Last Class/Self Evaluation

I asked everyone in class to post a self-evaluation to reflect on her/his work this semester. It was totally enjoyable to read them, mostly because they were all upbeat, so that boosted my li'l ego. But then I thought I could probably do the same...Evaluate myself and what I'd like to do better next time.

What worked:

1. Group exercises
2. In-class writing assignments
3. Blogs focused on creativity (i.e. the painting + story piece)
4. Snacks
5. Listening to Homecoming and being able to discuss

What needs improvement:

1. Need more shared language or ideas. I feel like I should spend more time in class talking about creative writing specifically, and possibly asking students to read more. We talk a lot about technology and I showed a few videos, but we didn't read any fiction, or poetry, and only one essay, "The Fourth State of Matter."

2. Need more hands-on time with technology. This is difficult, because people are working on different platforms, and I felt like, in the class before this last one, half the students were using the time to focus on the project, but not all were--either because they didn't have what they needed or weren't quite prepared.  I am a control freak, so if someone is even sort of not paying attention, I want to snap them back. Perhaps I can figure out a way to do short projects in class that require technology.

3. I need to practice two things (a). allowing for silence. (b). slowing down and going through assignments. If I even feel like students are restless, I want to shift gears, but that means we don't cover things that may be slightly more "boring." It's hard for both me and for the students to maintain 100 watt energy in a class of this length, so I need to stop trying to be entertaining, and allow for some more absorption of information.

4. I never did watch that dumb movie, even though I said I would try. 

Most memorable moments:

1. Any of the times I got to see class projects. I loved the variation of approaches and the creativity--the use of color or no color, music or silence.  Most especially, I loved Jhimmly's incorporating Sarah McLaughlin into one of his blog videos. 

2. Kalyn bringing in a surprise baby snake in a Dunkin Donuts box.

3. The collaboration between podcast partners--they got into it, and then some of the partners started sitting next to each other. (Note: this is something else I have to remember for next time, to get students working on projects in pairs or teams so they get to know each other faster).

4. "What happened to your face?"

5. Telling the story about how we don't show heart-break by describing someone sobbing, but by hearing the other person go, "Oh, I think of you fondly," and knowing from that moment that the relationship is over.

6. Brielle saying, "You always tell us what not to do."

7. Meeting students one-on-one for conferences and getting to understand project ideas more clearly.