T171 ECA - TMA Reflection - TMA01
TMA Reflection - TMA01
TMA01 was a formative assignment, the purpose of which was to provide feedback on our progress and practice for future TMAs. Since I was familiar with both completing Open University assignments and writing summaries I was in two minds whether or not to attempt it, especially as I had a TMA due on another course at the same time, consequently I did put as much effort into it as I should have done.
The TMA involved the reading of "Netiquette, or the social conventions of computer conferencing" by Gary Alexander
The TMA Part 1 required us to identify the key points
Then state whether these points were based on observations, theories or
personal opinions
Then describe the perspective of the author.
For Part 2 we had to draw up three factors we thought were significant
in effective groupworking.
How I did
I covered the key points part of the question effectively as I did with the observations, theories and personal opinions section. Where I lost marks in part 1 was because I had not indicated whether or not the article was based on the author's opinion, it was in fact the author's opinion (Example 1).
Unfortunately in Part 2 although I did well here I neglected to provide supporting evidence so lost marks (Example 2).
Improving My Performance
Although I scored 82 for this TMA my performance could have been better. If I had planned my time better allowing for TMA's on my other course THD204 "Information Technology and Society" I would have had more time to make a better job of the parts that let me down. In fact what this TMA caused me to do was to re-evaluate my timetables for both courses checking if there were clashing TMA's for the rest of the year. Where there were clashes I put in extra effort to complete one of them early leaving plenty of time to make a good job of the other.
Example 1
TMA01 Part 1 - excerpt
Gary Alexander is writing this paper as guidance to the intricacies of online conferencing specifically for novice users of FirstClass. Gary Alexander is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Telematics within the Technology Department at the Open University (Source: Gary's Home Page link from the Netiquette document). In this post he has completed a lot of work in the field on distant learning with the emphasis on distance learning through computers. The purpose of the paper is to introduce new users of FirstClass to Netiquette, which they will need some knowledge of to be able to part in online discussions without causing disruption to others. This in effect is defining is some form the behaviour required when online and what actions to avoid and also which ones are encouraged i.e. acknowledging before differing.
Tutor Comments: - Cut and Pasted from PT3
You lost some marks here because you needed to bring out that these were the author's opinions etc., and show the reasons behind your thinking.
Example 2
TMA01 Part 2
Three factors I consider most significant for effective group working
are:
1) Keep the messages short and too the point, obviously the length is
going to depend on the topic of conversation, personally I think anything
more than a screenfull is too much.
2) Keep to the subject of the conference, there is nothing worse than
looking through a conference that is cluttered up with messages of little
relevance to the subject in question.
3) Be polite when you have a difference of opinion with others if you
take notice of their messages, it could well be that you have got the
wrong idea, in other words don't become entrenched in your position.
Tutor Comments: - Cut and Pasted from PT3
You chose good factors related to Group Working. You lost some marks for not providing supporting examples. Watch out for this in future.