A Final Glance

Yeah!

I've finished all of the 11 tasks and posted all of the 11 required responses to my keypal's articles. (Read them at http://sil-space.blogspot.com/)

Also, I've revised some of my posts, especially Task 8, Task 10, and Task 11.

Thank you for reading my blog!

Now, journals and other assignments are waiting for me. . . .

Rights to Write: Task Eleven

Dec 29-Jan 05 (Task 11 in Week 14: the final task in the last week of the project)

[Description]

• How do you like the weekly writing prompts? Are they interesting or boring? Inspirational or weird? Are they related to your life? Can you suggest anything better and give some examples?
• Do you like the two-way online discussion with your keypal? Or do you think we should have more people (like 3~4 students) form a group blog to exchange ideas? Why or why not?
• Have you encountered any difficulties during the semester when using blogs to discuss with your keypal, e.g., computer problems or anything?
• How do you like the project website? Are they friendly enough? Have we left out any important content? How do you like the layout/design?
• What have you gained from this blog activity?
• If you had an opportunity to start over, would you have done anything differently? If so, how?

Last but not least, the project will be over on 1/5. Before then, you are encouraged to post more messages for the previous weeks. Thank you for the hard work. Dr. Shih and I are very proud of you.

[My Own Comments] Revised!

1. How do you like the weekly writing prompts? Are they interesting or boring? Inspirational or weird? Are they related to your life? Can you suggest anything better and give some examples?

I like them. They are really interesting and inspirational. The topics are closely related to our life.

However, Task 2 and Task 6 were not stated clearly. In Task 2, the relation between the questions and the article about depression should have been further explained. In Task 6, the first two questions might have been misunderstood if students didn’t watch the video clip. The significance of the video clip should have been mentioned.

Also, Task 5 and Task 9 seem to require some knowledge that we aren’t familiar with, such as the model of collaborative learning and the type of learners we are. In Task 5, are we supposed to study the source web page before we answer the questions or just answer them according to our observations? It should have been explained. In Task 9, the last question suggests that there must be a theory or some classification about the types of learners, but I don’t what they are. Such information should have been provided along with the questions.

2. Do you like the two-way online discussion with your keypal? Or do you think we should have more people (like 3~4 students) form a group blog to exchange ideas? Why or why not?

Two-way discussion is fine enough. If more members form a group blog, it will be much more difficult to control the scheduled progress. I don’t think that group discussions are suitable to students from different schools, for one class don’t know the other class in real life.

In addition, there is a major flaw in the two-way online discussion. I thought FJU students and CCU students were asked to think independently, to write their tasks on their own blogs, and then to respond to each other's articles as sharing. However, the design in this semester required us to take CCU's blogs as the main platforms. It would have restricted FJU students' thinking, for they must have been influenced by the other side before they came up with their own ideas. It would also have limited FJU students' content and format, for the blog Editor of comments is simple, whereas the Editor of articles would be equipped more functions.

3. Have you encountered any difficulties during the semester when using blogs to discuss with your keypal, e.g., computer problems or anything?

No, I’ve never encountered any difficulties. I also exchanged instant messaging account with my keypal (Windows Live Messenger), so we could contact each other quite all right. It is my late posts that caused a problem to her.

4. How do you like the project website? Are they friendly enough? Have we left out any important content? How do you like the layout/design?

Yes, it is user friendly enough, but I wonder why the URLs of FJU students’ blogs are not included in dyadic information. The layout/design is pleasantly simple and easy to read.

5. What have you gained from this blog activity?

A keypal, an opportunity to think more and write more, and a Christmas card! I’m grateful to have joined this activity and I’m sorry that most of my posts were late.

6. If you had an opportunity to start over, would you have done anything differently? If so, how?

Some of the posts were first hand-written in drafts when I did a part-time job; all of the articles were typed and posted at home. I should have arranged a session every week at school exclusive for writing the newly-announced task. If so, all of my posts would have been punctually posted. Writing assignments at home is sometimes inefficient because of laziness, avoidance, and fatigue from part-time jobs or other factors. I shouldn’t have procrastinated my posts.

