Be Passionate 12B

"Good teaching does not make a course’s subject more interesting; it gives the students more interests — and so makes them more interesting."

Question: How does the passion that a teacher has for a subject influence his or her teaching methods?
~  For me the biggest struggle in school has always been not liking the teacher and or the method in which they teach.  There are so many times I have been interested in a topic, but have come to hate it because of a teacher.  To me there is such value in somebody who is passionate about something that wants others to be just as passionate.  You can most definitely tell when a teacher is there because its a job and when they are there because they love seeing others fall in love with what they love.  In the article, "What is College For?" it talks about how a good teacher will be able to make a subject to students interesting.  Its all about making others believe it's interesting.
      I feel as though, a lot of teachers don't want to teach, its more of just a job to them.  However, education should be something students look forward to and don't have to dread.  As the article said, the most important learning happens in the classroom.  Because of this, the education system needs to be more focused on making it a positive experience for the teachers and students.  I strongly believe that teachers should have multiple teaching methods so that all different kinds of learning styles can be met. A lot changes depending on the attitude of the teacher.  Good teachers want you to understand it, but that should be obvious.  Teachers are the biggest mentors and have the ability to change the outlook of so many people.  When the teacher is passionate it gets passed down to the kids.  Be passionate about something!

What Every Student Hates 12A

       

           Southern is known for excelling in the liberal arts education.  Although, going through the program it seems as though it’s a waste of time, money and energy, in the long run it actually helps broaden one’s mind.   It’s really important to be open-minded in trying and experiencing things you otherwise wouldn’t.  It’s difficult to have an open mindset when you are focused on the degree.  However, because of the liberal arts education method, you are opened up to things you otherwise wouldn’t even think about.  This allows for people to find what interests and bores them.  However, you can dislike a subject but get some important ideas out of them. 

            No matter what you do in life, the more background knowledge you have on things, the more interesting of a person you are.  You might not be an expert on something but knowing something little about it makes you look so much better. 

            When you don’t concentrate on one specific subject you are able to be more creative.  Your mind is able connect things and create new ideas because it is able to think in different ways.  In the article, it mentions how being innovative is a skill that most businesses are looking for.  In the article, Liberal Arts and the Workplace it says, “The ability to think innovatively, not just to recite yesterday's knowledge, now ranks near the top of the qualities sought by employers.”  Being well rounded allows for more innovative thinkers.  You can no longer be average in this world, you have to be that someone special.  Liberal Arts Education allows for different ideas and ways of thinking to come out.  It allows for things that just focusing on the necessary does not.  There definitely needs to be many more liberal arts colleges. 

Tye-Dye With Caitlin 12I

        This past Tuesday, Caitlin and I attended a tye-dye event in the basement of our building, Neff.  It was a great opportunity to meet people from our building and just relax.  We brought our own shirts and had fun with them.  I really enjoyed how most of the RAs were there hanging out with us.  I felt as though they are making more of an effort now to be more of our friends, which I like. I realized that they are really willing to talk and give advice which sometimes you need that from someone who understands. This was a great way to meet new people and get closer with people who are there to listen.

Innovation 11V

      Innovation is something newly introduced, such as a new method or device.  This past week I learned a new method of studying, predicting the questions on a test.  This is something new for me, so I am not really good at it.  However, it will get easier.
       Bane is a troublesome influence.  There is a lot of these influences in college and you have to learn how to stand your ground and not be easily influenced into doing things your wouldn't normally do.  It's all about self control and morals.
        Voluble means talkative.  In college, I was hoping to have a roommate that was friendly with me and occasionally talked to me.  However, I got the complete opposite.  She hasn't talked to me in over a month.  She's definitely not voluble.

Predicting Questions 11B

After reading through my peers answer to their question I realized how well constructed Stephanie’s was.  Not only did she answer the question that was asked, she was able to elaborate on them.  Elaborating on something sometimes-just leads to talking in a circle, however, hers did not.  She expanded and went deeper into the thoughts rather than just simply answering the question.   This is really important to do because it shows the reader that you understand the question being asked.  When you take it to the next level, you interpret something and are able to construct your own opinion about things and show that.  Reading through others answers made me realize that you have to not just answer what the question is asking.  When you put your own opinion on things, it makes a lot more sense. 

            Being able to predict what questions could be on a test is hard, especially when you don’t know what is important and what’s not important.  To predict, you need to comprehend the information.  I tried predicting some questions on an exam this past week and it was a success.  I had to understand the main ideas and construct questions that would not only cover the main idea, but also allow me to show that I was able to really understand the concept behind the idea. 

            Predicting test questions may not always work, but even if you don’t predict the exact question, you are still able to answer questions to do with the main idea.  You have the supporting evidence you need to construct a proper answer.  I will be using this study method much more often now that I know how to do it correctly. 

Office Hours 11I

     This past week I missed one of my math classes.   Professor Hart has made it very clear from the start of the semester, that any time we miss a class, to go to her office hours so we don't fall behind.  I checked the homework on the computer to see if i recognized the material, and I didn't.  So on Thursday, an hour before INQ, I decided to go to her office hours.  She was so welcoming and understanding.  I really felt as though she wanted me to understand it.  Within 10 minutes of getting there, it clicked! Professor Hart's email is Harte1@southernct.edu.  Her office hours are between 9 and 11 every morning. Her office is right when you walk into Englemen, you walk straight into the math department and her room is the second door on the left. 

Questionable 11A

          Throughout this past week, we had several articles to read.  After reading them I was left with some questions.  1. How affect does money have on ones creativity? 2. How is creativity not supported in the work environment? 3. What classifies someone as “creative?” 4. How does the Internet and media affect ones creativity?

These are all inquiry questions.  They not only ask a question that ties into the readings, but they allow you to think at a deeper level.  Out of all of these questions my favorite is, How does the internet and media affect ones creativity? 

            In this day in age, there is someone always watching.  We are constantly checking our phones, tablets, and computers for the latest gossip and news.  This really impacts ones creativity.  When someone is always checking their phone, they don’t have time to just think.  When one has the chance to just be alone with no distractions, they chose not to subconsciously.  Its out of habit to check Instagram and twitter every so often.  It is hard to turn off the outside world to have the time and space to be creative.  In the article, “How to Cultivate Eureka Moments,” it talks about how “being able to step back and view things as an outsider, or from a slightly different angle, seems to promote creativity.”  When people don’t take a step back, they are preoccupied and aren’t open to random thoughts.  They don’t let their mind wander.  Letting your mind wander with no directions is the key to creativity.  Everyone is creative in his or her own way, they just have to find out how to make it work for them.