I are available, but I haven’t started them. They seem to be a pain, but no worse than other classes.

I am hopefully going to finish my reasoning and problem solving essay this week. That’s what I told my mentor, so hopefully I can do it!

Schools and Society is finished! All of my tasks have passed – Yay!

I need to get my background check and take the Praxis I so I can submit my PCE (Preclinical Experiences??) application part 1.

All of my Human Development and Learning tasks have passed except for 1 that I’m awaiting the grade. I can’t wait until that one is passed. It’s all so exciting!

College Geometry COS and summative tasks are available and I have started the first COS task. It’s tough! I should have that submitted soon.

My probability and statistics II assessment is tomorrow and I’ll hopefully be able to take the calculus II assessment at the same time since it was never scheduled. I’m also going to talk to them about scheduling the Praxis I. Fun.

I have completed the first task for diversity and inclusion, but it didn’t pass the first time around. I revised it and submitted it this morning and I’m hopeful that it will pass this time.

So, my count is up to 49 units this term with 31 completed.