The in-class activity on Monday about decision making was an interesting experience. It was the first time, any of my professors allowed us an opportunity to decide amongst ourselves to how to account for our grade on the exam 1. Even though he limited us to a point, at least we got the say to decide what we wanted to do.
Some limitation and rules that were set forth by professor:
-Decide how to account for your first exam grade and the format of the second exam.
-our time was limited to one hour
-our decision should have say of every student in the class, meaning 100%.
-After we have concluded, professor would make the final call, even though he gave his opinion along the way.
-Nothing we come up with has to do with final exam or other activities like blog or participation.
First reaction: I wanted to just get up from my seat and get my hands on the computer and drop the course, and find some other professor next semester. But then I thought it wasn't worth dropping it, because it better to learn things hard way than looking for easy gains. Tests are not the only thing that matter. It's what we learn, from that perspective this class is pretty good. Finally, I said lets do something about this grade, since he is giving us an opportunity to do so. At this point, I left the idea of avoidance and changed my strategy towards getting the most of this opportunit, in conceptual terms, I decided to compete and grab all that is possible off the table. At first, I thought it would be piece of cake, because I think no one would say no to free gifts. After few failures among the group, I start to have a feeling it was not going to be easy. One of us, attempted to get up and get everyone organized and steer the talk in a desireable direction. Unfortunately, his technique failed to get everyone on the same page. He suggested that we all divide into small group and come up with some idea and then by picking one representative from each group would make it easier to make the decision. As soon as he finished he idea was criticized and he had to step back. I have to say, I also supported that criticism, because the time constraint does not allow us with enough time to divide and regroup and then decide. It seemed to be good idea to remain in a group of one and do everythink collabrately.
After the first failure, two students try to be leader and lead the group. Both of them attempted to gain feedback from some students and create few options for the group to choose from. Even though not every student was part of the feedback, majority compromised the options. Many were also trying to stick to practice avoidance. By the time, we got to this point we were already half a way through our time. I started to get really mad at all the others, because this would keep us from getting any thing at all. I attempted to talk everyone through but was useless and criticized most of time. So I tried shut up, and letting the group go along themselves. After alot of argument between a very small minority and a large majority, we agreed on the option of curving the exam and dropping the lowest grade of both exams. After this issue resolved, I got some satisfaction. But we were almost nearing our deadline, and we had to decide about the format of the exam. And I was already hurt by the existing format, I suggested we drop the essay part because it was not fair to poor writer but people were so much amazed by their grade on their essays that they want to keep it. I decides to accomodate with the group. And decide to avoid rest of the conversation regarding the format, because it was already against my thoughts. I did get some peace when they added extra points to the exam.
It was hard sticking to one strategy because at times it feels like you are only one following that strategy. In the end, it was enough for me to remain competitive for a good grade in the class.
2 comments:
That is right, the question is if you have what it takes to come to this school, do you have what it takes to do well in this class? When you think in that way, think in long term, everything seems very easy. This is an easy class, I think you can do well in this one. It is even easy when the professor is nice.
Some poor people in this world always want the easy way. It might possibly not because they are poor because life is not easy. Life is not easy, and it is different for everyone, and that is life. The possible reason those people are poor because they are lazy. You give them special treatment, some help, some slack, they always ask for more. The similar attitude also exists in the management of some companies, especially those that are either government-owned-business or state-enterprise, or those companies that are underperformed. Under their golden parachutes, the management is playing the game of survival-of-the-unfittest, screwing the company, screwing the stake-holders and stock-holders, and the customers. That is because those managements have no interest in the company. That is why the managements are not worry about take-over or corporate-raiders because they know they are not going to get fired when that happens. Even if they get fired, they think they can always find another job and it would not affects their luxurious lifestyle. In fact, the management themselves might have invited the corporate-raiders or the take-over. Again, the weak, the poor, the lazy, the gentle, those that are not playing the game according to the law of the nature, but playing survival-of-the-unfittest. The weak, the gentle, they are like sheeps, and sheeps get "slaughter." The go-getters are those who works hard, those who are hungry, they are like "wolves" or "sharks." They are the "killers." They have the killer-instinct and knows when the "sheeps" are near. It is the "sheeps" that are spilling their "bloods" on the "street." So go-get hungry, go-get study, go-get better grades, go-get finish with college, go-get a good job, go-get work more diligently than other people, go-get the life, go-get them. Be a go-getter.
You can do it.
Don't drop the class!!!
One bad test grade is not a reason to drop a class. It may be the end of the world for the moment, but you won't even remember it a year from now. Learning is not all about grades and hitting the A. But hey, the class decision didn't turn out half bad. At least now, the lowest test grade can be dropped, giving everyone a second chance at doing well in the class.
Post a Comment