Thank All of you

How do you like the weekly writing prompts? Are they interesting or boring? Inspirational or weird? Are they related to your life? Can you suggest anything better and give some examples?

There are six questions in this week so I use Q and A format to answer these questions orderly. Firstly, I think that the range of our weekly prompts is wide. From learning, families, pop singers to life inspirations, social problems and reflections, almost every issue has something to do with our personal lives. Frankly speaking, several tasks are a bit difficult to me like collaborative learning in week five. But it is what makes the tasks more challenging and informative than any other writing projects I have ever engaged in. That is, these weekly tasks provide my key pal and me learning opportunities. And, our cooperation on the blog proves that my key pal and I are capable to face the unknown or unclear data and learn from them. In my opinions, the writing tasks we have done so far are designed elaborately. The subjects of tasks interests both students and teachers since they do not only deal with learning but life experiences. In a word, we can enrich our learning strategies and spiritual life at the same time.

Secondly, I find some similarities in task eleven (self evaluation and peer review) and task thirteen (reflection). I personally think that question one in task eleven and question two in task thirteen are alike. Moreover, their dates are near. The similarity makes me feel a little weird. I suggest that if we have to score ourselves, we can do once in the midterm and twice in the final week.

Finally, there is another suggestion I want to give. I deem it proper to give about three or four questions in a task. More than four questions will make people get confused. Furthermore, I think that if we want to show our opinions deeply and abundantly. Three or four questions are ideal because sometimes students write less or just discuss superficially if too many questions are given. Besides, I find it difficult to write my thoughts into an article when more than four questions are provided. I often feel “get lost” in lines and can hardly arrange my ideas into an essay because some questions are short but some are composed of several questions. This is why I use Q and A format to write the task this time.




Do you like the two-way online discussion with your keypal? Or do you think we should have more people (like 3~4 students) form a group blog to exchange ideas? Why or why not?

I feel comfortable to discuss with my key pal and get used to the two-way online discussion. But I think it ok if the third person is added. Maybe we can try three-people group in next semester. However, four people are too many for online discussion. Frankly speaking, I personally prefer to the two-way discussion. “Two heads are better than one.” As the saying goes, I think that two is a suitable number for online group discussion.

First, if there are four members in a group, the opinions in the blog may become complicated than two-people group’s blog. As I mention in the question one, many short and complex questions confuse the writer to organize the order of an essay. Similarly, when over three people’s ideas all put in one page, the page layout possibly turns into a mess. And, I don’t mean that two or three people can avoid the chaos. As a matter of fact, two-way discussion is like catching and throwing a ball. The blogger throw his or her insights. The blogger’s key pal catches it and then throws his or her ideas. Each of them knows where the ball goes. However, in four people’s game, there are four people to throw four balls in different directions. In sum, two-people group makes the interaction easier and clearer than four-people one.

Second, even some consider that more people represent that we have more ideas and we can discuss an issue from various sides. Nevertheless, two people can do so, too. A person might have different thoughts toward a topic. Two people might have more comments than one. Besides, two-way communication leaves much room to be discussed. In two people’s discussion, each one can think more than four people because they do not have to afraid that their ideas are repeated and are more willing to write a lot.




Have you encountered any difficulties during the semester when using blogs to discuss with your keypal, e.g., computer problems or anything?

The difficulties I have encountered are word limit and expressions. At first, I find it difficult to reach the words limit. In task one, I really write not enough. But, as the time goes by, I feel it more difficult to end my paragraph. That is to say, I have many thoughts to write but I have written a lengthy paragraph. I know that if I continue to write, my key pal may feel hard to see my essay or lose the focus. As a result, I decide to essentialize my ideas. Nevertheless, summarizing my thoughts is more difficult than giving a paragraph an end. I feel like taking the wrong train in Taipei but the train is non stop to Kenting.

When it comes to expression, I often worry that my key pal cannot understand what I am writing about. For this reason, I try my best to explain my ideas briefly and clearly. Also, I use some simile to make my writing specific. For instance, in task two, I use an iceberg and a volcano to show my mother and my emotions. Also, in question above, there are examples like ball game and train. Hopefully, my key pal and instructors will understand my expressions.




How do you like the project website? Are they friendly enough? Have we left out any important content? How do you like the layout/design?

