General Education Outcomes Assessment Plan

General Education Pilot Portfolio Assessment Project

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania 

Fall 2001

 

 

 

In  1996 the East Stroudsburg University General Education Committee, chaired by Peter Hawkes, developed the General Education Triangulated Assessment Model (see Figure 1). Committee members were:  Ned Hogan (Math Department), Bill Livingood (Health Department), Maureen McLaughlin (Reading Department), Carol Miller (Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management), Bonnie Neumann (Dean, School of Arts and Sciences), Jason Sible (Student Representative) and Bob Sutton (Movement Studies/Exercise Science Department).

 

Figure 1  General Education Triangulated Outcomes Assessment Model

 

                                                                   Surveys (Faculty and Student)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performance Portfolios                         Standardized Measures

 

 

The General Education Outcomes Assessment Plan, which was first published in the East Stroudsburg University Outcomes Assessment Handbook I, included the following description:

The East Stroudsburg University General Education Outcomes Assessment Plan is based upon a triangulated model. This documents attainment of each goal through multiple measures including student performance portfolios, survey responses, and standardized test results. Representative samples of students will engage in both formal and informal assessments to demonstrate attainment of the program’s stated outcomes. Faculty will also participate in the process through periodic surveys. (1997, p. 98)

 

The Outcomes Assessment Plan incorporated a number of research-based beliefs about assessment practices including the following: multiple data sources, formal and informal indicators, formative and summative measures and reflection.

 

 

Pilot Portfolio Assessment Project

 

The General Education Pilot Portfolio Assessment Project was initiated to provide evidence for the portfolio component of the triangulated model. Participants in this pilot study were randomly selected and represented a variety of majors. The students participated in the project over a two-year period and received a modest stipend.

The students described General Education as a group of courses in a number of different fields designed to provide a broad background about a variety of subjects across the curriculum. All of the students except one indicated that they valued the general education component of their undergraduate requirements.

 

The following statements delineate the majority of the students’ perceptions of the indicated issues:

 

Assessment at the Course Level

 

A majority of the students preferred course-level assessment practices that included a variety of methods rather than those that were only test-based.

 

Writing across the Curriculum

 

Students noted that writing was prevalent in their general education courses and that it was both narrative and expository in nature. A number of students also noted that their understanding of the writing process and their appreciation of themselves as writers was enhanced by their participation in their English Composition courses.

 

Technology

 

Students reported that many of their general education courses required them to use technology for research purposes. They also indicated strong appreciation for technology-based research techniques that they were taught. They were impressed by the technology available in Beers Lecture Hall and grateful that this smart classroom was available for their courses. Students also observed that professors used a moderate amount of technology when teaching.

 

 

General Education Outcome Statements

 

The General Education Portfolios were outcome-based. In this section, the eight outcomes are presented followed by examples of students’ thinking.

 

 

Outcome One: The student will be able to analyze problems from historical, contemporary, and personal perspectives in order to make informed choices in facing present and future dilemmas.

 

 

Student Commentary:

            Perhaps one of the most profound ideas of contemporary society is the idea of diversity.  Some tend to argue that is it diversity that makes society work as a whole, but if you look through history it has been what makes each of us different, or diversity, that

is at the root of all historical battles.  Perhaps one of our greatest faults as a society is the fact that we have always been taught to be separate. Whether it be through race, financial status, gender, etc., there have not many times when we have been willing to congregate freely.

The Holocaust is a prime example of this uneasiness to look past outside characteristics and see a person as equal.  The Holocaust was an effort to get rid of an entire population in order to cleanse society. The destruction of lives was based solely on external characteristics and actually went so far as to not consider certain individuals as part of society because they were different. The pillage that the Holocaust left behind was wide spread from religious, environmental, political and ultimately a greater distrust between peoples of different backgrounds. 

            We will never truly know why this distrust exists between those who are different from us, however something must be done in order to foster a common sense of respect between all peoples of the world.  This respect is going to be vital in preventing wars in the future. Perhaps, if there wasn’t such a focus on the few things that make us different and more of a concentration on the many qualities that make us alike, unity could exist in all people as a human race.

Reflection:

            I think tracing your viewpoints to specific classes is very difficult especially when you are trying to formulate how you feel about other individuals, most notably strangers.  I have taken a lot of science courses in which virtually no individuality is given but you are taught to look at things in strictly black and white terms.  I think the classes that had the most effect on my opinion were Psychology, Sociology, and Contemporary Political Ideologies. The common thread that binds these three classes is the idea of trying to interpret and ultimately understand human nature. 

 

Student Commentary:

Terrorism has devastating effects on all aspects of society.  These include constant fear, anxiety and resentment towards other countries and cultures that are involved in terrorism.  The most devastating aspect of terrorism is the loss of innocent lives and the effect it has on the survivors. 

            Terrorism is a global problem that is partially caused by ignorance, fears and prejudice views of other societies and cultures as well as opposing views within the same society.  The solutions to this problem are not black and white but are very difficult to accomplish.  One important way to help lessen the frequency of terrorism is to educate people on the effects and negative results such violent acts receive.  We must also begin to offer other ways of expressing our ideas that do not involve violence.  For example, if we could show people how to organize peaceful demonstrations or teach them to become politically involved in influencing and expressing their opinions.  Most of all we must teach people to tolerate and respect the lives and personal opinions of others as well as the different cultures and societies of the world.   

Reflection:

Many of my general education classes have discussed the aspects of terrorism and war on our world.  My history classes have talked about life during many different wars and the effects it has on the people involved.  I have learned about many of the different political influences, cultural reasons and personal views surrounding both terrorism and war that have helped me understand the reasoning behind such acts.  I believe that these general education classes were very beneficial for this knowledge.

