As the end of the school year approaches I can literally and safely say that this class was by far the most rigorous and influential High School course that I have ever taken. No I haven 't had the best overall average in the class I can 't say that I still have taken away a lot and will be using a lot of the information that I have learned later on in life and especially in college. Looking back at all the literature that we read In this year alone I can safely say that we have read more than during my first three years of high school, and some students about the work load. I really did appreciate it. There were so many life lessons that were taught. Especially when we would have in class lectures. From Beowulf, to Lord of Flies, each story has
In my time at CCBC, I have had several instructors that I have either passionately liked or disliked. Some were a joy to work with, having a clear passion in their area of study and instructing with a contagious fervor; others had “by-the-book” grading policies, and would give me zero points for answers I would support with recent scientific journals from respectable sources if the aged and inaccurate book assigned to the class disagreed. While I may learn the most about a given topic from an enjoyable, energetic instructor, I learned a great deal about myself and the way I wish to interact with people from a teacher that I often couldn’t decide if I adored or despised.
When asked, In your college educational experiences thus far, have you had the opportunity to be creative in your learning experiences in any of your college classes? John replied….
The objective of attending school is to hopefully gather information that was previously unbeknownst to us. What one does with the information gathered is strictly up to the individual. My goal at the end of each class is to hopefully walk away not only with a pocket full of knowledge, but to be intellectually challenged and inspired to act. Classes pertaining to race has always spiked a lot of controversy. Students usually leave with a plethora of feelings be it negative or positive. One can only hope that for the greater good of humanity, feelings are set aside and what is taught is received with an open mind in hopes of creating awareness that ultimately leads to positive change. The goal usually of classes surrounding humanities is to create
I am currently an English 160 student who is hoping to move on to the next course, which is English 161. I understand the requirements for English 161. It require students to explore a topic in some depth and conduct independent research related to that topic. Conducting research allows students to learn what it is like to participate in academic culture, posing questions about important issues and developing an argument in response to what others have said. It expected students to learn the most valuable skill in college, which is critical thinking. Students have to be able to read challenging readings. Although I still have problems with English, I think I’m qualified to move on.
Earlier this semester, I argued that learning needs to go beyond the classroom. The mandate of attending school in a traditional classroom setting, in itself does not contribute to engagement of the learner. However, if a student has a genuine interest in the subject matter being taught, then learning comes more naturally due to the innate desire to know more. The dilemma this presents for the modern educator is that learning at a higher, more advanced level requires prerequisite or foundational content. Often that cognitive foundation can only be built through the educational bricklaying of “boring” classroom subject matter. How then can students become more engaged in learning when the topics that support the structure aren’t of any interest to them? The answer is in the hands of the instructor, the curriculum, and the delivery. Instructors who are engaged themselves, identify the most appropriate and inspiring teaching aids and assignments, and provide the most
On October 25th, I volunteered at an elementary school after school program in a lower income area at Grace Chapel church in Forsyth County. The program was available for students from the ages of four to twelve and offered free tutoring to kids struggling in different subjects. It also acted as daycare for children who had working parents. All the kids brought homework to work on and we provided them with lunch. We also were able to hang out and play with the kids, doing arts & crafts and playing dodge ball outside. It was a mix of kids from poorer areas, along with foster kids and children who’s parents couldn’t afford to get them tutors. The experience opened my eyes to a large problem this country is facing. Talking to many of the kids in the program I was able to really appreciate how privileged I was to live where I did growing up, attending a school that offered a quality education. This is something none of these kids had any control over but had everything to do with what they were born into. The flaws that lie in the education system begin with the uneven distribution of opportunities and resources. Volunteering helped me to gain a perspective on how few opportunities many of the children are given combined with economic situations inhibiting them from finding new solutions. This volunteer project inspired me to do more research on the education system and what its crippling effect can have on certain
At the beginning of the year, I felt if I created a good social group, I would feel comfortable at Marquette which would provide an environment in which I would be more likely to succeed academically. Unfortunately, this was where I made my biggest mistake- I did not correctly manage my social activities and student responsibilities. Instead of balancing the two, I prioritized my social life, which led to my current academic situation. Along with my poor study schedule, my sleep schedule was also lacking. Like many college students, I stayed up late socializing and doing last minute homework instead of getting adequate sleep for my early classes. This lack of sleep lead to not being able to pay attention in my morning lectures and using breaks between classes to
Beginning in August, on the first day of class you typically get an overview of how your semester will be for each course. For English 1010 I had an initial thought that it was like a review of my last high school English course. That review quickly turned into a brand new course as I was challenge with new techniques and ideas of our professor. Challenges often included not using banded words and putting brain storming to practice. These were Ideas that challenged me as I began the class as a free writer and typically did not practice brainstorming, nor think about having a list of words I could not use. Each time we were given a new essay I faced exercising my vocabulary, using more resources, and organizing my writing. It took time and effort but I eventually got used to the quality of work expected of me.
Furthermore, I continued to strengthen my own habits. Educating our students to intelligently question a situation and make informed decisions is an important part of properly participating in citizenship duties within their community. Humans are observers by nature. Modeling positive traits could influence positive behavior. I respect my colleagues and students. To show respect for their ideas, personalities and character, it is crucial not to discuss student information with other students or divulge unnecessary data to another teacher not involved in their education. There is a teacher within my department whose comments regarding her student’s abilities are rather negative. Instead of allowing her to demean her students, I stand as an advocate and comment on their capabilities to do any of the work she requests because they have passed all their other science courses without issue.