Belated posting
May 14, 2010
(Written April 6th, 2010.)
Hello.
Well, for the fall session I taught a class of 13, about a week ago I wrapped up a class of 20, and at about the same time I started up a class of 10. It’ll be nice to end the year with a smaller group again. It’s always fun to see the way the kids portray themselves online through their posts and assignment responses. Some of them are really eloquent and write beautifully. Others do not use language quite so well, but sometimes those kids are great participants at our face-to-face class sessions. Here are a few examples of the latter:
First, a forum response to the question of whether it is better to speak concisely or with lots of detail:
I believe it is better to use specifically chosen words because then you can get your point across easily. If the topic is hard to understand, a few words to generalize the topic. If you try to explain your own theory, the choice of words is not limited, but you have to choose them wisely. Depending on the given topic you have to decide which option to use. If your topic is a given idea you can give your point to the main problem or solution. Some benifits of the specifically chosen words are you have a word to start on and bring a conclusion to. Benifits for a given topic are all the different possibilities you have for choices. Some costs for both are, the limited resources and too broad of options that you can not find the answer. I tend to use the given topics and try to talk a lot about a given topic. I use a given subject with a broad generalization and expected to follow it. I prefer to listen to the chosen words because it is easier understand or comprehend. I believe specifically chosen words are better to describe your thoughts on the ideas.
What, now? And yes, the student’s vote was for conciseness.
Next, a few pictures that speak louder than words:
Excellent powers of observation. (Though apparently not so much for the page with all of the instructions.)
And the same kid, with what is my favorite instance of plagiarism so far. This forum required both an original post about the reading and a thoughtful reply to a fellow student:
Surprisingly critical, considering he copied it (and removed some details).