I have to say that the name the project website is extremely ingenious and appropriate. “The right to write” sounds rhyming and creative. Certainly, the web design is also fine. The pictures in every task are lovely. Especially the reindeer in task thirteen’s topic, it looks innocent, dull and cute. (Is it drawn by tutors?) But there is still something to be desired in the design of weekly buttons. Weekly task time line is clear and user-friendly. However, the time line will look better if the designer put the topic near the week. For example, the designer can put “reflection” near the “week thirteen’s” button. In this way, students can easy to find each topic with each week. If anyone who want to find a topic, he or she does not need to find it with memory. Users can merely check the weekly task time line and find the topic. After all, the topics are simpler to search than task numbers. Also, if the designer put the topic on weekly buttons, students and key pals can know the latest news of tasks with convenience. Even bloggers can know that a new task is put on the website through click on the time line or check the e-mail, the way I mention above is clearer and faster than traditional methods. And in some special case like a pause of a task can just put an “X” on the button, and students will know it promptly. Moreover, it can let users will not miss each task after several week’s break.




What have you gained from this blog activity?
Actually, I gain much respectively from my key pal, my classmates and tutors. My key pal, Faith, really inspires me a lot. Her life and teaching experiences are special for me since she has started her work as an English teacher for many years. And, she is a hard-working mother. In other words, Faith has more sufficient experience without respect to life or learning than me. I think that she broadens my horizon through her comments on blog. Diligence, open mind, patience and consideration are what I learn from her. And many other things I have gained are beyond words. The most thankful thing for her is that she has patience to read my long paragraph. I really appreciate her consideration. Creativity is what I learn from my classmates. Their blog’s presence, their paragraphs and their ways of discussion influence my writing and communication with my key pal. After visiting my peers’ blogs, some new ideas will come to my mind and turn into my writing. Professor and tutor’s topic and web design also motivate me to write. If they do not design such a blog project, I will not have chance to gain so much. I think the three sides I mention above are like Muse, encouraging me to seize the “right to write.”




If you had an opportunity to start over, would you have done anything differently? If so, how?
I will not rewrite my paragraph since these paragraph record my improvement in writing. But if we have an opportunity to start another round blog activity, I will keep on working hard to what I lack, getting the point of each task and expressing ideas in clear ways. What is more, owing to many activities this semester like cheer leader team and drama performance, I do not post and respond my key pal with efficiency especially at first. I think that I surely have to write with good contents, order, and punctuality if we have new project.

Eventually, thank you for my key pal, my classmates, professors, tutors and any other visitors to read such a lengthy paragraph and thank you for the participation.

Reflection

1. Please offer your suggestions as how we can grade your performance better?
2. Based on the criteria you suggested in Q1, please give a score to yourself and explain how you’ve earned it.
3. Based on the criteria you suggested in Q1, please give a score to your partner and explain how s/he has earned it.

First, I want to say “thank you.” to my key pal, who writes and responds our blog diligently and teachers, who give us this chance to learn much without respect to English writing or life experiences. Second, I have to offer some suggestions about grading our performance. In my opinion, we can grade our writing as following items: grammar, contents, manners to our key pal, punctuality (if we write blogs regularly.) and creativity (if someone has special ideas toward a task or writes his or her blog with originality.) In addition, I think that our key pal and classmates can participate in grading. Since our key pal knows our performance thoroughly and our classmates can make comparison with themselves’ as well as others’ blogs, I think key pal and peers are essential in our grading.
If a full mark is 10, I think that I can get 6. As I mentioned in the previous task, I do not response my key pal on schedule sometimes. I often owe my key pal responses. When I see “one response” in our blog and there is no my response on it, I always feel guilty to my key pal and myself. But at least, I follow the time of each task (from Wednesday to next Wednesday) regularly. I think that I can get basic points. Besides, the four points I cannot gain respectively belong to grammar, contents, and creativity. I dare not say that I have no grammar mistake in every task but I do my best to check my writing before posting on our blog. I hope that I can make my key pal read my writing without difficulties as far as possible. Moreover, in contents, I must frankly say that in my first task, I write insufficiently. I should write much in order to show respect to my key pal and myself. Therefore, in the following tasks, I gradually learn to control and enrich my contents. In the process of writing our blog, I really acquire many internal and external skills.
I think that Faith can earn 8. Firstly, she always responds to my essay instantly. Never have I seen that she forgets her responses. Furthermore, Faith not only posts her responses but her writing on her blog. I can feel her great earnestness in this part. Secondly, Faith is a person who has ability to point out my faults and teaches me how to correct it with patience and manners. For example, in self evaluation and peer review, she uses “dear Tina” to call me. It really makes me feel her kindness and faith. I have to say that Faith is faithful indeed. Last but not least, regardless of her abundant experience in teaching and learning, her punctuality and her enthusiasm, Faith is not the stereotype of people who have worked for many years in society. I mean that I do not feel age gap in our interaction. Also, I know that she must have much zeal in learning since she has children but she is still willing to learn. It makes me think of one of the principles in our department—life long learning. Faith is really a excellent demonstration to this principle.