 

 

 

Outcome Two: The student will be able to describe, analyze, or evaluate art in some of its specific and various forms—performance, visual, practical and literary.

 

 

 

Student’s Commentary:

Crimes of the Heart is a play written in the early twentieth century during the women’s movement. The play’s main theme is to demonstrate the oppression of women during this time. The main characters are three sisters who are trying to pull together when their family finds itself under the town’s scrutiny once again.  The play is set deep in the heart of the south, a small town in Mississippi. The play opens with the confession of one of the sisters shooting her husband in the stomach.  Because of the central theme of men’s oppression of women, the sister really has no remorse for her act and it is assumed that she did it to get away from an abusive relationship.  The only other main male character is Granddaddy, who the sisters also have a very bad relationship with because he seems to over scrutinize their every move.  The story of their mother comes in to play because she hung herself in order to get away from their father.  All of the male/female relationships that are discussed in this play are horrible and always are centralized upon a male dominating over a woman. One of the odd things about this play was the ending.  It never gives you any answers, it just ends with the sisters smiling and laughing about the past, before they were involved with anyone of the opposite sex.

One of the hardest things to do with a piece of art is to analyze it. With every sentence that you interpret you may in step with what the author was trying to portray but you also may be completely off the track.

Reflection:

One of the most vital aspects to the general education program is to develop a strong sense of well roundness. Perhaps one of the best ways to open your eyes to all facets of life is to experience the arts.  If you take for example the performing arts, which would incorporate speech, acting, singing etc., the same skills that you develop in these classes can be used for interviewing techniques, public speaking, and leadership development. What the performing arts encourage you to do is to create an awareness of your self. This self-awareness will heighten your confidence and ability to interact with others.   I have taken an acting course and an art history course.  I feel the acting techniques I learned will greatly aid me in my patient interaction in my chosen field of physical therapy.

 

 

 

 

 

Outcome Three: The student will be able to apply concepts from the behavioral, life, and social sciences to personal and social issues and problems involving individuals, communities, and institutions.

 

 

Student’s Commentary:

The issue of cloning and all genetic testing has been in the media very heavily over the past few months. Some of the issues that lie at the heart of the matter include rights to privacy, religion and property.  One of the hardest tasks is to determine when and if we consider a person an individual with their own rights, property of the government, or creations of God.  The issue can be looked upon from various angles. How does it affect the individual, community, and ultimately the world? 

Perhaps the greatest argument lies in the notion of what is an individual and what rights do they or don’t they have.  Mostly all of the genetic testing that is going on deals with fetal genetic manipulation.  Last time I checked there was no way to communicate with a fetus to see what their personal opinion on themselves was, so in essence all genetic altering we do violates a person’s human rights. Some may argue that an unborn fetus is not an individual and therefore has no rights, which again brings us back to the idea of what is an individual.

Most genetic research and cloning is done in an effort to find cures and remedies to modern day ailments. Since we as individuals collectively exist as one society and human race do we have the right to sacrifice a few in order to ensure survival of the masses?

 One of the most heated topics that comes up with genetic research is the idea of scientists playing “god”.  Who are we to decide what features and characteristics are favorable enough to be cloned?  Society must keep a system of checks and balances on science so that it does not get out of hand. 

Diversity and individuality is what keeps our society thriving. If we create too many of the same people through cloning then we are limiting our possible advancement in the future.

Reflection:

Being a biology major, I often tend to look at things in a strictly scientific manner that leads to overlooking the individual as a person and not just a system of biological molecules.  I think my general education classes have helped me to open my eyes to all facets of life.  Psychology and sociology are at the heart of trying to help me define a person: emotionally, spiritually, as well as physically.  I think science needs to constantly be watched because scientists only deal with creating and destroying, they very rarely look at the “real life” implications of their discoveries.  One example would be the discovery of nuclear weapons. In the science world this was a phenomenal discovery, but never did they fathom the destruction it would caused when the technology was used in the wrong way.   

 

 

Outcome Four: The student will be able to analyze scientific evidences as it relates to the physical world and its interrelationship with human values and interests.

 

 

Student’s Commentary:

            One of the most talked about issues for the past several years has been the conservation of the rainforest.  As an American, I exploit the resources of the rainforests everyday, yet do very little to save it.  As a modern country, we are heavily dependent on the resources that are shipped to us each year from rainforests around the world.  The extent to how much we are dependent upon the rainforest is immeasurable.  Fruits, lumber, medicines are just a few examples of the products that we extract form the rainforest each day.  The most exciting thing is that there are probably millions of resources that we could be using but we do not even know about them yet.   This dependence on the rainforest is all well and good as long as we replace all that we take away from it.

            Protection and conservation of the rainforest is talked about often, however very little is being done in these fields.  The devastation to the rainforests is incredible.  Modern countries have become greedy to live modern, comfortable lives that we tend to overlook the destruction we are causing.  Although, some believe in the survival of the fittest, we still have a duty and responsibility to take care of those who call the rainforest home, both animals and human beings.  This does not necessarily mean by relocating them to another place or simply dealing with their extinction, we must make a conscious effort to clean up after ourselves.   

Reflection:

In my Ecology class I have explored topics such as global warming, forest conservation, and biodiversity.  A lot of the destruction being caused can be prevented with a few changes to our modern lifestyles.  The unfortunate problem lies in the fact that a lot of the destruction that we cause cannot be reversed.  Although we may not be affected by our carelessness now, future generations will be tainted forever.  

 

 

Outcome Five: The student will be able to discuss some of the best original scholarly and creative works that have been produced throughout history.

 

 

Student’s Commentary:

The Martin Luther King Jr. speech “I Have a Dream” happens to be one of the greatest oral presentations of the twentieth century.  The way in which it was written and the emotion in which it was delivered makes it powerful on so many levels.  When you talk to people who heard the speech when it was originally delivered, weather they were physically there, saw it on television, or heard it on the radio; they can tell you the way that it made them feel. 

