 As a student making a website, this was one of the few times when what I do in a class extends beyond the classroom, and goes on display in public, where anyone can look at my work. Instead of worrying about a grade, I had to worry about what the public would think of my work. At times I felt vulnerable, scared and nervous. My work was going to be out there, outside of the classroom-academic bubble, and in the real world, where anyone can look at my work. To top off those feelings, I made a blog and website, mediums I had to use to submit my work.
It was daunting and challenging. This was the second time throughout my four years in university where I had to make my work for the online world, not just on ink and paper. The first time I had to put my work online, it was pretty much just a mini-essay that I just plopped online. For this class, I learned how to write for the web. With class lectures and textbooks, I gained tools and skills that I did not have before, and I learned lots, from how and where to hook a person in to a website to how to write for the web – like not writing blocks of words. The tools and skills I learned helped me overcome my feelings of vulnerability and nervousness, but I was still scared that my work would be out there for the world to see. I think the reason why I was scared was because I had to display other people’s opinions, thoughts, ideas, and works in a way that showed their ideas with respect, intelligence, and elegance along with my own interjections to provide clarity and input. It was challenging to maintain their ethos while creating and giving myself credibility to talk about CSL Because I already had the opportunity to journey through a CSL class before, I had some knowledge about what the class process would be like. I understood that I would start out with worry, then I would get a hang of what I was doing, then I would become lost and even more worried about the work I had to do, and finally I would have a better grasp of what I had to do. Reflecting on the whole process gives me the chance to look back and see where I learned, why I learned what I did, and how this learning took place. Without reflecting on the CSL process, I would just walk away from the class wonder what happened, but I believe reflection is a key to learning to take place in a CSL class, so that I learn more and know why I learned more. I think a CSL course is very similar to a pine cone--it grows on a tree, falls off when it has matured, then waits on the ground till a fire comes along and the pinecone explodes, spreading its seeds around to ignite further growth, and build on an existent forest. A student already has knowledge about theories and practices, and when offered a CSL course, the student goes into the outside world. There, he/she will be under pressure not only for marks, but also for providing a service to a community organization. After all is said and done for the course, the student’s research or work for the class can be shared and used by people in the outside community. Recommended Reading: Reflections from Alee, Ann, and Jen; Contributors |
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Bryce Kapsha's Reflection |
