Over the past four weeks of school in attending AP Physics, my learning as an individual, and as a part of a group, has greatly changed. It has been improved to the point to which I know what my REAL responsibilities as a student are. For instance, I am getting use to the different style of teaching I am experiencing. This is creating a persona in which I am more focused on learning the content instead of being concerned of “reading and barfing it up for the grade.” Another example of a change in my learning can be seen in the lectures. I notice that as they are given, I am more interested in what is being talked about or explained, whether it’s a group presentation or a full class length lecture on how to succeed in life (September 11, 2009).
The usage of a study group has been extremely valuable to my, and my two other partners’, benefit within the class. To me, it helps ensure that I am learning the content that is required but in a different way in which communication with others is important and stressed. In consideration to communication, we are able to somewhat create a Socratic dialog in which we may help each other with questions and solve problems we are assigned. As problem solvers, we are improving greatly on the level of knowledge that is needed to solve certain problems. For instance, we try to solve the most difficult problems because they help us exercise the content of the topic that we know instead of just some of it. These problems may require knowledge from all chapters of a unit instead of just one or two. We are also expanding our range of technology/style in presenting our group presentations on problems. After showing our knowledge in knowing how to use PowerPoint efficiently, we are now extending our capabilities in presenting more efficiently by learning how to use Flash. This will help us understand and create a better form of presentations and will be used soon within the class. As a study group, we don’t really need extensive help on topics such as how to present of how to solve our answers. Our main goal as of now is to change the presentation environment and start using flash to better show our understanding of the topic/problem and how to communicate better in a different way other than PowerPoint.
My study habits as an individual in this class are what I want to improve on most. For some reason, and I have not experienced this before, I am not committing my full capabilities as a learner to a topic that I am greatly interested in, aside from knowing that it is the most important class in relation to my major(s) in college. Although I am not showing efficiency as an individual, I know that the will to succeed in this class is in me due to my contribution to my group and others who need help. I noticed that when it comes to others, I put them first before me. This may be a good trait for the benefit of communication and knowledge shared with others, but is a backfire to me and my own learning environment. I know what is required of me to pass the class with an A, a 5 on the AP exam, and a complete understanding of the subject. The first four weeks have strengthened this understanding and given me insight on specific things such as doing and completing all the work that is assigned or studying (not cramming) before tests.
The study habits away from class are of a normal and daily routine. I mainly do my work for this class at night in my room and on my computer. During this time, I also consult with my study group in what is needed to be done in preparation for certain events such as studying for a test of doing problems and fully understanding them to present to the class the next day. On an average, I may study for this class 6 hours a week. Knowing that this is less than the required minimum, I will begin studying longer and try to get in at least an hour and a half to two hours a day. I need to greatly improve the integration of this subject into my life because it will be a major aspect to it both now and in the future.
My DESERVING grade for this class as of now should be a C. I can understand why I might receive a grade such as this because I haven’t turned in every assignment and have not done the best I could have on quizzes/tests. I am prepared to receive this grade as a progress report but to only improve it to an A for the semester. With knowing what has to be done, as explained earlier, I will accomplish what I had set from the beginning of the school year for this class. I will achieve a high understanding of the material and lessons learned, along with high scores and grades to support that knowledge. I am prepared to show improvement and am willing to live up to my high standards for this class.