Most will say that they felt an overwhelming sense of brotherhood and really believed that his dream could be possible.  The way, in which he describes his dream, you can get a mental image of all of these things that he wanted for the members of the human race.

Reflection:

            I feel that I tried to convey the same review that a professional speechwriter would give.  I talked about his use of emotion and how it might make the reader feel.  Even though the critique was short, I feel that I gave this very historic speech an analysis.

 

 

 

Outcome Six: The student will be able to use qualitative and quantitative approaches to problem solving and research.

 

 

 

Student’s Commentary:

The use of qualitative and quantitative data in research when one is buying a sports team is vital to try to determine the success of this very expensive acquisition.  First, we need to define these terms.  Qualitative data cannot be measures in real numbers.  For example gender; eye color, and favorite food.  Quantitative data can be measured on a numeric scale: things such as height, weight, and shoe size.

 The data that is to be collected should consist of knowing where the team is located, the history of the team (i.e. past records, championships, etc), and the overall feeling of the fans towards the team just to name a few of the qualitative factors involved.    You need to know the numbers of players on the roster, their salaries, and the numbers of those staff associated with your team. You might also need to take some surveys and determine whether or not this purchase will flourish or fail.

Reflection:

            I tried to apply my skills that I learned in General Statistics to answer this outcome.  I have learned that these certain variables are highly crucial in any investigative study.  You have to take under account every factor possible when you have a very costly business venture on you hands.  Every option must be explored to make sure that you get the most benefit form it. 

 

 

Outcome Seven: The student will be able to analyze relationships among culture, language, ethnicity, gender, and nationality and to apply that analysis to specific national and international social, political, and economic changes.

 

 

Student’s Commentary:

Overall, the world is beginning to become more sensitive to modern issues such as language barriers, ethnicity, gender, and culture. Perhaps some of the greatest changes have been made in the areas of politics and government. 

The United States has always been considered a melting pot and has historically been regarded as a place for opportunity for people from all over the world.  Our political system allows for those of all different races and ethnic backgrounds to culminate and thrive as a nation.  This is something that a lot of Americans take for granted.  Unfortunately, we as a nation have so many different culture, races, and nationalities in our population that we tend to forget how vital these characteristics are to our identity.  For example, it has only been recently that the people of the former Soviet Union have been released from “mother Russia’s” control and been allowed to be identified as their own culture and nationality.  The fight for cultural freedom has been heightened  recently in eastern European nations such as Croatia.  For the people living in these nations that were formally dominated by communism, the fight for freedom, in all aspects of the term,  is a life and death battle that is fought every day.  These people are only beginning to understand the concepts of culture, ethnicity, and nationality.  This concept is amazing since it is these concrete aspects of our being that truly spice up our life and make it worth living.  

One of the negative sides to the world’s changing attitudes towards culture and ethnicity is the vast amount of civil wars that have broken out over these issues and also, the influx of refugees that have been pouring into the United States and other countries of the world. 

Reflection:

Growing up as an upper middle class, white female in a stable loving home, I often have a hard time comprehending what it would be like to not be able to have the freedom to express who I am.  I think the world is progressing towards giving the opportunity for a lot more people to be as lucky as I am, but unfortunately there is a lot more work that needs to be done. I have discussed several of these topics in my Sociology and Contemporary Political Ideologies classes and have an understanding of the people and places that struggle with these modern ideas each day.

 

 

Outcome Eight

The student will be able to demonstrate the skills needed to enrich the quality of life through physical activities that enhance cultural awareness and promote lifetime fitness.

 

 

 

Student’s Commentary:

I think overall all of my professors have helped to foster this sense of physical activity.  From simple things as allowing students to miss class in order to participate in  their team sporting events to challenging them rigorously through mental stimulation.  If your mind is not awakened each and every day then your body too will be lazy.  The physical education requirement is excellent because it again makes students take time out of the day to rejuvenate their minds and awaken their bodies.  One class that really helped to make we aware of my body and self was Acting.  This class challenged students to become aware of their surroundings through their senses and fellow students.

The past classes that I have taken that have had an effect on my physical activity would probably be the two gym classes.  I really enjoyed my aerobic dance class.  I like to dance and this gave me the opportunity to do something that I like.  I also took personal fitness.  The thing I liked most about that class was my freedom of choice.  We able to choose which activities we wanted to participate in each class.  That was a good thing for me because I could do what I really wanted to do.  I liked the fact that I did not have to run.  We could walk instead.  I could remember the times in high school gym class when the teacher yelled if we were not running.  I hated that!

 

Student’s Commentary:

I feel that physical activity increases the quality of life in so many ways.  It makes you more aware of my body and how it is supposed to function. When you are physically active sometimes you have to learn how to move certain parts of our body that you might have never moved before.  I always feel better after partaking in physical activity because it helps me to get started on my way; it also makes me feel more productive and energized.

I had an aerobics class last year and I really enjoyed it.  The professor gave health education and made you so aware of you body and how it works.  She was also very encouraging and helpful so no one felt bad when they did not get the steps correct.  She just made my experience very enjoyable that I was sad when the class was over.

 

 

Outcomes of the Pilot Portfolio Project

 

            The Pilot Portfolio Project afforded students an opportunity to reflect and offer information about their experiences in General Education. The following observations and suggestions were derived from their input.

