[From the syllabus:] During the first class meeting we
discussed and agreed upon a narrative model of grading for course
assessment. This means that I will regularly meet with you and discuss
and evaluate your learning in this course. I will meet with you every
three weeks, beginning week 3 (weeks 4, 7, 10, finals). I will soon post
a document on how to prepare for our meetings. At the end of the
semester, I will need to assign you a grade, and we agreed upon a
contract model. This means that so long as you make an honest attempt at
your assignments you will earn an A. If you do not complete your
Remodeling Project you will earn an B. At least 80% or each of the
quizzes and problem sets need to be completed to earn an A, with 60%
earning a B.
Reflection #1, week 4
- [Preparation.] How has your previous experience
(e.g., coursework) prepared you for this course? How do you feel
prepared? How do you feel under-prepared?
- [Magnitude of learning.] Just focusing on your
learning over the past few weeks, what areas do you feel like you have
learned the most? Why? Be specific.
- [Ease of learning.] What material have you learned
most easily?
- [Difficulty of learning.]What material have you had
the most difficulty learning?
- [Future difficulties.] What difficulties do you
foresee having in this course?
- [Future successes.] What successes do you foresee
having in this course?
Reflection #2, week 7
Reflections from this week should begin with week 4’s material
(problem set and quiz 03) through week 6 (problem set and quiz 05).
- [Quizzes.] The quizzes are based on the week’s
reading. How have the readings been going? To what extent have they
prepared you for the quizzes? How have the quizzes been going for both
you as an individual and collaboratively as a group?
- [Problem sets.] How have the problem sets been for
you: are they challenging or too simple? In what ways? To what extent
have you used the keys to look over your work?
- [Learning.] Please comment on how learning is
going: what is coming to you more easily? With more difficulty?
Why?
- [Remodeling project.] Since our last reflection
meeting you have embarked on the Remodeling Project where you have
chosen and read a focal paper, as well as presented the paper and about
to present the methods to the class. What have you found most
challenging to far in this process? What have been the biggest
surprises?
- [Work outside of class.] For each course credit at
Colby the expectation is that students spend on average 2—3 hr/wk
outside of class on course work. For this 4-credit course, this means I
have an expectation that you are spending 8—12 hr/wk. Please estimate
how much time you are spending on this course outside of class so we can
align expectations with practice.