Reflecting on Communication in the EC field

Over the past eight weeks, we have learned about our strengths and weaknesses as communicators.  We have shared our positive and negative experiences as well as what we could have or should have done differently in communication situations.  

Your comments have reassured me that I am not the only one that has experienced ineffective communication. You have offered support and challenged me to consider my perspective of the situation.  Likewise, I hope I have helped you feel valued, supported, and challenged.


As we diverge paths to pursue our specializations, I wish you the best of luck.  For me, our good-bye is bittersweet because I will not be resuming courses (Admin, Mgmt, & Ldrshp) until the fall. However, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my first baby  in June (A boy-Owen!). I would like to thank LouAnn Rhodes for setting up the Facebook page for us.  Please feel free to connect with me there or send me a personal friend request. Also, you may always email me at maggie.cunningham@waldenu.edu.

Thank you for all your support and understanding throughout our journey together.  Best wishes!

Team Building & Collaboration

Adjourning Stage

I am always part of at least one team at work whether it is a grade-level team or a special committee.  Over the past four years, I have worked with many different individuals within these different groups.  I have found my grade-level team the hardest to leave because we had a routine or a comfort-zone so to speak.  Four years ago I joined the kindergarten team, formed relationships both personally and professionally with my colleagues, and adjusted to the established roles and routines of working together.  However, this year I was involuntarily moved from the kindergarten team to the first grade team because of low student numbers (and I had least seniority).   I was very uneasy about leaving the kindergarten team because I had to learn a new curriculum and work with a new colleague who was also being moved involuntarily.  Although the kindergarten team adjourned and it was sad, we began a new group as a cross-grade level team, which eased the sadness to a degree.

In regards to my Walden colleagues, we adjourn at the end of each class with our final thoughts, well-wishes, and good-byes via our blogs.  It would be wonderful to keep in contact with many of you, but the reality is that we haven't established (or at least for me) personal contact information outside of our virtual classroom.  Therefore, I feel our adjourning phase may simply end with a good-bye and celebration of all our hard-work accomplished together.  However, we are not at the very end, so there is hope that we can expand our network outside of the Walden boundaries to keep in touch after our final course together because so many of you provide perspectives and resources that are invaluable.

In summary, I think the hardest groups to leave are those that foster trust, respect, and have well-established, effective norms that can efficiently accomplish set goals with minimal conflict. With that said, the adjourning stage is an important stage of teamwork because it allows time for reflection, closure, and opens the the door for future endeavors.  

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