 

Observations

 

Students

 

 

 

 

 

 

The General Education Outcomes

 

 

 

 

Suggestions

 

Students

 

The General Education Outcomes

 

 

The General Education Outcomes Assessment Plan

 

Faculty

Appendix A – Participants’ Perceptions of “General Education”

 

At the start of the project, participants reflected on what General Education meant to them and how General Education might impact their lives after graduation. The following are examples of students’ perceptions:

 

·        The term “General Education” means learning about a little bit of everything.  General Education is important so that we learn about subjects other than our chosen major.

 

I think that almost all of the General Education courses that I have taken are beneficial to me now as well as when I graduate.  Everyone should have a little background in history, a foreign language, politics, etc. Some of my general education courses will also help me get a job.

 

·        General Education means an overall foundation of things that will help me to succeed in today’s society.

 

The General Education courses will hopefully answer questions that I would not have known unless I have taken that particular class.  For example, my speech class helped me to overcome my fear of speaking in front of people.

 

 

·        General Education means the instruction and study of information that helps “complete” a student in a variety of fields of study.

 

      I think General Education will help me in my field as a teacher to be aware of many

      areas of study and help me deal with issues and problems in those fields outside my 

      major.

 

 

·        General Education refers to the courses you need to complete outside your declared major.  This allows the student to establish a broad knowledge base as opposed to solely dealing with the specifics of one’s intended major.  For students who have no idea what their intended major might be, this gives them the opportunity to explore many realms of possible study topics.

 

I am going into the medical field of physical therapy and therefore need to pull knowledge not only from my major courses but also from general courses such as psychology, economics, etc.  In order to be a successful person I need to be well rounded- both in education and personality.  General Education courses allow me to expand my horizons while at the same time learning skills for a career.  In most cases general education studies are primarily focused on creating a broad knowledge base.

 

 

·        To me general education basically means learning about a wide variety of subjects that pertain to an entire population.

 

I feel that I will use some of the material I learned in my general education courses after I graduate, but I also believe that a good portion of the material will play a small part in my future and therefore feel most of these courses are a waste of time.

 

 

·        General Education is a broad learning experience of important information from variety of subjects to provide a background of education to help you succeed in the future.

 

I feel the General Education courses will help me relate and be able to use the information from the program in my teaching career.  I will be able to interrelate it with other subjects and that will be essential.

 

·        General Education is courses students take other than their major to give them a background of a wide variety of knowledge.

 

It is good to have a general knowledge of subjects other than my major because other information will be useful in my life beyond work. I believe good writing classes are essential as well as history, math, art, etc.

 

·        General Education means a variety of courses that can be used in many different career choices.

 

They give you more knowledge of things that may not necessarily be in your particular major.  This increases your knowledge base and can make you informed in other areas that you may have not specialized in.

 

 

·        I think that General Education courses are the classes that make you a well-rounded student.  They offer you a taste of different subjects that you otherwise might not have taken.

 

I believe that I have become a better student overall because of these classes.  I learned things that I wouldn’t have known if I only needed to take classes in my major.  I also believe that since I am going into the field of education I should know a little about various subjects.  I think that I can be a better teacher overall if I take general education courses.

 

 

 

 

Appendix B: Participants’ Perceptions of Technology Use in General Education

 

 

Technology has become a vital component of teaching and learning. During their portfolio experience, students reflected on an experience in which a professor had used technology as part of the instructional process to facilitate learning and an experience in which the students had used technology to facilitate their learning in a general education course. Examples of students’ thinking included the following:

 

 

An experience in which I used technology was using the Internet to do research. I don’t remember classes where professors used technology in class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One experience in which I used technology to facilitate my learning was the computer in my PCs class.  We learned how to do a PowerPoint slide show.  Each student had to put together their own slide show and present it to the class.  I used this project as a form of advertisement.

 

 

                                           

 

I had a class in the fine arts section of the program where I had to use the Internet.  We were assigned a paper and I needed to find additional information.  I spent approximately an hour on the Internet and found it to be a big help with the paper. 

 

 

 

 

Appendix C: Students’ Perceptions of Writing in General Education

 

Writing is a mode of expression that is often incorporated in university courses.  Participants reflected on writing experiences they had in general education and described a particular writing assignment, how well they felt they performed, and what they learned. Samples of students’ reflections follow:

 

 

 

 

My first set of writing experiences was in a home study course. For the assignments we had to read various poems and short assignments, then answer questions and reflect upon our readings.  I am not very good with literature, but I felt I did pretty well.  Overall, I received a B in the class.  I was happy with that grade.  I did learn a lot from this experience.  I always thought I needed a teacher to help me with my writing but found out that I am pretty good doing it on my own.

 

My second experience was in my English composition class.  We did various essays that had to do with things and ourselves that have happened in our own lives.  I did perform well in this class because the writing had to do with me.  I did learn that I write better when the topic is meaningful and has to do with real life situations.  The third experience would have to be the learning logs that I have completed in some classes.  These were mainly just short reflections about the class: what we did and how we did it.  I enjoyed the logs and they helped me review what we learned.

 

 

 

 

I thought one particular course was horrible.  We did not receive any help or guidance from the professor nor did we have any class work or lectures.  Our entire paper was due finals week with several component assignments that we handed in throughout the semester, but nothing major.  My particular paper was graded based on my professor’s opinion, and not on grammar, content, style, and structure.  I was appalled by his conduct.  I received after argument, a "C" in the course after my professor made the comment that my writing skills were too advanced for a freshman level course.

 

My Contemporary Political Ideologies paper required us to incorporate ideas and concepts from the text and form an opinion on them.  There was no specific limits, structure, or guidelines given for the paper and therefore, it provided a chance for creativity and individuality.  I think this kind of an assignment challenges the student to develop his or her own style and flare in writing.  Aside from common structure guidelines, no two people ever write the same way.  This is a very useful way to see if students truly understand the information.

