Soc. Psychology 222 (2)
Spring 1980
Progress Report @ B
ID #23
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I. Skills I Have Learned:
After reviewing the various aspects of myself as an individual and a student before and after I entered the Community Classroom, I feel I have gained more knowledge in a wide range of factors. I have discovered that as a Society's Witness I am aware of the Social Forces that affect me as an individual. The Money-Thoughts project emphasized this concept because we were induced to observe factors in our lives not usually recognized. I've also found that being a Society's Witness is significant in that I can interrelate Social Forces with events occurring in my life. Relating the concepts we learn in class with personal experiences also helps me to understand their definitions and has guided me to use the concepts in other courses as well.
Another observation I found was that the DFF's have helped me in meeting deadlines and basically, prevents me from procrastinating. I've always had a habit of putting everything off until a later time, however; with the incentive of gaining collective points, I feel I have overcome this negative aspect of my life to some degree. The DFF's have also aided me in the process of "application", extending and integrating the concepts with my Daily Round.
Soc. Psychology 222 (2)
Spring 1980
Progress Report @ B
ID #23
One of the greater gains I feel I have acquired is Communication. The Team Discussions, Group Quizzes, the communication between student and Professors, Class Managers, and other peers, have broadened my abilities to communicate with others. I feel communication is a significant aspect in everything we do.
My abilities as a student have also improved. I've learned how to use the DRA, Sinclaire, Glossary Charts and other resources in achieving a better perspective towards the course. Reading the previous generations' projects have also helped me in my own projects. It's also interesting to see how the various communities have progressed.
II. Recommendations:
I feel the staff of the Community Classroom are doing a good job in constructing the class and organizing the community. However, there seems to be several conflicts in some areas such as deadlines for the projects. I've run into situations, where, the class managers weren't quite sure what was going on. This led to quite a lot of confusion amongst the community.
Another problem I recently ran into was in the Gartley DRA center. One of my peers was supposed to leave an Intimidation annotation at the Gartley center because we couldn't arrange an appropriate time to meet. I'm not sure if she brought it in, but the idea of a mailbox or similar type of thing for the students might end this problem in the future.
III. Plans:
In the future, I plan to follow the general guideline of what I have been doing. I hope to spend more time either at Sinclaire or Gartley , but the time involved is sometimes difficult to put forth.
I'm also going to try and use the Glossary Charts more and use the concepts in my DR. IV. Comments:
I've enjoyed this unique learning experience so far. I feel that I can learn much easier in this type of format, where, there is a direct relationship between student and professor. Since grades are on a collective basis, students aren't always under the pressure of competition. The grading system is a little vague though and I know of a lot of peers who are concerned about this. I've discovered that the concepts apply to me in some way and the best way for me to understand them is to apply them to my experiences and daily round activities.
Soc. Psychology 222 (2)
Community-Classroom
Spring 1980
Progress Report @ A
#23
After reading various views people had towards my mid- evaluation of the course, I have gained a little more insight in some of the concepts I have learned from the structure of the Community-classroom. One point that I over-looked was that by typing all of the assignments, my typing skills have improved at least 85g.
One student commented that they feel that through my work, he/she believes that I am one of the more advanced students. All I can say to that, is I have tried my best and have put forth the maximum amount of effort that my time could allow. I try to apply the concepts we have learned regarding the social forces that affect our lives to the daily experiences of my life and that by keeping a positive attitude when things get a little rough, I can pull through.
Another peer was a bit negative as to my being so optimistic towards the structure of the community-classroom. I strongly believe that I have an easier time learning in a non-competitive, close-knit atmosphere than in a traditional class. My peer mentioned that how has the course added to my becoming a better student with the consideration that there aren't any other courses based around the community-classroom?" Although the other courses are on a competitive level, I feel that by applying some of the concepts I've learned in becoming more aware of the SP forces that affect my life, I will be able to function with more relaxation, less tension and more confidence.
#3
Progress Report B
MAR 2 0, 1980
I. Participation:
1. Telephone Exercises: I did the two exercises in which I called three members each time. They were all very responsive to do what I asked, but very few actually sang the forces songs, rather, they just poke the words.
2. Visitors: I brought one girl to the class and she fully enjoyed the experience, In fact, she attended a few more afterwards, whenever she had the time.
3. DRA Use: I constantly use the DRA volumes when I am confused about a term or just reading more on a certain topic. I use the open reserve desk as well as the closed reserve desk.
4. Class Participation/ Team Meeting: In the team meetings I try to keep some kind of discussion goings so as to arrive at a solution to a problem more quickly. When I feel confused about a certain concept most times I will ask a manager or professor. I attended one manager meeting and took on a job of making the poster convention invitations.
5. Lectures: There are only a couple of lectures that I missed, but was able to hear them on tape. Sometimes I will ask the professor a question to clear up a certain concept,
6. Projects: I followed through with both the money thoughts and intimidation projects. I seriously considered the peer annotations and revised my project accordingly.
7. DRA Maintenance Work: I completed the four hours of required maintenance work as soon as possible and helped at a team meeting.
Skills, Information, Understanding and New Skills Acquired:
I am able to realize more easily now the forces which affect me in my life as a whole. Competitive, Revitalizing, Enhancing and, Intimidating Forces are something real to me now. Because I can see how these forces affect me, I can try to alter my behavior so that
undesirable forces are not encountered. After I learned how to use the Glossary Charts, I started to understand the terminology better. The interesting aspect of this course stems from the integration of the well being of the body with the well being of the minds and how this is done(Junk Food, Huddle Buddy, Body Balance and Survival).
II. Recommendations:
The only one I have is that the students, when speaking in class, should have a microphone so that their voices can be heard on tape.
III. Plans for Remainder of Semester:
I plan to be more professional as a student. This means attending all lectures and keeping up on assigned readings, handing in assignments on times preparing myself before lecture starts, conditioning my mind to concentrate on only relevant issues during class and attending more managers meetings.
IV. Open Messages:
"Do Risk and Be Creative" Experience new and different things Even though some may be weird and crazy, experience it and expand your horizons; you'll be wiser for it.
Progress Report
Steps 6 and 7
I did not include the peer annotations in this report because I threw them away. However, their criticisms were still used to shape the "A" version, The three people who annotated my report did not give me constructive messages, instead, they only gave me subjective comments saying, "it was good" "you did this well" and "good organization". Therefore, I thought of something on my own to add to my report. The penned -in asterisk in Part II of "A" was the addition. I feel that communication, in community classrooms is the backbone of community existence.