Lucas
Newby
Ms.
Kelly Anthony
SU15-ENG101-W03
25
July 2015
Discussion
Board Reflection
The
Discussion Boards, both the weekly and the group discussions, were
one of my favorite assignments. I actually looked forward to getting
online every chance I could to see what my other classmates posted.
It was a place I could express my thoughts and opinions on the
materials we had covered each week. It gave opportunity to see how my
thoughts compared to some of the other classmates, areas where many
of us took from the reading much of the same, and other parts of the
readings which some found something different impacting their
thoughts, as each individual takes away something different. Whether
writing my own original post, or as a response to one of my
classmates, or a response they made to mine, the discussions would
always bring out something another had liked, didn't like, possibly
overlooked or hadn't put as much thought into in a particular part of
the reading, and often opening new ideas for me to ponder. But two
questions arise from this reflection: “Did these discussion
assignments help in my learning?”, and “Did I do well enough?”
In assessing myself according to the Rubric I think I did pretty
good, however before I break it down and go into a more detail
evaluation, the one thing I must comment on is the criteria breakdown
on what qualifies for A/B/C grade. I feel that the criteria for A/B
graded should be split into separate criteria, B having a criteria
not as stringent as A, but yet more stringent than C. This would make
it much easier to honestly, adequately, and fairly evaluate the
student.
Using
myself as an example, under the criteria for Quality
and frequency of writing:
A/B Responses
are free of
grammatical,
spelling or
punctuation
errors.
The
style of writing facilitates communication.
More
than the minimum required responses have
occurred
through the natural process of discussion.
C Responses
are largely free of
grammatical,
spelling or punctuation errors.
The
style of writing generally facilitates
communication.
The
minimum number of
responses
have been posted
or
more than the minimum
number
of responses have
been
posted but these
responses
are clearly written
to
meet the quantity required and
do
not add to valuable discussion
In
reviewing my posts, both weekly and in the group, I saw a couple of
typos which I had overlooked, but nothing major, and usually not more
than two. This happens to everyone, including professionals and
teachers. (As a matter of fact, I was docked three points for typos
in an email on July 10, which I have no problem admitting, I
deserved; however, jokingly, I thought about calling Ms. A on a typo
in one of the emails which was sent to me in response, as well as on
a couple of lesson assignments and burning question replies where she
had made errors and had not proofread before posting. Smiles. But, it
is not my job to correct the instructor, even jokingly, whereas it is
her job to correct me. My point is though, does that make her less
professional?...in my opinion, no, it makes her human just like the
rest of us, and mistakes will be made on occasion. Yet, and it does
not eliminate the fact each need to proofread more closely.
Regardless of the error, I still understood the sentence and what she
was getting across. I wouldn't give hera C for the class because she
made a couple of typos...there was too much other good stuff that
outweighs that.)
I
put a lot of thought and effort into my original posts. I think my
grammar and punctuation greatly improved and was above average to
good, though I'm still more than thankful for Spell Check. I met the
quantity required, and though not on all discussions, I made more
than required on a few, even if just a comment on how well written I
thought it was, or how I related to their thoughts. I sincerely wish
I had had more time to respond to more of them. I believe I have
shown my understanding of materials and my responses were adequate,
all using appropriate citations to substantiate my writing. Did I
fulfill all the criteria of response by asking questions to stimulate
more thought, or show a different opinion?... probably not as well as
I could or should have, but I did give substantial feed back adding
to the discussion, and also added personal experiences into some of
my posts and responses. In the group discussion, I feel I offered
valuable feed back and critique. However, according to the Rubric,
because I didn't have everything exactly down pat for an A/B grade,
then technically
I would be required to have to
accept a C grade, which
I feel I did much better than that. NO,
I did not master it,
but still I did much better than mediocre(proficiency).
Therefore,
if the Rubric
were set up differently, I would have given myself a B in that
category.
As
for self-evaluation, I will be breaking down by category as follows:
Demonstrates
an understanding of the discussion question(s):
A
Expands
discussion concepts:
B
Connections
to personal understanding or professional practice B
Quality
and frequency of writing
C (B)
When
evaluating for proficiency
criteria pertaining to “What is a Good Response”, again, to me,
it seems there in no in between the highest and mediocre. I know that
I am not at the highest level, however, I am at a level more than
mediocre, which the Rubric
does not recognize.
All
responses were
carefully thought out, citations were used, personal experience and
opinion was added, and respectable critique when needed was all
there.Here I would also give myself a B.
In
conclusion to the question asked of myself, “Did I do well
enough?”, my answer according
to the Rubric is no. I
would have to give myself a C.
The answer according to me,
would be not as well as I
could have, but given the circumstances from which I entered into
this class this summer, this
being only my second semester, having
only my GED and not having the high school English
foundation to help support
me, and never having taken
an online course, I think I
have done quite well, and
that I am above average giving myself an overall grade of B.
I
gained a lot from the discussions on the Heart
and Fist,
“Workbench”,
and our group discussion on the
“This I believe” essay. I
feel much more confident as I press onward on my journey, knowing
which what I have learned, and with
continued practice, I
can and will continue
to
grow, eventually reaching the
highest
level of professionalism in my communications and writing. I am very
grateful to have had this learning opportunity.