 

French Influences on European Culture-All of our work in this class was writing.  For every artwork that we saw we had to write a one-page analysis of it.  We had a very structured format that was strictly graded.  I think this style was necessary to process all of the information we received on a given work.  It made sure that specific information (date, artist, etc.) was always at the same place in each analysis.

 

 

 

 

The writing assignments I would like to reflect on were from this year.  The first one was a concept paper, I could choose a topic and explain how it has developed over time.  Well after reading my paper in class and hearing some other papers I realized I really didn’t have a concept.  I then learned from the professor exactly what I should do to develop my topic into a concept paper. 

 

The second would have to be the paper on a remembered person, someone who had or has an affect on my life.  The person I chose has had a great affect on my life, more than I realized until I sat down to write the paper.  After the paper was finished I realized how grateful I am that I have this person in my life. 

 

The third paper is the one we are working on now, a person you hate.  I know hate is a very harsh word, however, it is an assignment and there is someone who fits the description.  In writing this paper I felt the release of some unknown anger.  Releasing this has made me a better person. Now as the years go by I can talk about my feelings and emotions on this person and how I have grown because of their mistakes.

 

 

 

I wrote another research paper about different Olympic players and the effect drugs had on them.  I learned that there are a lot of people that cheat to get places in life.  I feel I did a good job on this paper but the professor did not. Still, it was a learning experience.  I always make a note of the mistakes I make and it helps one with papers due for the future.

 

My last writing experience involved writing a short story.  It had to do with a past experience in my life and it was an exercise to get the class to use all different lengths of sentences.  The professor gave us quotes for long, short, and middle length sentences.  I did well on this assignment because I knew exactly what he wanted and I was able to fulfill the requirements.  I learned how to write in many different styles. 

 

 

Another was when I had to write about my favorite teacher.  I had done this in high school but the person meant so much more to me after I graduated that the story changed somewhat over time.  I did extremely well on this task because the memories were still very fresh in my mind.  I learned how our perceptions of people change over periods of time depending on their actions with us.

 

I had to write a paper on a famous writer that I admired.  I did well on this task even though it was an extreme body of work.  This was really the first research paper that I did that wasn’t based on scientific data.  So I learned how to gather information from several sources and turn it into a piece of work that not only reflected well on the individual but myself as well.

 

 

 

In another course that I had, I had to write a paper on a performance that I observed.  I thought that this was an adequate way to assess what I felt about the performance.  Although I didn’t enjoy the class the writing assignment wasn’t bad.  I did very well on the assignment and I think that it helped me learn more than I would if I had just been in just the class and not writing. 

 

In another one of my courses I had to choose a topic and write a three-page paper on it.  I found the most difficult part to be choosing a topic.  For this assignment I went to the library and computer labs to find all of my information.  I didn’t feel that it was too beneficial because I forgot most of the information soon after I typed the paper. 

 

 

 

Appendix D: Students’ Perceptions of Experiences in Courses in General Education

 

The General Education Program is divided into the categories of Arts and Letters, Science, and Social Science.  Students reflected on how experiences in each area impacted their learning. 

 

Part One: Arts and Letters includes English Language and Literature, Fine Arts, Foreign Language, Performing Arts and Philosophy.  Students’ reflections about this category included the following:

 

 

·  I have had a couple of classes in the Arts and Letters categories.  In my experience I found my English Literature courses to be challenging yet extremely beneficial.  I’ve always achieved high grades in English in high school and then I came to college and realized there were many techniques of my writing that needed improvement.  My English course consisted of a lot of peer criticism.  Having other students my age or close to it helped me to learn how to better my writing.  It was nice to receive advice and compliments from people other than professors.  Everything I participated within my English class required work but helped me in all of my other classes.

 

 

·  In the Performing Arts category, I participated in a speech communication class.  Speaking in front of others was something that I was pretty used to, but this was quite a new experience for me.  I think the freedom that this speech class gave me helped me.  Speech in high school was always about a report or project but speeches in this course were about my family and my life.  The older I get the more I learn that nobody has a perfect life and classes here are letting me know that there are so many different types of people in the world.  I loved my English Literature and my speech classes.

 

 

·   I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to take a speech class.  I did enroll in the class second semester of my freshman year.  At that point I had not taken any classes where I had to stand in front of a group of people and speak.  So I was a bit nervous about the class, but actually it was not so bad.  My first speech was given with a group, and then I gave more by myself.  I did realize that I was getting myself more worked up about the class and public speaking was not as bad as it seemed.  I really enjoyed the class and it did help me to overcome my fear of giving speeches. 

           

 

·  I heard from people that home study classes were simple so I decided to take one over the summer.  Actually, it was challenging.  It really made me think and work hard at something that I would not normally do during the summer.  It gave me the chance to work on my own pace but yet challenged me to do my best even though I was not in the presence of a professor.

 

 

·  I am partial to foreign language. I think the courses are very in-depth and well sequenced.  The literature courses are great and they are all conducted in the language of study. However, the presence of native speakers in class can be intimidating.  I also took an English literature course, which was very interesting and allowed me to know how to write a paper well.  Fine arts are essential if you are taking the NTE (General Knowledge Test). Many questions on that test deal with music and art. 

 

· I took a foreign language culture course.  I thought this type of class is much more beneficial than learning to speak a language because in my field, I will speak only English. Focusing on artwork, literature, and other social influences helped to broaden my knowledge throughout history and modern day.  The test format was also very beneficial because it demanded a very structured essay and analysis of artwork.  This concept challenges the student to create some sort of insight and conclusion about each piece.

 

·  I found a class in this category to be very interesting in content, however, it lacked a lot in presentation.  The lectures were very tedious and there was no time allotted for intellectual debate.

 

·  This section is my least favorite.  I found my courses in this area boring and worthless to my future. 

