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.

Networked Students

Question 1.
This is how American college students learn. Are you learning in a similar way?

Question 2.
What does it mean by “Networked Students”? Is it a good or a bad change, and why?

When I entered CCU, I found learning environment in a college totally different from senior high. In a senior high, students just had to sit at desks and listen to teachers’ lecture most of the time. But for a college student, receiving all the knowledge and information in a classroom is impossible. We have to log on e-course, download and upload class related material every day. Like American college students in the video, we use computers to check our e-mail, write on blogs, contact our instructors, turn in assignments, etc. Internet resources have become a part of our life. We have naturally been “Networked Students” and our instructors also have been “Networked Teachers” simultaneously.
In my opinion, I think that it has pros and cons at the same time. With Internet, students have broad space to discuss and share great quantity of information. However, this kind of share increases the probability of wrong resource. For example, when I chose courses in college at the first time, I logged on BBS for information only to find some fake news. In addition, connectivism course would make students addicted to Internet. Students do not only use computers to do assignments but also do something for fun such as chatting on msn. Even though network learning is inevitable in twenty first century, it still has some space to improve.

Britney Spears

· What do you think of her change?
· What do you believe or not believe?
· What is your judgment based on?
· Would you change your view if she was your best friend or family?

I think that Britney Spears only went on the wrong track for a while. After all, except for her fame of a big star, she’s just a normal person like you and me. Like her song”Lucky--She's so lucky, she's a star. But she cry, cry, cries in herlonely heart, thinking if there's nothing missing in my life. Then why do these tears come at night?” Britney Spears maybe have something lost in her mind. Breaking up with her boyfriend, hasty marriage, hasty divorce, falling in love with another bad guy, etc, her heart was lost by these heart-broken events.As a result, she said”I was so lost.” Confucius may lose his track, let alone a big star, who lives under the inspection of paparazzi and public. I didn’t mean that Britney Spears is no fault as an angel. But it is a deadly mistake that we define somebody as an angel and kick him/her down to hell when he/she is lost.
If Britney Spears was my best friend or family, I would listen to her instead of giving advice at first. I think that she just needs someone to keep company with her and console her when she feels lonely. As to her future, she is an adult. She is confident and splendid Britney Spears, too. She will know how to get back to the right track. I trust, she will.

A Quarrel with My Mother

Many times, we are mad at people for the things they have done. However, we also hear people say: “I am doing this for YOU!” or “I meant well. You will understand when you grow up”. When hearing responses like this, have you ever tried to calm down and rethink the whole thing? rethink about things from a new angel? or rethink about things with a different logic? Why or why not? Give a real example and elaborate on it.

My mother used to contribute how much food I must eat each meal. At first, I think it as an expression of mother’s love. But when I was in senior high, she still does so. One day, she cooked a pot of stinky tofu and ordered me to eat some. At the moment, I felt that my heart was filled with some terrible emotion like a dormant volcano on the brink of erupting. I couldn’t restrain my anger from exploding even if I didn’t dislike eating stinky tofu so much. ”I don’t want to eat stinky tofu.” I said coldly. ”It is my order. You have to eat it.” My mother responded with authority. Inevitably, our quarrel began. ”Don’t force me. You always force me. You have force me over ten years!” I shouted at her. A few minutes later, war became cold war. Hundreds of minutes later, I, not volcano anymore, was like the Titanic collided with an iceberg. The only thing I could do is face the reality and let stinky tofu with anger sank into the bottom of my stomach.
Now, I feel the argument ridiculous. Maybe I am old enough to do anything I want, but it doesn’t mean that I am capable of doing anything I like. I am thin and eat less indeed. She wants me to eat more and gain weight indeed. I am her rebellious daughter indeed. She is my authoritative mother indeed. The most important is I love her as she loves me indeed.

Afterthought of Basic abilities for a successful study in college should include

1. Do you hear yourself telling people: " I have my own values and principles. They should be respected under all kinds of circumstances.", or something similar?
If so, what would you say when someone laughs at you for never skipping classes?
If not, why could be the reasons?
2. Do you believe everything people tell you? Why or why not?
For instance, when your friend tells you that working as a part-time waiter in a fancy restaurant will get you a lot of money, how would you respond?
Make comments and reflect on your thoughts.

I am a stubborn person but not a man of principle. When my parents want to persuade me to receive their opinions, I always firmly say "I have my own thought! Don’t make a decision for me!” However, if the characters reverse, like in class or with my friends, I will be unable to speak out my opinion without hesitation. I usually think to myself” Why do I have no courage to against others’ opinions like saying it to parents?” I often feel regretful to myself. After watching “Basic abilities for a successful study in college should include, “I think what I lack is motivation. I am used to receive all teacher or others say so that I couldn’t think individually, critically and systematically.
It doesn’t mean that I should object for no reasons, instead, it is under some circumstances. The circumstances are out of my thought. “Think twice before you act” as the saying goes.