Having already experienced a community service-learning (CSL) course the previous semester, I considered myself a veteran upon my entrance into my second CSL-based course this term (Winter 2010) – Communications Studies (COMS) 463: Advanced Professional and Technical Communications. Although this course is a requirement for my academic program, I was still eager to take it since I thought I knew what was coming. I guess you could say I came into this class holding a “been there, done that” attitude, thinking it would be an easy ride. All this changed once the semester took off. What I thought I knew turned out to be so...unpredictable. Although the concepts were the same, the structure, theme, and, of course, the people were completely different. The only person that was familiar to me was Dr. Tania Smith, the professor who taught the first CSL class I took – which I found comforting. I felt like a fish out of water as the semester went full steam ahead. The fact that this class is centred very heavily around technology made me feel extremely nervous. Every computer, Blackberry, or toaster I touch turns against me; therefore, learning that assignments in this class revolved around Wordpress Blogs and Google Sites made the knot in my stomach even tighter. I have trouble just burning a CD, how am I supposed to create a website? My first conflict with technology occurred when my group and I had to submit our first assignment – the proposal for our final project, the team website. We put our sweat and tears into creating a 15 page proposal only to have it destroyed by a computer glitch. The worst part of all this was that we didn’t have a back-up copy of the final product since we were all a little too reliant on technology. It also didn’t help that we lost our data when our Editorial Coordinator, working at the Vancouver Olympics during reading week, had slipped down Cypress Mountain and had ruined her laptop. I felt really bad for her at the time but now, looking back at the whole ordeal, it's a little funny (sorry, Jen...I say that out of love). To get the proposal re-done on time, actually, to not make it later than it already was at that point, our team had to work into the wee hours of the morning. Right then, my frustration level was about to hit the roof...I couldn't handle staring at the computer screen anymore. But no matter how frustrating that little mishap may be, I can’t deny the fact that it brought our team closer together. It showed us that we were all dependable during a crisis and that we were all very committed to the team. Yes, teamwork is a very, if not the most, important ingredient in community service-learning. That little accident turned out to be a blessing in disguise. After that incident, everything just fell into place. Since our team had grown so close, we all supported each other through proceeding assignments. Our team had a vision for what our final project would look like and I was excited to turn that vision into a reality. But first, I had to conquer my fear of website design. Being a person that is technology-challenged with zero experience in designing websites, I had to spend countless of hours learning and experimenting to uncover the inner workings of Google Sites. Thankfully, my teammates, Dr. Smith, and our class' learning coach, Carmen, was there to help me through the process. In the end, my perseverance paid off and I was able to conquer my fear of website design, making one for the first time. That fear transformed into complete obsession because after I learned how Google Sites worked, I couldn’t get enough of it! This change of heart came in time for the establishment of our team’s website – the final project. As this course comes to an end, I now realize that although it was very different than the previous CSL course I took, which was General Studies (GNST) 313: Interdisciplinary Research Methodologies, they both have something in common. Both courses were able to fill my learning toolkit with skills and knowledge that I can take with me into the future. With GNST 313, it was research methodology. With COMS 463, it was website design. For both, it was getting the chance to work with some of the most unbelievably awesome people. I end this class by saying I wish it didn’t have to end so soon. Recommended Reading: Reflections from Alee, Bryce and Jen; Contributors |
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Ann Pham's Reflection |
