Abstract
Introduction/Background
Our planet is mostly made-up of soil, water, and minerals. These elements are around us all the time that have gone through different processes and continue to go through different processes to create other elements such as rocks, plate tectonics, and other natural events like volcanoes and their eruptions. All these elements around us affect our health and daily living because we have to adjust the way we live depending on the conditions of these elements. As students in this class, we will learn five different objectives in which I do not have very much knowledge about, but I am excited to learn these objectives and how they all affect one another. The objective I want to focus on more in this semester is analyzing geologic deep time and the geologic chart. I want to focus more on this during the semester because I find interesting that we can analyze how old something is by looking at it but also having an idea of what it has gone through over the years.
Goals
The goals that I set for myself in the beginning of the semester was to be more involved by participating in class, group discussions, and asking questions. I feel that I am completing my goals because I am asking questions when I am confused but also being involved when it is necessary. These are habits that I am getting better at doing due to this class which has helped me improved as a student and made me realize that I need to do it more often if I want to be a more involved student.
Methods
Some steps that I plan on doing in order to achieve my goals is to speak up in class to give my insights on topics, be active in discussions, and ask questions if I am confused. In order not to fall behind on the assignments I plan on spreading my work evenly throughout the week to give myself enough time to do everything but also enough time to go over the material to make sure I have a full understanding of it. Some ways I can assess my growth in this class is to use my resources to my advantage, make sure I am reading and understand the reading, and be an active listener in class and take notes when needed.
My methods are working well for me because I have been keeping up with the work but also learning the material as well. It has also made my life less stressful and more organized. I have been present in class every day and my focus in class has been consistent as well. I typically send around seven to eight hours on this class, and I do feel like it is enough because I am able to finish my work, go over material when needed, and I have been grasping the material.
I think the skill that I have had the most practice within this class is social skills or collaborating with others. Every time we meet in class we have to collaborate or work with others, and it has taught me how to learn from others, share ideas, and also see things from a different point of view.
I am planning to add onto my methods which is going back to old topics and reviewing the material every so often to make sure I still understand it.
(Preliminary) Results
My personal strengths in this class are taking notes and asking questions when I am confused or struggling. My weakness is not going back to the material to make sure I still understand it.
I am enjoying this class a lot because it is a lot of hands-on activities which helps me understand the process of things and how they work. The lectures in class, on canvas, and the labs make it interesting for me because we are doing different things with the material that we are learning. I feel like it has helped me learned a lot and make sure I am understanding the material and how it works.
(Preliminary) Conclusions
I would give myself a letter grade of an A. I would give myself this letter grade because I am not only doing well on the assignments, but I am so fixing my work if needed instead of leaving it as it is. I am also taking the time to look over the material that is given outside of class and in class. Lastly, I am meeting my goals and getting a good understanding of what is being taught.