Sheryl Savage

                                                                                                                                       December 18, 2006

 

Describe for each goal

 

a) something that reflects what you have achieved well related to this goal, and

b) something you have struggled with/ need more help on/ want to work further on.

 

(Even though you may have many examples for some items, one is enough. Download the handout from the website so you can prepare your own document.)

 

I.  "MY PRACTICUM REPORT SHOWS THAT..."

 

A.  I can convey who I want to influence/affect concerning what (Subject, Audience, Purpose).

a. I started out wanting to Òadd humor to my tool kit as a change agent in the workplace.Ó  During this phase I realized I want to develop a presentation for various work environments to bring humor into the work culture.

b. I knew my subject was using humor in some form to make a better work environment as my purpose.  I was thinking globally at first, but I definitely want to influence my current work situation and bring about positive change at my college.

 

B.  I know what others have done before, either in the form of writing or action, that informs and connects with my project, and I know what others are doing now.

 

  1. This was indeed a key goal of my project.  I was especially helped by Frances SchlessingerÕs presentation in our class which showed me the potential of RefWorks and what an important tool it can be and has proven to be to me over the past semester.
  2. I look forward to refining my use of RefWorks to gather more data including adding articles and information from the internet.

 

C.  I have teased out my vision, so as to expand my view of issues associated with the project, expose possible new directions, clarify direction/scope within the larger set of issues, and decide the most important direction.

a.   I felt that doing the Mind Map was a crucial part of this goal.  I found the strong connection of humor to        creativity as an important part of this phase.

               b.    I am remaining open in my direction depending on further research.

                                                                                                                                                     

D.  I have identified the premises and propositions that my project depends on, and can state counter-propositions.  I have taken stock of the thinking and research I need to do to counter those counter-propositions or to revise my own propositions.

a.                 My research has identified specific ways to bring the proper use of humor into the workplace as a creative     energy force that brings about positive change.

b.                 I still struggle with the actual act of doing the presentation and how it will be perceived.

 

E. I have clear objectives with respect to product, both written and practice, and process, including personal development as a reflective practitioner.  I have arranged my work in a sequence (with realistic deadlines) to realize these objectives.

a. I feel my research has been extensive and I have discovered much that has already been written on my           subject.  I have stayed motivated to put aside time each week to reflect on all my assignments.

b.  I realized that even realistic deadlines can not be met when the unexpected happens to you.

 

F.                 I have gained direct information, models, and experience not readily available from other sources.

a.              I am quite comfortable with the questions I have revised in my interview guide and I was helped to this point by Peter pointing out that my original interview guide reinforced what I had already learned and my revised questions would help me personally to get started in my humor/creativity project.

b.              My accident pushed back my timetable, so I am looking forward to actually using my interview guide in 2007 when I have the exciting task of interviewing key people.

 

G.  I have clarified the overall progression or argument underlying my research and the written reports.

a.                 My revised narrative outline was a turning point for me in my project as it really made it crystal clear that I     would be basing my project on intervening in my own workplace environment.

b.                 I still face many obstacles to intervention in my own workplace, but my completion of the different phases of our goals has given me the tools to overcome to overcome these obstacles.

 

H.  My writing and other products Grab the attention of the readers/audience, Orient them, move them along in Steps, so they appreciate the Position I've led them to.

a.                 My Work in Progress presentation really helped me see the areas that grabbed my fellow studentÕs attention and areas that I might need to improve on.

b.                 I need to develop some exercises to present to my audience which engage them completely in the subject.  More things along the line of the Òone minute exercise Ò to take something serious and make light of it, write captions under a cartoon, etc.

 

I. I have facilitated new avenues of classroom, workplace, and public participation.

a.                 I feel comfortable with presenting any and all of my project to my classmates and looking for their feedback.

b.                 I am hopeful to stay in touch with my fellow CCT 698 students for their future comments on my project as it grows and changes.

 

J.  To feed into my future learning and other work, I have taken stock of what has been working well and what needs changing.

a. I have looked back at my mid-term self assessment and I believe I did extremely well on following my own      thoughts on various issues especially on trusting my peers to help with feedback and comments.

b.  I still struggle with the Ònot enough time in my lifeÓ issue to do everything I need to do on both a personal and professional level and also allow enough time for my educational growth.  I place a high priority on my growth through the CCT program and I will continue to place a strong priority to set aside time for my synthesis work no matter what life throws at me.

 

              

II.  DEVELOPING AS A REFLECTIVE PRACTITIONER, INCLUDING TAKING INITIATIVE IN AND THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS

 

1.  I have integrated knowledge and perspectives from CCT and other courses into my own inquiry and engagement in social and/or educational change.

