Self Evaluation and Reflection - Learning Experiences

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Throughout my post-secondary education, I have discovered that my method of learning is a bit chaotic. I am a visual learner first-hand; I prefer to be in the moment and collaborate with people face-to-face. Starting a Masters degree program that is purely online is very intimidating to me. I am only a couple weeks in, and I'm already noticing how different online learning is.

In the past, I have had difficulty organizing my thoughts. I have often worked much harder than I need to, trying to portray my thoughts perfectly. This is especially the case now, as I have to submit information online in front of my classmates. I usually would meet with my professors and ask a million questions about assignments for clarification before submitting anything. Now, however, I am doing the work on my own, trusting that I am capable of meeting each assignment's criteria without assistance.

During my Bachelor of Dental Hygiene program, I had the opportunity to take a course called Teaching Methodologies. Throughout this course, I reflected on my experience in clinical instructing. This was eye-opening, as I hadn't evaluated myself critically in the past. It allowed me to be honest with myself, accept my shortcomings, and plan for improvement. This information was compiled into a teaching portfolio which I have kept for future reference. I plan to look back on those experiences to help shape my future experiences in the MHST program.