 

·  My performing arts acting class really had no effect on my learning as a whole.  However, I was able to gain more confidence in talking in front of people.  I think one other benefit I received was how acting can add variety to a classroom and make it more interesting.

 

·  The foreign language class on culture was a class that I enjoyed, but I do recall asking myself “What how will it benefit me to know what kind of chair Louis XIV sat it?”

 

 

·  Taking an Introduction to Art class has given me a great background about the history of art and certain parts of the world and groups of people.  During this semester, that art class tied into one of my other general education classes because it talked about certain movements and groups of people and traditions.  When the professor was talking about “Greeks, Romans, etc.” I completely understood and was able to get involved in the lecture because I had recalled the connections to information from art. I have also gained confidence over the semesters because of different expectations in different classes.  My acting class demanded an outgoing and confident personality.  We had to recite and perform on-stage by ourselves in front of the class.  This gave me the confidence to get up and make a speech and talk in my other classes. 

 

 

·  In my English language experience I can say that I learned to read between the lines in a more concise way.  When it came down to interpreting some of the written materials, I could do so, but in a way that was better than before.  I became able to form ideas and opinions on the spot without getting into too much depth.

 

·  In philosophy I learned to challenge more and not to always take what is in the text as law.  I began to form my own opinions and thoughts without worrying about how my view will be looked at by others. 

 

 

· I had a class in the English Language and Literature section.  I enjoyed the class.  We wrote four papers and the class was very informal.  We would read a story and discuss it in class.  I found that it has been very useful in life.  There have been many times where I have heard names of authors or stories that I knew about.  I don’t think that this class has drastically changed my views or opinions but it has made me more informed.

 

·  Another class that I had was in the Philosophy section.  I really enjoyed this class.  It made me think in depth about a lot of my own views.  Throughout this class I began to reassess my opinions and look beyond bookwork.  I learned much more than what was in the book and lectures.  This class was designed with all lectures.  There was no homework and only four tests.  I think I did very well in this class because I enjoyed it so much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Science includes Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, and Psychology. The following are students’ reflections about their work in this category:

 

 

·  The physics course that I took was surprisingly easy since it was the first physic class that I had ever taken.  I think that the majority of the material that I learned will probably never be used again.  Our major grade in physics was based on a group project.  This project took weeks of preparation and was accompanied by a written report.  The group I was assigned to had to research ESP, extrasensory perception.  The project was fun but I didn’t really think the information I learned would come in very handy.  I was wrong.  The other science that I am currently taking is psychology.  Right now we are studying the third chapter in which we are learning about the beliefs and doubts of ESP.  From my physics course I am a step ahead of most people in my class and I understand everything with little difficulty.

 

·  My psychology class was a great class for anyone to take because we learned a lot about people and that can somehow help everyone no matter what major they were interested in.  In this class we conducted many surveys and interviews on random people.  This helped me to learn in ways other than just a lecture or textbook. Not every class provided so many different learning techniques.

 

 

·  I took a P. S. I. course.  I was told to take it because it was easy, but actually I found it to be a bit challenging.  I really did enjoy the course because I was able t do the work on my own free time, take the tests when I wanted to, and I did not have to attend class three times a week unless I needed help from the professor. I finished the class before the end of the semester so I had one less final to worry about.  The class did force me to learn.  I was teaching myself in a way.  I think that was a great experience to have.

 

·  Another experience I had was in a Psychology class.  I did not like psychology in high school, so I was not sure if I would like it here. But actually, I loved the class.  The professor was great because of the way he taught.  The first day of class he told us that he was not going to go into specifics because he understood that this was a general education class.  He held to that and I learned a lot.  I think all professors should realize that when you take a general education class.

 

 

·  I personally liked the Science segment the best, but I think it is flawed because it has too many categories.  For example, for a science major like myself, I will have more than enough credits to fulfill my general education requirements for that segment.  This leaves excess credits that don’t apply to any other segment.  I believe some special exemptions should be given to help the student who is over loaded in an area.  I have taken Biology and I think it is great to have lecture and labs bringing all the ideas together. 

 

·  I have taken both anatomy and Physiology I and II and am in the process of completing Biology I and II.  I think this department had done a wonderful job in presenting and assessing course material.  The lectures are well organized with overhead and blackboard use (everything is spelled out loud and clear).  Handouts are utilized frequently as well as detailed course outlines.  The use of a one-credit laboratory course also further reiterates the material being presented in lecture.  Hands-on/visual learning is definitely an asset.

 

·  General psychology was excellent in content and presentation.  One of the major pluses was the use of group projects and discussions.  Saying the material in your own words helped to reinforce whether you knew the topic.  It also provided opportunities for creativity and personality to be incorporated into the course.  I felt that this active learning was much more beneficial than a professor strictly lecturing or pulling topics from the book.

 

 

·  This section is my favorite.  Although I didn’t like one class and felt it covered too much material in a short period of time, I really found my physics and chemistry classes beneficial.  Because my major is Psychology I loved all of my psychology classes. 

           

·  My physics class was taught through PSI and I enjoyed being able to learn at my own rate and to get assistance when I needed it.  My chemistry class was beneficial because it taught me about different types of drugs and the effect they had on the body.  This will help in my future career. 

 

·  My experiences in the Science segment have greatly increased my awareness and knowledge pertaining to my major.  Through general psychology I was able to interact physical education learning stages with many properties covered in psychology.  The correlation of the two has enabled me to rationalize in-depth.

 

·  Through biology I have received justification on muscles, bones, ligament, etc. as well as how they function, and how they can easily be injured.  This has broadened my field of study. These broader bases of learning will help me better understand the movement section of my major.

