I'm all for social justice and what not... but my more immediate goal in pursuing my master's was simply to be better at my job. How things come full circle, though! The Flat World and Education frequently cited teacher efficacy as a key to greater equity. Proponents of PBL also claim that it has the potential to make all students think differently about themselves as learners. So... maybe my thinking is more inline with Judaic goals than I originally thought!
Cohort Support:
Thus far, our cohort has been immensely supportive. I've received such thoughtful (and sometimes funny) feedback and suggestions during our class sessions and blog comments. As adult learners- and smart ones at that- a cultural norm for cohesion has developed organically. That's not to say that it was without intent, but rather a result of each person's intent to really take in what another is saying. I trust we'll continue in that vein throughout our last semester of study, likely even moreso as the stakes are higher.
Respecting one another's time is also essential to working well together: posting and responding to blogs on time and completing collaborative work is par for the course. At this point, I think all of us have worked out a weekly rhythm with our families to allow for time set aside for coursework. (Because if Mommy's in grad school, so are Daddy and the kids!) I know my work days will be M/T/W afternoons, so that I still get to have a summer with my family.