The One with 28 sources and 3000 words... (not a joke)

By virtue of the more than ninety per cent of shared deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) every human being has something in common with every other human being on Earth. An in-depth look at humans, however, proves similarities and differences beyond the genetic code. People everywhere have, or desire, strong familial bonds, recognize differences in the genders, and journey through life searching for a fulfilling life. These similarities manifest cross-culturally because they all relate to how we define ourselves. Despite the similarities all people have one major difference, culture. Everyone has a culture, but each culture leads to differences between people of one culture and another. These types of differences include what motivates a person, how they see others, and how they view themselves. Through different cultures similarities become differences. Therefore, while all people may see the importance of strong family/marital bonds, they may have different motivations for choosing a mate, while all people may see others as having some value, what makes a person beautiful or respectable can differ drastically and each depends on culture. With all of these differences there are those who want to divide, divide, and divide again until each person is in their own box all alone. But, for me, we are not people when alone. It is only when we come together and seek to understand, and embrace, each other for similarities and differences alike, that we find our humanity.

Thoughts on Peer Tutoring

*The following is a response to a reading assaignment for my class Honors 300r: Writing and Pedagogy, which is attached to the writing peer tutoring system (Writting Fellows) at BYU. Enjoy!*

                As a recent addition to Brigham Young University’s Writing Fellows program I found Margot Soven’s “Curriculum-Based Peer Tutors and WAC”, an exceptionally interesting read. Particularly, Soven offers an interesting analysis of the effect of attaching Writing Fellows (WFs) to courses in their own major. (A position I find myself in!)

The Social Game

Early Winter term I posted about my excitement for the upcoming term. I titled the post, The Education I Pay For. One of the comments left on that post talked about a game. Since that time I have taken to playing that game off and on. However, what I've observed maybe slightly skewed seeing as most of my classes fall under the science/engineering heading. I also never actually sat in the back of a class, except Calculus lab and Book of Mormon, so I don't know how well I've gotten the full picture.

Just Another New Beginning...

I tend to have a "glass half full" look at the world, and so as I approach two ends in my life, freshman year and legal childhood, I choose to look at them not as ends but as new beginnings.

I do not necessarily look at this time in my life as a chance to start over but rather as a chance to build another level of the person that I am becoming, on top of the person that I was.

The Details of the Big Picture

Fact: We learn something new everyday. Learning comes as a by-product of living life. Today I had the blessing of learning just a little bit more about happiness. Today's happiness came from sources I like to call the details of the big picture. Frequently the small and simple details of life give momentary cause for happiness. Although the idea of not dwelling on the details has merit, occasionally we just need the little nudges to bounce us through the day. 

Happiness by Ed Yourdon

A Final Reflection: My world, My country, and Me

As a final reflection for this class I first decided to make wordles of the headlines for all of posts. So here they are:

November Reflections:Peer Review: Becoming Sarah

By no extent do I consider myself an expert in the field of blogging but as per our midterm reflections assignment I will do my best to not be overly...well...anything. I was asked to review Sarah Wills' blog.

Self-Directed Learning: a whole different story

Let's clear this up right at the beginning. As far as the Consume, Create, Connect labs will take me in learning I think that I have sufficiently filled that aspect in this past month, completing several of the Digital Literacy Labs. It is that tiny, but very important other part, the part that basically changes the rest of my learning on the internet, the self-directed learning towards things that actually interest me.

by sean

Like this kid learning to ride a bike my self-directed learning has used "training wheels" of its own.

November Reflections

As the weather turns sour we, as a class, have been asked once more to reflect on our progress as students.

From Mike Chen

And as I look back upon the path I've taken to get here I can't help but smile.

Mirrored Posting: What have I learned?

All standardized courses in public education begin with objectives for their students, and a teacher's performance is measured (theoretically) on how well they meet the standards set for the subject, or student group, they left in their care. Having moved past grade school, I have found that courses here have a similar pattern for much the same reason: to record a student's progress through the educational system. Although at the university level learning outcomes reflect more on the student, and what they have learned, than on the teacher and what they taught.
"Gone with the Wind" are the days when learning was a passive verb, and personally I like this action a little bit more. In direct relation to the Digital Civilizations course, that serves as the spring board for this blog, I have reviewed my progress towards the established learning objectives below.

September 11, 2001: From the eyes of an 8 year old American child...

It has been 9 years since the day that changed my world. I realize now that not everyone had the exact same experience or even feels similarly about it. But like any tragic event healing takes time and understanding takes even longer. And to aid in that process for others and myself I'd like to share my view of what happened, something that isn't as hard as I once thought it would be.