This semester was filled with challenges that helped my writing grow
not just in the actual sense of writing, but in how I come across to my audience and different ways to make my point known. The class also tested my ability to work in a group and to think about what I'm passionate about and why.
The "This I believe” Project was a good introduction for me to get ready for this class. It was a chance for us to introduce ourselves to the class in a way that, I think, was better than just giving a speech or writing a blog post. We had to write a short essay talking about something that we believe in, give a story supporting that belief, and why we believe in that thing. I wrote about sunrises and why they are important to me. The project took us beyond just writing out our belief. Once we had it, we were to create a visual, using pictures that went along with our essay, then record ourselves reading our writing while our pictures appeared on screen.
We had to consider our audience through this entire project. How were we going to read our essay in a way that kept our audiences attention, in what order were our pictures to appear on screen, what colors would we use on our blog section, and would we add any other multimedia – like music? realized that these questions had to be answered seriously because if I skipped over one or really didn’t think about it, the audience might not get what I’m trying to say.
The “Advocate” project was my favorite and least favorite section of the semester. This challenged me to think about something that I felt passionate about, find a group of people who felt the same, and create a sight where we advocate for that passion. I’m not good with working in groups! I like keeping my ideas to myself because I know that I like them. In a group, you have to talk about ideas and confirm which ones you’re going to use. Sometimes everyone’s ideas may not be heard or useable, and that can be hard.
My group was able to work through our differences and finally pick a topic that we all agreed on. My group was filled with future teachers so we decided to advocate against State Wide Testing. This project helped me learn to stay organized and calm. Other people were relying on me to do my work and I was relying on them – it’s a scary thing when a grade is involved. This project also reiterated to me how important it is to remember our audience. During this project, it was our job to draw in their attention and hopefully take a stand on the topic. The ideal goal would be for the audience to agree with our views, but I think that we succeed if they just choose a side.Our final project was our “Facebook Challenge”. I liked this one! I decided to research the relationship of twins and then compare that relationship to their relationship over Facebook. What was important about this project was finding our theme in the Tweets or Facebook posts and then
supporting it with those posts and an outside source. This project helped me
with research, organizing it, and using it to it is full potential. Finding the
right outside source was hard, but once I did, I was able to compare that with my data from Facebook. Organizing our paper to go along with that was hard, I had a hard time trying to organize the paper, but I was able to organize my research and that helped me create the order for the paper.
Right off the bat, I would like to say that I really enjoyed this class - and I'm not saying that to get a good grade. This course challenged me in different ways and I really think I grew as a student and future professional during this class.
The TIB assignment pushed my limits in combining writing and technology to reach out to an audience about something I'm passionate about. Before this class, I had never combined the two subjects to achieve one final goal. I love to write and I love taking pictures and creating videos, but it never occurred to me to combine them. I took it as a challenge and put my two passions together. I followed the guidelines of the assignment and finished on time. My movie ran well, it could be heard, and I even put music on in the background. I feel like I achieved my goal of reaching out to the audience in a calm, yet exciting fashion. I followed my design plan and I reached my final goal.
The Advocate project was HARD. I am not a group person - I like to be a "loner" when it comes to my grades. Working with two other people to finish this project was tough, but after our first meeting, we were able to figure out who everyone works and move on. I worked really hard to keep everything on track, I also played a major role in creating and organizing our website. I know that it can still be improved, but I was proud of our final class showing. I took my research seriously for this project and kept it organized. I was passionate about this subject (State Wide testing) and wanted our reasons against the testing to be clearly known.
Once I was able to decide what I wanted to do for the Facebook Investigation, it grew on me
Discussion Question #3
In Orenstein's article "Growing up on Facebook," she states, "an opportunity for insight, for growth through loneliness" may be lost when college students have the "faux-frienships" tethering them to their pasts. Do you agree with Orenstein that those from the "postage-stamp era" may be more equipped to go off and grow on their own without the constant affirmation and connection to their previous selves? How have your social networks or lack thereof separated you or held you to your high school or younger self?
| My Answer
I don't agree with the statement that growth through loneliness is lost because of Facebook. I disagree with this because of personal experience.
When I graduated high school, I only had a small group of friends, and it had always been that way. They were the first group that I added on facebook. Slowly, I started adding the rest of my '09 class mates, simply because I wanted to see how they were doing. I kept in touch with who I wanted and let the others fade away. When I went to GCC, I met another group of friends, I had to in order to succeed in classes. For me, I succeed in a class when I have at least one person to talk and confirm things with. If I miss a day, I can e-mail or call them about homework, we can study together... it takes a lot of stress from my mind. My facebook usage didn't hinder me from this. Sometimes it even helps... especially if that person has a facebook that we can communicate through.
The friends that I want confirmation from, I can talk to without facebook.
I don't think facebook has held me at all to my younger high school self. If anything, it's shown me how much I don't need all the drama from high school. I don't miss it one bit.
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Main Question: The Forbes Magazine
article referenced in one of your readings states, "I’ve heard both job seekers and employers wonder aloud about what it means if a job candidate doesn’t have a Facebook account. Does it mean they deactivated it because it was full of red flags? Are they hiding something?" Do you consider not having a Facebook page a red flag? What are the reasons you have a Facebook page? If you don't have one, what are your reasons? Have you considered how either would affect the way you are perceived when applying for a job? | Answer: I do not consider not having a facebook as a “red flag”. I think that it is important to realize that everyone is different- that type of technology may not be for someone. I have a few friends who have stayed away from facebook because they “don’t feel the need to tell everyone what they’re doing that day” – or feeling, or cooking, or watching on tv. They’re not hiding anything, they are proctecting their privacy. We are given freedom of speech, but that doesn’t mean that we always need to be speaking or updating our friends about our lives. I think everything is good in moderation… but moderation means different things to different people.