Ps. Hello, Faith. Do you receive my X’mas card? Hope you will like it.

Learning activities and Learner Types

1. Based on your preference, what kind of classroom activity do you like most and which one do you like the least?
2. Can you recall some very fun activity you experienced recently in class? Please describe it.
3. When encountering some kind of difficult knowledge, do you have any strategies to process it?
4. Based on your responses to Q1, Q2, and Q3, can you tell the type of learner you are? Why?
In the six kinds of classroom activities (reading, listening, watching, hands-on activity, discussion or reflection), I personally like discussion or reflection most. To me, it is interesting to listen to others’ viewpoint toward the same topic. I am curious about others’ thoughts and creativity. Also, in the process of discussion, I am always surprised by peers’ good ideas and wonder how she or he comes up with those amazing ideas. After all, a man couldn’t see completely than a group. On the other hand, trough reflection, I can gain much opportunity to organize my idea into words. During discussion, I can exchange my opinions with friends and clarify my thinking at the same time. I can learn something good from others and change into mine or improve what I lack. When it comes to the activity I dislike, I think reading is my answer. I feel a bit annoyed when I read something but can not remember, especially in tests. Besides, I can’t bear to read materials I don’t like or have no interest.
I think learning could be an enjoyment rather than torture. For example, in my German class, the teacher usually teaches and plays a German song. If someone forgets to bring textbooks, the careless classmate has to sing a song. I am glad to learn German in such a natural way. Furthermore, the German teacher even teaches us how to say four-letter words in German. In my opinion, maybe I will forget some German words or dialogue after several years but thee song will help me recall of something.
Difficulties are inevitable in learning process. Learning in fun is not synonymous with learning in laziness. Take myself for example; I have difficulties in one of my general knowledge course about multimedia web design. I am clumsy when dealing with computers and have no experience of web design previously. I feel anxious not only in class but after class particularly in handing assignment and test paper. I always afraid of forgetting steps of web design and have no confidence to do well like predecessors or peers. To overcome these hardships, I watch the video the teacher provides on the e-course and learn to do as good as demo steps by steps. If I have problem, I will ask my classmates. I don’t have excellent learning strategies but I believe learning steadily and surely is the best way for me.
According to my learning methods, I think I am an individual learner. That is, I learn independently. I have my personal thought and I am stubborn in it. I seldom ask to others and show my confusion in appearance. This learning type is not fine actually. However, I think it can become my unique learning way if I can ask questions or discuss with others regularly.

Self Evaluation and Peer Review

I will give us 6 points. To be frank, I feel ashamed not to respond and write my blog as soon as my key pal, Faith. I am lucky to have Faith as a key pal. She has long period of English teaching experience and mature viewpoint. Through reading her paragraph, I can see things in different ways. Her writing often regards of her life experience about children, her teaching experience, and her goal in pursuing life long learning. I admire her perseverance and diligence to return school even as a mother. I hope that I can have the same learning enthusiasm and write experienced essays as her after several years.
In the case of my writing, I think that I tend to write my personal experience into blogs but forget to convey my opinions. Furthermore, after seeing other classmates’ blogs, I find various merits I can learn from them. Firstly, some of my peers use Q and A writing style. It can classify questions provided and avoid losing focus. When writing a long paragraph, sometimes, I will drop the questions provided or don’t explain it clear. Next time, I have to examine my paragraph carefully when writing lest I should make the same mistake. Secondly, I find out blogs have a function called “follower.” Most of my classmates might have read others’ paragraphs through this function. And, their blogs almost have more than one follower. I think my informative ability should improve since I have not used this function to read others writing. Thirdly, some people post their videos or composition practice related to this course on their blogs. Moreover, some use creative titles in their essays. For me, originality is what I need to strengthen.
In the remaining times, I hope I can write smoothly, constructively and creatively. Besides, through writing blogs, I find I can expand the length of my paragraph freely rather than not knowing what to write. I believe over these days, we two must learn much other than competition writing. Last but not least, I have to say thank you for my key pal,Faith,who doesn’t feel tired to read my writing and response.

