Week 4, Final POL

A 100 level class is usually not thorough, often it covers a large amount of information quickly and even before the class is over I have forgotten much of the material.  Online classes often go the same way, because they are over so quickly I have not truly learned – but memorized.  That is why I have found this class to be surprising and quite refreshing.  I have not only learned a good deal about technology and the use of the Internet but also the concepts involved in the class.

I found the discussion boards to be helpful, as well as these proof of learning entries. The POL forced me to keep tabs on not what I was learning, but how I was learning and how I developed academically as the class went on. I found that this class was able to help me make connections much more effectively, to previous material as well as experiences in my own life.  The discussion boards helped to facilitate this as many posts discussed aspects such as technology in the classroom and personal ways that online dating had an affect on a certain classmate.  In addition, I think the most important thing I learned in the last section of the class was in research.

Gaining a new perspective on researching and developing my ability to research was definitely not what I expected from this class.  As a History major, I have put a lot of time into researching and thought I had a pretty solid grasp on it.  Even though I have written over a hundred pages of research, it has been historically based and therefore all using sources that already have been written.  I have not done any original research.   It was pretty easy to find the subjects to fill out interview, because I have played football here the past three years and am close with most of the team.  In addition my father is a football coach, so I was able to talk to him.  I also have high school friends that have moved on to play collegiate athletics and they were able to offer important opinions.  Also, I know plenty of non-athletes who are fans and their contributions were able to balance so that I had both sides of the issue to get a full prospective how instant replay is viewed.

Doing original research so was new and exciting, but also held a good deal of responsibility.  As I collected information, I found the issue of interpretation of the material is the most important aspect of the research and can be very subjective. I have always read books and have not truly realized how much rom for personal beliefs to get involved.  Even historical fact based books are not without an influence from the author, this is unavoidable. But that does not mean that the information cannot be presented in a fair and accurate way. 

I had an idea of what the opinion of the people would be, in my head prior to research, because I am an athlete. It was important to have this influence my questions for the subjects as well as my interpretation of their answers. I had to keep in mind that it does not matter whether my original opinion of how the research would turn out was correct, but just that I presented the information correctly and explained it well.  Now it did turn out that the opinions of athletes and fans backed up what I thought, but it was not due to how I approached interpretation or presentation of the poll. 

            This class was much like the individual POL reports that forced me to truly learn and think about how I am learning. I can honestly say that I have not had a non major course that has put so much pressure on me to develop myself academically. It is something I could definitely use because I will be graduating this summer and it is nice to have one more course that makes me think as well as improving my skills of interpretation of readings and communicating effectively with classmates.  The latter is something that I have not done well or often throughout my career and I have enjoyed how this class has forced me to do so and also taught me how to relate to the other students well.

Week 3

Whether or not it is showing up in my discussion posts or not, I feel like I am getting better at looking at the readings and relating them to my own life and experiences as well as other themes in the class. Through the many posts I have made over these past three weeks I have found that the online discussion has become easier and more natural. At first I looked mostly to just look for a post to comment on that would be the easiest and quickest to discuss.  Now, I feel confident that I can look at anyone's post and be able to write bout not only my own opinions but give them answers to questions they are looking for.  I should be focusing more on making original posts and I will try to do so in the last week, but I just don't feel as comfortable doing so.  I like to first read other people's opinions on the subject matter and then injecting my own opinion and analysis into the conversation.  For me, I see this as the way in which I can be most effective and bring the most to the class's online discussion.  The way the class learns is through discussion and it is important to be able to contribute effectively in this genre.  

In terms of research there is a lot thatI need to do for presumably the paper that I will write. I have read a good deal on the subject and have formulated an outline and detailed idea of my paper, but there is a good deal left to be done. The research aspect has been quite easy with the good deal of experience I have in the area.  Not that I am a professional, but as a soon to be graduating History major I have written a good deal of research papers and have developed methods that help me to research and write successfully.  That said, the website on research was quite helpful in looking at research and writing in a new way. 

I have been impressed with the format of this class and how it has facilitated learning. I am not used to being such an active participant in a class and this is quite a different experience.  The way I have had to stay involved in the classwork has made me not only learn more about the subject matter, but learn about the way I can and should communicate with classmates and analyze the information through discussion.  This is not something I am accustomed to because in most classes I do not say much at all because I am quite shy. This is a welcome experience that I am finding surprisingly valuable.