I was not allowed to have a facebook page until I graduated high school. I joined so that I could stay in touch with my friends after we all went our separate ways to college. I also joined to keep in touch with my cousins: half of my family lives in NY and the other half in WV. I only see them during the Christmas and Easter holidays, it’s nice to know that we can stay in touch with one another . Ironically, I’ve started going through my friends list. Yes I went
through 12 years of school with my classmates, but many of us lead different
lifestyles… and some of it I really don’t want to see or know about.
I think that it is silly that employers think that people are hiding things if they don’t have a facebook. It’s a bit crazy that many look at a FB page in order to hire someone. Yes, it can be an accurate picture into someone’s life, but it’s not the whole picture. It’s important to remember that. I think face to face contact/ relationships/ interviews are the best way to get to know a person.
"To each his own"
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Our website should include:
Major visual component
annotated bib
design plan
anything additional
by next Wednesday our Project Assessment essay is also due:
- PAE also has a project management section, which describes HOW you worked with your group, responsibilities, etc.
- in the PAE, you will discuss your revisions, changes, and processes
PAE is group-written
at least 500 words
Due NEXT WEDNESDAY
post to our page and turn in a group copy
| I think I always struggle with working in groups. I like to run with my ideas because I get excited with them, but when working in a group, I have to remember to listen to others and their ideas. My group members are just as excited about their ideas as I am about mine and it's important to remember that and be respectful.
"To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater." - Bono
| Our group has been working mainly on Google docs. Our group works together typing our our design plan ideas, then we go back over it making tweaks here and there. I've been using our group blog also like Google docs. As individuals, we post our homework and bibliographies, then we go back and make the arrangement organized and pleasing to the eye.
| | everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, "Make me feel important." Never forget this message when working with people. - Mary Kay Ash | | | | I see how their are Pros to working in groups, I mean... you learn new ideas and how to work with skills and other people, but it is hard. I think, if given the choice, I would always choose to do in individual project. I've only found 2 people who I can really work with, we push each other to the max and our product is great.
That being said, so far, I've enjoyed working with my partners for this group. We have come up with some good plans to carry out our advocacy project. Organizing them will be interesting (especially on the blog) but we will cross that bridge when we get to it.
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The group that I am in was able to meet before spring break and talk about the ideas we have for our Advocacy project. We decided to try and find 2 article each that would help us create our ideas, pros/cons for our topic. We also started looking around for visual Ideas. We think we are going to use a tri-fold that will also have a pamphlet section with more information. When we met, we were able to get along and talk out our ideas. I think this project will go very well.
Collaboration - a group working together to create something. Each member has a part that needs to be played for the project to be finished.
I have never liked projects that require group work. The problem of schedule syncing, the roles of each member, and over all organization has always stressed me out. I like knowing what to do and doing just that; having to worry if everyone else is doing their part is not on my list of favorite things. There have been many time in my past when I was stuck doing the work for a project, or waiting on a partner to finish up their part. Many times I would end up doing their part and not telling them just so that there would be a back up copy if they didn't finish. No one wants to do that.
As a future teacher, I found "Coping with the problems of Collaborative Writing" by Richard Chisholm very useful and encouraging. In the beginning of his article, he outlines seven guidelines to encourage collaborative projects:
1. Devise a well-conceived project: plan well so that you reduce resistance.
2. Run the Collaborative project during the early part of the semester.
3. Execute the plan systematically and matter-of-factly... make clear your intentions and stick to them.
4. Announce clearly the grading requirements.
5. Provide sufficient time
6. Emphasize the values of collaboration
7. have groups devise their own projects.
I think a lot of these suggestions have to do with organization on the teachers part; if the teacher is organized, that will pass down to the students. Having a "scatter-brained" teacher does not help any situation. If the students do not know what is required of them, how are they to perform correctly? Clarity and organization are key.
 To me, to be an advocate for something is to be a person who is involved in the well being for the cause. When you advocate for something, you're showing that you care for that something, even if your for or against it. If you are advocating against something like smoking, you are showing others that you do not support smoking, and you care enough to do something about it and vice versa. When you are an advocate for something, you are volunteering to put your face to that cause, issue, or idea. That issue, and supporting or denying that issue, becomes a part of who you are, and possibly the way you live.
I have been an advocate of the summer camp I work at. I think that children need to
 Who needs a tissue?
All of the presentations were amazing today. There was something about these stories (all of the stories) that really hit home to me and made me think about how I'm living my life. Am I neglecting my friends, because of technology, at a time where they might need me the most? Am I taking time to enjoy the blessing of my family: my grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins? We really don't know how much time we have left on this earth... am I using it correctly or wisely? The "I believe in blankies" made me think about silly quirks that I have that I hide from my friends. Those quirks make up me.. why should I be ashamed to have them. "I believe in the little things" made me want to pursue the more scarier things in life that I've been avoiding or putting off. I can't pick a favorite... I loved them all. Everyone did a wonderful job!
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