 

 

·  In my computer class one experience that I enjoyed was when we did a slide presentation on any topic of our choice.  I discussed an upcoming hockey tournament that ESU was hosting and it was perfect for the project because of all the information.  After we had a couple weeks to put together a presentation, we had a chance to show it to the whole class.  It was fun to see all the different ideas the class had.

 

·  In a general psychology class, we were always doing group work and observing different situations.  For a big group project, other people joined me in making up surveys to hand out to people and we had a hypothesis and based on the surveys, we were able to be proven right or wrong.  This was a lot of hard work and took up to three weeks to get finished.  We were given a few minutes at the end of class to work on this, but the majority of the study was worked on outside of class.  It helped us with the topics we were covering in class and gave us hands-on experience.

 

 

·  In two courses I had to deal with lectures. However, the lab portions of these courses gave me the chance to test these ideas and they helped to give me a better idea of the concepts that I was studying.

 

·  Psychology has helped me to understand how the human mind works and why we exhibit certain behaviors.  This has helped me understand myself better as well.  Instead of wondering why I do certain things, I know why and this leaves my mind free for more studying.

 

·  I had a class in the computer science category of the general education program.  I enjoyed the class and found it to be very useful in everyday life.  I learned things that have helped me in other classes.  I did very well in this class and I was very happy that I took it.  I was happy that we were able to use the computers in just about every class.  I would recommend a class in the computer science category to everyone.

 

·  I had a class in this category of the program that wasn’t a positive experience.  We had three tests, on the first one I didn’t do very well so the second and third I improved, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to bring my grade up to where I wanted it.  I had a hard time studying; I didn’t find it very interesting.  In this particular course we studied a lot of the past, rather than anything modern.  I haven’t found the information in this class to be very useful for other courses.

 

 

Categories in Social Science are Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, and Sociology/Anthropology. Students’ perceptions about their work in this area included the following:

 

 

·  I never really was too involved in politics in high school.  None of my classes addressed it all that much and I didn’t find it very interesting.  My first semester here I was assigned to take Basic Politics.  At first I found myself lost and feeling like I was the only one in the class without a clue.  As the weeks went on I learned how to use the Internet, e-mail, and even newspapers to find out about current events.  The class wasn’t easy but with all the assignments I had, I learned just how important being involved in politics is.  Most of our assignments were distributed over our e-mail addresses so I learned a lot not only about politics but how to successfully find updated information also.  It was a good learning experience.

 

·  I attempted to take a class only after I wasn’t able to get into sociology.  After about four classes and nights of forty-five page reading assignments I realized that this wasn’t a class that I would try my hardest and do very well in.  Since I didn’t need this specific class for my major I wasn’t about to give up two hours a night to dedicate to this class so I dropped it.

 

·  I took a geography class. I liked the overall format of the class compared to the others.  With the tests we were able to choose which questions we wanted to answer from a very large list.  This narrowed things down a bit and I was able to answer questions that I knew I could.  I think that made it a lot easier.

 

·  I only have one real experience in this area.  I took an introductory course, which I believe was very hard.  I think because I really had no interest in the topic I found it hard.  That is the only real experience I can elaborate on, however, I still believe strongly that this area could be revamped to aid a person, like me, who has a build up in classes from other social science courses.  I just hope as I get around to taking the other social science courses that my interest in Geography and History will make the course seem less difficult. 

 

            · World Regional Geography was a very well taught and organized class.  The

information was interesting and useful to everyday life.  General information about the world is vital to all majors.  I think this course greatly enhances the idea of general education because it is very basic, well-rounded information.  The course was very structured with course outlines and map handouts.  The exams were challenging but fair.  Information that I was taught has come up in numerous other classes and in everyday news and conversation.  Overall, this course was very beneficial to my education. 

 

· My sociology class was a lot of fun and I learned a great deal because we were constantly working within groups and the whole class is included in the discussion.  I remember one day we had to get into groups and we were supposed to act like we were ten-years-old and make up a game and play it together.  Other groups observed us, and we talked about behavior and how we got along with the teacher in the group.  It helps me learn the material when we do more than just read from the book. 

 

·  In my political science class, we did not do much group work but there was a great deal of class involvement in discussions.  Most of our work outside of class involved getting on the Internet and looking up current events and writing about them.  It was a great way to introduce the Internet to the class, and now I am very comfortable with using the computer.

 

·  I took a course in this area that was very challenging.  The book and lectures never seemed to coincide, so come exam time I did not know what to expect.  We had a problem with the exams not even being from our book and therefore, people doing horribly.  The course was treated like a 400 level course geared towards majors, and not a 100 level general education course.

 

·  I have mixed feelings about this segment of the program.  I am very interested in political science and therefore, feel that my American Government class was very helpful and interesting.  I am now taking Personal Finance and am learning about how to invest my money.  This class is very helpful for my future. My other classes basically repeated what I learned in high school.

 

·  In economics I learned to interpret data and find out how it affects certain areas or groups of people.  This affected me because I never knew that these types of things were interesting to me.

 

·  One experience that I had was in a class that I found to be very difficult for me.  I didn’t find the information to be very practical in everyday life.  I had a hard time studying for this class because I didn’t find it to be very interesting or useful.  The teacher graded us based on three or four tests and several quizzes.  Overall, I didn’t enjoy this class very much.

 

·  Another category that I had a class in was Sociology/Anthropology.  I enjoyed this class quite a bit.  I enjoyed learning about different people and their way of life.  I think that it can be very useful in life to see how other people live and to find out how people are different and how they are similar.  I did pretty well in this class and I also enjoyed it.  The professor seemed very knowledgeable in his subjects and helped to make everything interesting.