The Strawberry Generation

What do you think about this stigma?
Does the description match your self-identity or -realization? If not, offer a counter claim.

I think this kind of stigma has many reasons behind it. Around 1980, since our economy development is stable, most of parents pay more attention to their children than elder generation. These parents mostly don’t receive so much protection when they are young. In old times, many families have more than one child. That is, these children in old times tend to be independent. However, once they become parents, many of them regard their offspring as all their hope. As a result, they might give their children too much protection. These protections always present as over material supply. For common example, parents work too hard out side to have enough time staying with their children. Their children who only have sufficient money instead of care are gradually become lazy, selfish, weak “strawberry generation”. In my opinion, this stigma results not only from e-generation themselves but old generation.
As to myself, I think I have some qualities on the provided paragraph like well-dressed certificate but inability, selfishness and laziness. I admit that I am a spoiled child. On regular basis, I over rely on my parents and teachers rather than solving problems on my own. To be frank, I feel my life change dramatically after I come to CCU. Before days in CCU, I don’t know how hard to live independently. I hope in CCU, I can get out of those bad qualities and present some good identities of strawberry generation.

The Definition of Mistakes

How do you usually look at your mistakes?
How do you define mistakes?
After listening to Prof. Pausch, do you still see mistakes in the same way?

I have been a perfectionist. That is, I took every mistake serious and couldn’t bare any error in my life. If I do something wrong, I always appeal to emotion and crazy about making things correct. To me, mistake is like injustice, the most disgusting thing in the world. But this perfectionism was replaced with temporization after I graduated from junior high. In junior high, classmates saw me as an arrogant people because I am not willing to cheat, to be perfunctory and to tease teachers behind their backs like most of my peers. I felt absurd and resorted to my teacher. However, I “upgraded” to be an invisible man in class after my accusation. I gradually lost confidence to myself. I even had no confidence to “check” right and wrong. I am tired, dreadfully tired.
From then on, I changed. I was not sure of what real justice is and this pessimism also influenced my learning. I learn passively. I couldn’t demand myself at all. I felt like a failure from bottom of my heart. I tried hard to erase all the memories in junior high but in vain. Those memories were like a part of my shadow. They would follow me throughout my life.
After listening to Prof. Pausch, the more precise is, after entering college, I change again. I think the biggest mistake in my life is pursuing no mistake since life is too complex to define mistakes. Now, I realize how silly I was to be a perfectionist or a pessimist. As Prof. Pausch said “Brick walls are there for a reason; they prove us how badly we want things. They are there to stop people who don’t want badly.” I really belong to those passive people. But I know those memories in junior high are not only a part of my shadow. They are spurs in my life. It is inappropriate to define mistakes because mistakes may become a gift one day. I think what I should do now is keep walking on winding path of life. And one day, a “correct” answer of life will appear automatically.

collaborative learning

Can you explain what this picture is showing about collaborative learning (or group learning)?
What is your favorite part of this type of learning?
What would be the part that usually bothers you when working with others?
Give an example from your personal experience and elaborate on it.

This picture shows the procedure of collaborative learning. The center of collaborative learning is learning through reflection. First, students and instructors team up to decide a topic and pose a question to this topic. Second, team members deliberate on this question together. After deeply thinking, members will find out that their ideas are different. Through generating multiple perspectives, members will learn to appreciate and criticize others’ viewpoints and present their own ideas clearly at the same time. Additionally, members can make their thoughts diversely by listening to others’ opinions. Finally, members will find out several solutions to the question. Members produce their deliverables by written or oral. These steps form a invitational communication climate.
In college, I have a course called summary of philosophy. In this course, students are divided into several groups and discuss a class related question in different classrooms. In last class, we talk about logic. Like the procedure of collaborative learning, group members show our opinions orally and criticize others’ proof graphically. Generalizing multiple perspectives is my favorite part in this procedure. But in every discussion, my group always has a problem. Members (including me) are afraid of speaking out opinions. I think this problem has something to do with our culture. We are used to think twice before we take action. However, this thinking way contrarily weakens our thinking ability. We will become irresolute, dread to make mistake and have no courage to have different idea.