 

I always keep in mind that my reasons for joining the CCT program were to become a change agent and a risk taker.  In both my professional and personal life I have integrated many aspects of my CCT experience.  This would include being able to think Òout of the boxÓ or beyond the Ònine dotsÓ so that I can imagine and create many different solutions to complex issues.  I am not held back in my thinking by pre conceived notions or arbitrary boundaries.

 

2.  I have also integrated into my own inquiry and engagement the processes, experiences, and struggles of previous courses.

 

I will always remember the defining moments I had in Creative Thinking.  This class truly led me to become a risk taker in the safe environment of the class supported by my fellow classmates.  When we were asked to portray a creative person we admired, I was astonished by the creativity my classmates exhibited.  I also went way out there in my presentation of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and I felt so encouraged I could do that.  At first, I doubted I could draw a picture but by taking it apart line by line I actually was able to copy a piece that somewhat resembled the original.  Problems can be solved by critical and creative thinking!

 

3.  I have developed efficient ways to organize my time, research materials, computer access, bibliographies, etc.

 

I have certainly come to realize that Organization is the key to success in all aspects of my life.  As Peter said, We do not have the time to not be organized.Ó  CCT 698 taught me much about the various tools I have available to organize all aspects of my research.   My goal over winter break is  to better organize my personal life, including a major makeover of my closet to give me more time to work on my project.

 

4.  I have experimented with new tools and experiences, even if not every one became part of my toolkit as a learner, teacher/facilitator of others, and reflective practitioner.

I have learned to do research over the internet to the point where I am now comfortable with this process.  I always resisted e-journals and getting articles off the internet library as I felt I had to physically be in the library to truly benefit from the experience.  From the view point of time constraints, researching over the internet with the guidance of the UMB librarians is a blessing and a vital tool.

 

5.  I have paid attention to the emotional dimensions of undertaking my own project but have found ways to clear away distractions from other sources (present & past) and not get blocked, turning apparent obstacles into opportunities to move into unfamiliar or uncomfortable territory.

 

No one likes to leave their comfort zone.  Before I started the CCT program I was becoming pretty set in many of the ways I operated.  If I found an obstacle I tended to take the path of least resistance.  I no longer think or act that way, as I see obstacles as only temporary impediments that I will overcome in a positive manner due to my ability to think critically and creatively.

 

6.  I have developed peer and other horizontal relationships.  I have sought support and advice from peers, and have given support and advice to them when asked for.

 

This is an area that I am particularly pleased with my positive progression.  I enjoyed meeting with classmates prior to class and also communicating via email whenever I needed an answer or could help someone else.  My one big regret was I did not have enough time in my life to meet my fellow classmates off campus for discussions, such as the meetings that took place at the Boston Public Library.  However, I know that I can contact any and all of my fellow classmates at a moments notice for assistance.  I have used this model more at work also, reaching out to colleagues and offering to help them as well.

 

7.  I have taken the lead, not dragged my feet, in dialogue with my advisor and other readers.  I didn't wait for the them to tell me how to solve an expository problem, what must be read and covered in a literature review, or what was meant by some comment I didn't understand.  I didn't put off giving my writing to my advisor and other readers or avoid talking to them because I thought that they didn't see things the same way as I do.

 

I looked forward to receiving all comments on my work from Peter as well as my fellow classmates.  I set up four meetings with Peter for further discussion outside of class.  I tried to turn in all my assignments on a timely basis and to give immediate feedback when requested.  I was pro active on every level of CCT 698.

 

8.  I have revised seriously, which involved responding to the comments of others.  I came to see this not as bowing down to the views of others, but taking them in and working them into my own reflective inquiry until I could convey more powerfully to others what I'm about (which may have changed as a result of the reflective inquiry).

 

Reflective Inquiry is an extremely powerful process.  I have struggled with setting aside the time to properly reflect on any and all comments I have received.  I finally won that struggle by allowing myself to truly believe that it was not a luxury to set time aside for reflection but an absolute necessity!

 

9.  I have inquired and negotiated about formal standards, but gone on to develop and internalize my own criteria for doing work—criteria other than jumping through hoops set by the professor so I get a good grade.

 

I have spoken my mind clearly to Peter and fellow classmates on many occasions and then tried to digest their comments.  I believe this dialogue and interaction is one of the most important tools we have developed in the course.

 

10.  I have approached the CCT synthesis course and the CCT program as works-in-progress, which means that, instead of harboring criticisms to submit after the fact, I have found opportunities to affirm what is working well and to suggest directions for further development.

I consider my entire life to be a works-in-progress.  CCT has helped me affirm this belief.  The Practicum course has given me many more tools to use in this.  I am open to many avenues that I once felt closed to go down.  I look forward to the synthesis course to move me even further ahead in this endeavor.