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792 Capstone Blog

Cohort 16 Forever!

5/11/2019

4 Comments

 
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     Touro’s Cohort 16 in the Masters in Innovative Learning program is an amazing community.  Although we all come from different backgrounds, levels of experience, and areas of teaching, we come together to learn and grow as educators--supporting one another all along the way.
     My goals in joining this masters program were to challenge myself by stepping outside my comfort zone, and finding new ways to improve my practice as a teacher. This program has been so much more.  Technology and innovation, design for learning, equity, action research cycles--and all of this learning has been alongside an amazing group of people. The high standards set by everyone involved in this program have elevated my learning and challenged me continuously.  Each week, reading my peers’ blogs, checking out their work on the homework log, seeing their assigned presentations come to life on Wednesdays, participating in discussions--all of these things have impacted my thinking as an educator permanently. Equally impactful, is the nature of the people in this cohort. I’ve been a teacher for 18 years and have never met a group of people more kind, helpful, patient, and POSITIVE about growing as educators--ever!
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     Having one more semester of really hard work to finish this rigorous program seems like a lighter load, knowing that I share it with this group of people.  I believe that positive cohesion already thrives among us. I know that we will continue to support each other through emails, zoom meetings, in person meetings (always preferred for the hugs), REMIND messages, texts, blog entries and responses, and even google doc sharing as we have over the past year.  
     As we move closer towards our Capstone projects, I think that focused and organized peer feedback with this group could really elevate our thinking. Since “presuming positive intentions” seems to be already naturally built in to the culture of our cohort, perhaps the classic “I like/I wonder” protocol would be a great way for us to give feedback to one another.  Having an “I like/I wonder” protocol in place would leave room for both constructive criticism as well as new ideas and considerations.
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     ​Even though the next couple of months will be intense, I am looking forward to increased collaboration and accelerated learning with all of my amazing cohort peers.  It is also my great hope that we continue to communicate after finishing this program, since it is a rare and wonderful thing to be included in a group of such positive and encouraging educators!
4 Comments
Catalina Goldstein
5/11/2019 06:55:15 pm

You've been a teacher for 18 years?! Holy moly! I agree with your I like/I wonder protocol. I think it's a great way to sandwich compliments with questions. It's hard to have a full understanding of someone else's work, so it'll be a good way to get to dive in deeper. Also really looking forward to the freeeeeedom of Summer for in person work time. Nothing is better than a face to face interaction when possible.

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Julie Lovie
5/12/2019 08:16:15 am

Jona I have enjoyed learning with this group of amazing teachers as well! I would be lost without you all we have really supported as well as pushed each other to become true innovators. The diversity of this group is a true asset that has enhanced this learning experience. I would love for us to share out more and have more time to discuss readings and other things that we are confused about since we are such a caring thoughtful group.

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Brandon DeJesus
5/12/2019 11:44:31 am

I completely agree with you, I have learned and gained so much more from this program than I thought I was going too. I owe so much of that to the amazing feedback I have received from our classmates and from reading over your work, in particular. I look forward to collaborating this semester and to making it through this last leg of our masters journey.

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Rafael Garcia Avila
5/14/2019 03:35:59 pm

Jona,

Wow, we have been teaching for almost the same amount of time. This is my 19th year teaching. You look so young but very experienced. With regards to your comments about the cohort, we all have said the same thing and it show how well we have worked together for the past 10 months. Thank you for everything you do every week! Finally, I love your sentence starters for providing feedback from one another. I agree, it will provide a positive and constructive information. We are close, here we go Cohort 16!!!

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    ​I'm a student in the Innovative Learning Master's Program at Touro University.  I'm really excited to make a difference for my students!

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  • Home
  • Innovative Learning Master's Program
    • 701 - Dynamics of Equity
    • 790 - New Literacies Research
    • 702 - Digital Eduvators >
      • 702 Blog
    • 791 - Sensemaking and Design >
      • Tools & Resources
      • Blog
    • 703 - Transliteracy >
      • Blog
    • 792 - Capstone >
      • Driving Question
      • 792 Blog
  • Blog