Reflection time! It is now October 24th and thus it's half-time in our lovely semester. No breaks here though, this is a time to look inwardly on the progress made, goals set and to put the pedal to the medal on how to continue on and finish stronger than we started.
When you look back at the goals you set for yourself at the beginning, how do you feel you are coming on them?
My goal that I had set for myself at the beginning of the semester was to further my time management skills. That goal is partly accomplished but nowhere near where I'd like it be.
When you look at the methods you suggested you would use for this class, are you actually following them? If so, are they working?
My methods do not seem to be working very well as I have a hard time sitting down and studying for hours. I'll get an assignment done and then I'll need to get up and moving somehow.
How often have you been present in class? How focused on what is happening in class have you consistently been?
I have not missed a class this semester. I have been engaged in every lecture and conversation, minus the two movies played so far, which could only hold my attention for so long. The best and most and most beneficial teaching point so far in this class was when Dr. Cooper organically gave a lecture on plate tectonic boundaries using just the white board, no movie, no technology, no slides.
How many hours a week do you typically spend on this class? When thinking about your progress in this class, do you feel it is enough?
My hours outside of class are severely lacking. I expect that to pick up though as my accelerated 8 week course has just ended and I now have plenty more time for this class. I am learning that just showing up is not enough anymore, as seemed the case in high school.
We discussed the fact that this class was meant to help you practice a variety of skills useful to any future, not just oceanography. Which do you think you have had most practice with due to class?
I have had the chance to enhance my time management skills, which is something I really want to capitalize on this semester.
Now that you have had a chance to contemplate your focus, time, and performance in this class, is there anything that you are planning to change for the rest of the semester?
Setting aside time to work on oceanography specifically, perhaps setting up a schedule for when I will work on what.
Where do you think you have exhibited your personal strengths in this class?
Commitment to showing up. I signed up to take this class and while I do admit that I need to pick it up outside the classroom, I have committed to showing up every Tuesday and Thursday at or before 9:35 a.m..
Where do you think you are weakest?
Outside the classroom work, which, as stated before, I am looking to improve going forward.
Looking at your work in this class, what letter grade would you give yourself?
I really don't want to say this, and I'm sure I could rationalize and give myself a passing grade, but I think I am failing currently. I am showing up everyday but like I stated above, that isn't everything. I have assignments due weeks ago sitting beside me in my backpack as I type this. I plan to get to those very soon but since they remain undone or unfinished, failing is where I feel I am currently at in this stage of the game.
Is there anything else you would like to share regarding how you feel things are going at this point in the class?
Things are not horrible (unless you consider my failing grade horrible), I have ideas and I have the capability to get assignments done, it's just a matter of doing it. Dr. Cooper is awesome, she cares that you do well and will seek you out to check on you at least once throughout the semester, better yet, if you seek her out when you get overwhelmed, she is more than happy to sit with you and figure out the problem and find a solution that fits you.