[My Keypal's Comments and My Response]

Click "Week Fourteen" to read them.

Rights to Write: Task Ten

Dec 22-29 (Task 10 in Week 13)

[Description]

Reflection

Our blog project is coming down to the last two weeks.

• Please offer your suggestions as how we can grade your performance better?
• Based on the criteria you suggested in Q1, please give a score to yourself and explain how you’ve earned it.
• Based on the criteria you suggested in Q1, please give a score to your partner and explain how s/he has earned it.

[My Own Comments] Revised!

1. Please offer your suggestions as how we can grade your performance better?

I propose the following criteria for each task, including the responses to the keypals’ articles:

• Content:
  word count (How many words in the article?);
  relevant to the topic or off topic (Are the questions in the task directly answered?);
  originality (creativeness)
• Structure:
  coherence (Are the ideas logical?);
  organization of paragraphs (Are the ideas well-organized?);
• Spellings:
  If the article is proofread, there will be fewer errors in it.
• Punctuality:
  Were the articles posted on time?
• Bonus point:
  Let teachers and teaching assistants choose two best articles (not the best blogs), one for FJU, the other for CCU. The authors will have bonus points, and there will be an announcement on the project website.

2. Based on the criteria you suggested in Q1, please give a score to yourself and explain how you’ve earned it.

I give myself only a passing grade, approximately C, for each of my post wasn’t punctually posted. All I want is to pass the requirements. My remedy for lateness is to enhance the articles with sufficient content, such as the task questions, embedded videos, ordered format, to help readers read them more easily. I hope my remedial effort will be taken into consideration of my score. Thank you!

3. Based on the criteria you suggested in Q1, please give a score to your partner and explain how s/he has earned it.

My partner has been diligent and punctual in the project. Overall, she deserves A or even higher because of this merit. I especially appreciate that she has directly and plainly answered the questions of the tasks. Compared to her posts, mine are a little too long. I also learn some good word choices and expressions from her. Mine are a little too simple (poor vocabulary).

P.S. At first, I put grammar into the criteria because I thought we should improve our writing skills. However, after a second thought, I think I was a little mean. After all, this project is aimed more at reflections than at skills. I keep spellings as a criterion though. It can check how careful the author is. A responsible author will proofread what he or she has written. Fewer wrong spellings deserve higher scores.

[My Keypal's Comments and My Response]
Click "Week Thirteen" to read them.

Rights to Write: Task Nine

Dec 10-17 (Task 9 in Week 11)

[Description]

Different teachers usually arrange different classroom activities and assignments for different subject matters (courses). The instructional formats are usually through 1) reading, through 2) listening, through 3) watching, through 4) hands-on activity, through 5) discussion, or through 6) reflection. Very often I find myself get really excited and motivated when we are doing certain activity than the others.

• Based on your preference, what kind of classroom activity do you like most and which one do you like the least?
• Can you recall some very fun activity you experienced recently in class? Please describe it.
• When encountering some kind of difficult knowledge, do you have any strategies to process it?
• Based on your responses to Q1, Q2, and Q3, can you tell the type of learner you are? Why?

[My Own Comments]

1. Based on your preference, what kind of classroom activity do you like most and which one do you like the least?
I may like the reading activity the least.

If a hands-on activity includes games and role plays, I may like it most. I also like listening and watching for sure. As for discussion and reflection, whether I like them depends on circumstances.

2. Can you recall some very fun activity you experienced recently in class? Please describe it.
The games of Total Physical Response (TPR) in the TESL Methodology class were fun, but they were for children. For adults, I think the role play activities in TESL and Conversation (English Composition and Conversation III) were also very fun. We were given some situations, which turned out to be hilarious.

3. When encountering some kind of difficult knowledge, do you have any strategies to process it?
Knowledge is learned in writing form or hands-on form (skills or abilities). The strategies of the former are to make use of academic resources and to follow efficient steps of learning. The strategies of the latter may involve much practice and concentration.

