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I am really enjoying the book for this class. There are a lot of great life lessons and refreshing perspectives. Opening yourself up to possibility is half the battle in life.
Giving an A was an important chapter for me to read in The Art of Possibility (Zander, 2000). I have been very focused on that letter throughout my education. Less than an A is very uncomfortable for me as a student…unless it is in a class that I find impossibly difficult - like Algebra. I had to retake the course in college a few times because of my math phobias I had built up over my lifetime. When I finally passed the course with a C…I gave myself an A, because I knew that I had a breakthrough with the material and truly understood the concepts. I knew that it was the best work I was capable of at the time. Now when I am asked to help others with the subject I find that I truly retained most of the information and deserved a passing grade.
In the past I had gone through bouts of being so focused on the A or reassurance that my work was valid that I would miss the point of some lessons. I honed an ability to figure out what kind of work would get me a high grade and became an expert test taker. Even now I can usually pass a test that I have not studied for (but am somewhat familiar with the content) with an average of 80% correct. I tested this theory with some online practice tests for different certifications in teaching and have noticed this phenomenon in some of my undergrad work.
In the end I found that I probably learned more and felt more accomplished by earning that C in Algebra then I ever did floating through any flashcard class I took. This is not to say I learned nothing from regurgitating information in an orderly fashion, but the experiences I remember feeling like I was changed do not involve flashcards.
I think meaningful learning changes your perspective and sometimes that A gets in the way. I think giving an A before you even begin is a wonderful idea to create a new purpose in the classroom…listening. I have pulled this practice into my daily thought processes with my son and people around me. It is kind of like the power of positive thinking, creating the world that you want to live in, and allowing people to flourish all in one. I have not perfected the practice, but I am glad that it is a thought process I can have now.
Annie,
ReplyDeleteI commend you on being so honest about your focus on the A and sometimes missing the point of the lesson. Your ability to look at yourself and identify your growth areas and things about yourself that you are willing to work on is rare to find and what will define you as an amazing teacher in whatever you choose to do. In my experience, the teachers that students identify with the most are those that seem the most human to them. Those that are willing to admit they too have things they need to work on. Those that teach young people that being perfect isn’t realistic or healthy. Your insight that we often learn more from the experiences we struggle with versus the experiences that do not challenge us is profound and true. The idea that growth is sometimes a painful and messy process can be seen in our own journey here at Full Sail. Thanks for sharing.
Joanna Puello Said...
ReplyDeleteAnnie, I’m right with you there on the whole “A” business especially this time around with my Master’s. I think because I’ve had almost 10 years away from school, I’m much more focused and desirous of a top grade (in this case, a 4.0). But really that’s just a personal goal and very far from the most important thing I can get out of this program. I’ve noticed that students can get straight A’s in the EMDT program and not necessarily produce artistic, beautiful, inspirational, or awe-inspiring work. I’m NOT saying that Full Sail hands out easy grades. But they have wisely set up their program in such a way that a student who doesn’t have any experience with Flash, for example, can get an “A” in the class the same way that a person who is an expert Flash designer can. This is just and good. So what’s the motivation then for students to maximize the program? Well, no one can make us watch Lynda.com videos or create beautifully inspiring projects or videos. We can choose to go through each project as a mere checklist and get a good grade. We can choose to not network with our peers and teachers. We can probably avoid watching several assigned videos or skip through the reading. But doing that or not doing that is so far from the point. I have a brilliant opportunity to get as much as I can from everyone I come in contact with through the EMDT program (textbook teachers, video instructors from YouTube or Lynda.com, peers, blogs, etc.). Everything and everyone can be my teacher. I have a whole world to explore and test out, and the more I discover, the more developed my skills will be and the broader my skills for this highly competitive world. And even beyond grades and getting a good job, there’s the beauty of just learning and having the opportunity to look at the same thing from a totally new perspective! Yep, we’re gonna miss this program! Great blog.
Annie,
ReplyDeleteI am completely in the same boat as you! The A has defined me for so long, that I became obsessed with it and not the content. It is wonderful that you were able to give yourself an A even when the physical grade was a C. We can't define our lives based on one grade, at one point in time. I found that during my college experience, I allowed myself to enjoy the classes and attach myself to the information. In this process, I began to remember everything I had learned and I was thoroughly enjoying my experiences. I stopped worrying about the grades in all. But do you know what happened? I ended up acing all of those classes anyway! It was so much more rewarding to have actually learned something than to obsess over a meaningless measurable grade. Don't stop using the pre-existing A, it will help all around you. And I love that you are using this with your son as well. Some parents have expectations that are hard to measure, but with this kind of thinking, I bet you make a wonderful parent!
Nicely said. In my response to this question, part of my response mentioned my awe with individuals that always seem positive no matter what. A teacher that day after day would keep grinding away on the "little" details that made a "big" difference in a cheerful motivating way that would bring the best out of students. I believe some are born with that ability and others can work to get there. Just like you were able to improve your skills in math and test taking… Your response also reminds me of how we respond to being "stretched" beyond where we think we can go. Now that I used the word “stretched” I will say the word I really believe it to be: "stressed." To sometimes grow in something there may have to be stress, including that bad kind that doctors say we need to limit. I'm still working the theory whether it is stretch or stress or some subtle combination of the two. I also wish to consider Zander's ideas in daily practice as well and have already questioned how many times I have thought I was a contributor but wasn't.
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