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.
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.