Let's talk: Evening 1

 September 4 at 5:06pm

It is beautiful outside. It truly looks like a postcard of paradise; the sky is blue, not a cloud in the sky makai (ocean) side, only towards mauka (mountains).  It's hot, but breezy, and it feels like one of those days where everything is sweet, delicate, and refreshing. Yet, I'm inside after spending the morning and afternoon outside. 

After a conversation with a fellow classmate about my progress in our program, I felt an inclination to try and express my thoughts on verbal class participation. There are many parts and different sides to this story, but in the end, we just need more evidence-based (and perhaps longitudinal) research on such a broad topic with many variables. To start off, I hate in-class verbal participation and I know that based on the research and professional experience in the classroom setting, it does NOT work for everyone. I know, common knowledge, right? So how come psychology professors are adamant about group work (or whole class) and verbal participation? Is it necessary to have verbal participation count towards 5-15% of your class grade? How does a professor measure "participation?" I think I've found a professor who has a good balance of incorporating his style of teaching (lecturing) and potentially meeting his department's goals (in-class verbal participation). I'd love to find more professors like him, because I'd learn so much more!

I'm sorry (ugh, not really though), but I'd rather learn from my professors than my classmates...I mean COME ON. We're not all paying around $1,500 for one class to talk story with our classmates. Sure, I'd love to hear your experiences, but maybe out of class and over pau hana. In class, I want to gain more knowledge from an expert in said-field, with extensive research experience to talk on that specific topic. I don't want to share ideas or personal stories about how we might have applied this theory in our lives/work setting. I want to know what works/what doesn't and the research behind it. I'm happy to meet in the middle...no, 70/30 because I don't care about my classmate's 6-months-old nephew's name and how he used a semiotic tool (ASL) to mediate his needs to her. 

Thank you for listening to my rant.

It is really gorgeous outside, and it was telling me to get this off my chest once and for all. I've been thinking about it since last class Thursday.

And dare I say it...I actually feel motivated to do some schoolwork right now. It's the beautiful day out, and it calls to me. 

Last side note, I love that I can spend an entire morning and afternoon out, come home, feel rejuvenated, and eager to get some work done. I feel proud of myself, but I know I have today to thank for it. Thank you, beautiful day. You've outshined yourself.

Good day, my friends.