4. Based on your responses to Q1, Q2, and Q3, can you tell the type of learner you are? Why?

Perhaps I am the type of learner who is more interested in my own or others’ experience.

[My Keypal's Comments and My Response]
Click "Week Eleven" to read them.

Rights to Write: Task Eight

Dec 02-09 (Task 8 in Week 10)

[Description]
Self Evaluation and Peer Review

Students, now you have been writing on your blog, writing to your partner for almost 2 months. It is time for you two to examine the work quality you two have been presenting. Please go to other students' blogs and read their posting (the more the better).

Compare among various viewpoints, writing styles, communication styles, interaction, and interesting insights between other groups and yours. Discuss with your partner through blog about your pair work quality and answer the following questions.

• From 1~10 (with 10 as the highest score), how well are you two doing? Please grade yourselves and give a suggestive score.
• How and why did you two decide the score?
• What kind of improvement are you two making in the remaining weeks of the semester?

[My Own Comments] Revised!

1.
Discussing on the Messenger, we gave us 7.

2.
Both of us made effort to write our reflections on the tasks. My keypal did a great job. She deserves a higher socre. The points taken off are because of my lateness.

3.
To imporve our interaction, after I respond to my keypal's articles, she can respond to my comments.

[My Keypal's Comments and My Response]

Click "Week Ten" to read them.

Rights to Write: Task Seven

Nov 24-Dec 01 (Task 7 in Week 9)

[Description]

Strawberry Generation
Young people who are considered “e-generation” are also mocked as “草莓族”. This sarcastic name did not exist twenty years ago. But later the youngsters who were born after 1981 started to be referred as “草莓族” due to some special attributes.

• What do you think about this stigma?
• Does the description match your self-identity or -realization? If not, offer a counter claim.

[My Own Comments]

1. What do you think about this stigma?
Hmm, it has become the original sin of our generation, isn't it?
The generation born from1981 to 1990 (from year 70 to 79 in R.O.C.) is called “七年級” in Taiwan, also known as “草莓族”; similarly, the generation born from 1980 to 1989 is called “80後” in Mainland China. Both of the names are not totally true. Young people do have different values and virtues. Some are good; some are bad, just like other generations.

If we don’t want to be stigmatized or thought to be spoilt, we should just prove it to the older generations.

For example, I like the creative ideas of a graduation exhibition in 2005, which was entitled StrongBerry (我不爛，我是硬草莓). Yes, I want to be a delicious StrongBerry, not a mediocre strawberry!
(Read the news at http://140.136.114.206/blog2/archives/000024.html)

2. Does the description match your self-identity or -realization? If not, offer a counter claim.
Some matches; some don’t. Our generation have particular weaknesses that are not found in older generations. One obvious characteristic is that we never experience wars or the post-war period. We’ve been long living in peace without any counter situations, so we cannot feel the value of peace and do not treasure what we possess. Moreover, we’re confused with our self-identity, especially under Chinese culture. We’re lost both in individualism and traditional group interests. However, we have our strengths. We are free and can learn new things freely. If we need to improve, then just feel free to learn what we should. Nothing is impossible. We’re blessed that we didn’t suffer wars in our childhood. Anyway, every generation have their problems. Our generation can exceed expectations and do more in spite of the stigma.

[My Keypal's Comments and My Response]
Click "Week Nine" to read them.

Rights to Write: Task Six

Nov 03-10

[Description] with a video clip
Really achieving your childhood dreams (Click on it to browse the video page or watch the clip below.)

• 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?

[My Own Comments]

1. How do you usually look at your mistakes?
I usually felt embarrassed when I make mistakes. But if I know I’m wrong, I’ll admit them and try to fix them.

2. How do you define mistakes?
It’s hard to define it. Well, a mistake is formed by mis- and -take. It suggests that we’ve taken or done something wrong, so we would wish to get things undone, going back to the state of not taken wrong. However, if we can take it positively, it means a bonus that we “accidentally” take more. Isn’t it a blessing?

3. After listening to Prof. Pausch, do you still see mistakes in the same way?
Before elaborating my thoughts, I’d like to point out my doubt. This question seems under the hypothesis that we see mistakes in a different way from Prof. Pausch’s. However, my view is quite similar to his. The problem is that although I know this sense, I’m often controlled by emotions. I think people can only see mistakes positively only if we have an optimistic philosophy of life and know how to cope with negative emotions caused by the mistakes that we made.

Again, like Task 2, the questions seem irrelevant to the attachment (an article in Task 2; a video clip in Task 6). Actually, “mistakes” here may mean those mistake made in the “trial-error” learning process.

Every experience is a lesson, which we can learn from. As Prof. Pausch quoted from EA (Electronic Art, 美商藝電): “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.”

At a first glance, people may misunderstand the quote: “It’s sad that you didn’t get what you wanted, so experience is useless.”

No, what the quote really means is that you do get something more important, which is called experience. It will help you get what you want in the future.

Plainly speaking, the roundabouts and detours in our life are significant. They can increase valuable experiences in spite of the failures in surface. We can not only directly but also indirectly learn things. In fact, most of what we learn is indirect, and it becomes experience. More XP points will upgrade us, leading us to a higher level.

Let’s go back to the title of the video clip “Really achieving your childhood dreams.” We can conclude that if we want to really achieve our dreams, we should turn mistakes into precious experience.

[My Keypal's Comments and My Response]
Click "Week Six" to read them.

Rights to Write: Task Five

Oct 27-Nov 03

[Description]

• 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.

[Source]
The Collaborative Research Model: Student Learning Teams in Undergraduate Research

http://tep.uoregon.edu/resources/crmodel/index.html

http://tep.uoregon.edu/resources/crmodel/images/no_highlights.png

[My Own Comments]

1. Can you explain what this picture is showing about collaborative learning (or group learning)?
Here is my own observation and explanation of this picture.

First of all, a good start is that every member is willing to discuss topics and solve problems, so as to form an atmosphere of openmindedness for communication, which is a light blue bubble that contains all aspects (invitational communicative climate). Second, every member keeps thinking. This factor, which is a white core in the picture, will contribute to other aspects like waves, pushing each other (learning through reflection). Third, an organization or a bond of these people (learning teams) and careful discussion on the group work (collaborative deliberation) are both established. Thus, both the members and the group work will move forward. Fourth, there are at least three important steps in their careful discussion: finding problems (posing the problem), to think about the problems from different angles (generating multiple perspectives), to decide the methods and announce them openly to make sure that every member understands them (making informed decisions). On the whole, this learning process or experience, just like the actual results, is also the learning achievements. Therefore, they are on the green plate (learning outcomes). At the end of the process, members should evaluate their learning outcomes to think of improvements (meaningful assessment). Not that this learning process should be recorded and presented in written and/or oral forms (written and/or oral deliverables).

2. What is your favorite part of this type of learning?
My favorite part is generating multiple perspectives. I’m not saying that I would accept all of the different views. It’s impossible. I mean, listening to different views alone is interesting. We can learn more from differences. We are teaching each other in this process.

3. What would be the part that usually bothers you when working with others?
I’m not always enjoying group learning, but I will try when I have to work with others. At least three parts bother me when working with others: an awful atmosphere (in contrast to invitational communicative climate), a reluctant or unfriendly attitude (in contrast to learning through reflection), and an unsatisfactory decision (in contrast to making informed decisions).

As we know, Chinese students, especially Taiwanese college students, tend to be silent in class, not to mention in group discussion. Although English majors are trained to speak more, silence is often inevitable. The psychology behind this phenomenon is that every member is waiting for someone to be responsible. No one wants to be noticed. No one wants to be in charge. No one wants to carefully think. Every member just wants to know what his or her own part of the job is and do it. The outcome is that no one is satisfied in mind. But since they choose not to really cooperate with each other, they don’ complain and regard this phenomenon as a common case. The other case is that everyone does talk but forgets to listen to others. A heated discussion should allow everyone has an opportunity to speak and to listen. Both of the two cases are annoying. No wonder more too often the learning outcomes are not really successful, for it is not the real group learning.

4. Give an example from your personal experience and elaborate on it.
Both of the cases are based on my personal negative experiences, but there are still a few pleasant experiences. Therefore, I think that it always people's attitude that affect the whole.

In my opinion, I consider that group learning is beneficial, and we’re supposed to know how to work with others; otherwise, it would be a little late to learn it after working in the society. However, above group learning, self-learning is a must. I’m not saying that everyone should learn only on one’s own. I mean, everyone should be independent enough, knowing how to learn and preparing for the assigned tasks before group learning, which is a bigger challenge.

[My Keypal's Comments and My Response]

Click "Week Five" to read them.

Rights to Write: Task Four

Oct 20-27

[Description] with a video clip

Networked student (Click on it to browse the video page or watch the clip below.)

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

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

[My Own Comments]

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

I'm not learning in the same or similar way. I didn't even know some of the tools mentioned in the video clips. But there are some characteristics in common, such as the frequent use of social networks and the Internet, which influence our daily life very much.

2. What does it mean by “Networked Students”?

I don't know the exact definition of networked students; however, to me, it means those who are resourceful by means of the Internet networks.

3. Is it a good or a bad change, and why?

With the rapid development of technology, we're often forced to be hi-tech. I feel ambivalent about technology as well as the Internet. Technology and the Internet seem convenient but they also bring us side effects at the same time.

Using computers and social networks may save a lot of paper and trees, but actually using them also waste a lot of energy, and it will harm the earth and our health. It's a matter of balance between hi-tech and non-hi-tech, or between networked and non-networked.

Information management can be done both in hi-tech and traditional ways. Internet networks do help, but there are other options, which in my opinion is fundamental in the learning process. It's very risky that we rely on the Internet too much. Too much homework is done with computers and the Internet. Excessive use of them is tiring. If people can only process everything on computers and the Internet, how can we do once we don't have them? Therefore, we still need to learn the non-hi-tech ways.

Sometimes the actual interaction between teachers and learners is more effective and valuable. Sometimes learning things in the traditional and simple way is quicker in action and lasing in memory. For example, I can consult the paper dictionaries faster than those who are accustomed to electronic dictionaries. When I've already found a word in only a few seconds, they might have not yet finished typing, not to mention looking up words in paper dictionaries.

In addition, note that the video clip was not produced in a hi-tech way. There's no computer graphic. Paper alone is helpful enough. This feature points out the strengths of the traditional methods.

In sum, in learning, to be resourceful is not necessarily to be networked.

[My Keypal's Comments and My Response]

Click "Week Four" to read them.

Rights to Write: Task Three

Oct. 13- 20

[Description]

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?

[My Own Comments]

1. What do you think of her change?

I'm not so familiar with Britney Spears and her performances except a few famous songs. She has been controversial, but as long as her change is positive, I approve of it.

2. What do you believe or not believe?

As for her past, including the notorious records and the reasons that she has claimed, I'm not quite sure whether I should believe them or not. There are too many lies in the show business, but they are primarily none of my business unless they have negative influences on the society. Maybe we should focus on the bright side of her change and ignore what to believe. As a celebrity, she does have the responsibility for her image in the society. Since she has now reformed, the public may give her a chance. We know that she was too young and lost in fame when she hadn't known how to live her own life. We don't expect that she would set good examples but at least no bad examples. As audiences, we just want to see that she's doing her jobs, performing great shows, and control herself.

3. What is your judgment based on?

My judgment is probably based on behaviorism. We can hardly know the complication and sources of her former impropriety. Just stop gossiping and don't bother about that matter. We should encourage any positive changes.

4. Would you change your view if she was your best friend or family?

If she was my best friend or family, my view would remain similar, for the matter is not in what to believe but in how to help her. As friends or family, we should help her deal with her problems and give her emotional support. Furthermore, we should give her sincere advice if she's doing wrong. I think a true and helpful friend would not only spend time hanging out with friends but also being thoughtful of friends' welfare even though some words seem unwelcome.

[My Keypal's Comments and My Response]

Click "Week Three" to read them.