 

 

 

Appendix E: Students’ Perceptions about Assessments in General Education

 

A recent survey showed that many different types of assessment are used at East Stroudsburg University.  Students reflected on different types of assessment they had experienced in their General Education courses. Their thoughts included the following:

 

 

 

In my experience projects have been a good learning experience and are often even fun.  I prefer group projects rather than individual projects.  All projects that I have participated in have been helpful, although projects often require quite a bit of out of class work, it’s good to get out of the lecture and test taking routine. 

 

The third type of assessment I’m writing about is oral presentations.  From my experience, I’ve seen these dreaded by many students.  Personally, I do not mind speaking in front of people, but I think that any class that requires oral presentations should let the requirement be known to all students before they register to take the class. 

 

 

 

 

I believe group projects are a great form of assessment. It helps in developing a team feeling; group projects are a useful form of evaluation.

 

Research papers are not a really good form of assessment because they allow the students too many crutches to gain the total allotment of points.  In English and Literature classes, however, I believe research papers should be an integral part of assessment.

 

·        I have found that most students do not know how to write a research paper.  Different classes are not consistent with using one method in writing papers.  In each professor’s attempt to teach us how to write a research paper, they further complicate a very simple task!  What you learn in your English composition classes as far as techniques are later changed in separate classes.  With all of the demands of your semester, I feel general education classes should not incorporate a massive research paper into their course requirements. 

 

Projects are very beneficial because they demand that you apply yourself and your knowledge outside of the classroom.  They let you show off your creativity and personality and they also offer an alternative to the normal book exam approach to learning.  A problem with group projects is always getting equal participation from all members because then your personal grade is not only dependent on yourself but other individuals as well.

 

I think essay tests should be implemented more in order to challenge the student to know the information and to interpret it in their own words. Then they’ll be more likely to retain the information.

 

 

 

Because of my major, I have had to do many research papers.  Although I don’t particularly enjoy the work involved, I believe they have been very beneficial to me.  I don’t, however, feel they should be weighted too heavily for overall grades.

 

One thing I hate about tests is when you only have two or three given in a semester that determine your entire grade.  Professors should use a mixture of methods to evaluate a student’s performance.

 

 

 

Group projects are a great way to get to know people and are a great way to combine techniques and learn some new ones.  Within group projects, the ability to work with other peers on the same topic instead of individualization creates a better atmosphere.

 

Oral presentations literally scare me, I get unbelievably nervous.  Speaking in front of a classroom of my own peers makes me ill.  The thought of all the attention placed on one-person gives me that empty feeling inside.  I would much rather a group oral presentation which would take much of the pressure off of the individual.

 

 

 

The tests usually given in my general education courses are multiple choice and true/false.  They usually are not too bad but for one course, the professor would have answers very closely related and leave it up to us to judge which would be closest to his liking.  For example, there would be five answers to choose from and three would be a possible correct choice.  The questions wouldn’t be straightforward and in my mind I would always have to rephrase them to make any of the answers sound correct.

 

In one of my general education courses, one of the projects was to learn how to do a research paper.  The professor taught us how to go on the Internet and gather information and then write about it without plagiarizing.  We also learned how to gather information from other sources such as books and magazines from the library.  I learned from doing research papers on topics given to me but I would rather write about a subject of my liking.  Therefore, I could make it a more interesting paper.

 

 

 

Projects benefited me more because I got the chance to seek out the material for myself and this made it interesting to me.  Just reading a textbook and being able to repeat the information on a test never made me very interested in what the class dealt with.

 

Oral presentations brought our more of my creative side of what I was studying.  I became the teacher and not the student and this also gave me more of an interest in the subject.

 

 

In another class I had to do a research paper as part of my grade.  I was to attend a show and then go to the library to discover more about what I had seen and heard.  I didn’t enjoy this as much as creating a portfolio.  I think that a research paper can enhance your learning of the material but in this course it didn’t assess what I learned very well.  For this paper I went to the library and found all the information I could, sat down at the computer and compiled everything I had read into my own paper.  I really can’t say that I remember a lot about what I learned by doing this paper.  I did pretty well in the class and I got a good grade on the paper.

 

In many of my classes I have had tests to assess my learning.  One class that I remember well was when I had three essays and ten multiple-choice questions.   The professor gave us four essay questions a week before the test and we were to choose three of them.  I did very well on the tests but I didn’t learn any more than what was going to be on the test. 


Appendix F: Students’ Perceptions of Projects

 

Participants described what they perceived to be the most meaningful project they had completed for a general education class and reflected on why they believed it was beneficial. Their thoughts included the following:

 

Project:

            The most meaningful general education project I did was to act out a scene of a play in my Acting I class.  We were assigned a 5-page scene from a play and a partner.   We had to design the costumes, set, and stage directions of the scene.  We had to present the scene to the class five times during the semester. The most beneficial aspects of this project were the creativity and the building up of my confidence to perform in front of a group.  I think this project helped me to relax in front of an audience and to trust the partner I was assigned to work with. I also learned how to respond if things went wrong because you can never perform the scene the same way all of the time.  I also learned vital skills on how to conduct and present your body language while being watched by others.  Another very beneficial aspect of this project was learning how to accept criticism and appraisal from members of the class. After a particular group had presented their scene, other class members provided both positive and negative feedback on their performance.  This project really prepared me for job interviews and presenting in front of an audience.

 

Reflection:

For me, the most meaningful projects have been when I was forced to step out of my shell and challenged to do things that were new to me.  Most of the time this involved group projects.  When you are placed in a group based upon random selection, you never know what types of personalities are going to exist in your group.  I tend to always be a leader and always to look to organize the group, but sometimes I need to sit back and be a follower while others activate their skills.  I think group projects are very vital to preparing students for interactive situations in the “real world”.

 

 

Project:

I would say that the most meaningful project that I was ever asked to do as a general education requirement would be constructing a speech.   The speech had a time requirement and had to be about a personal and true issue.  Projects are becoming bigger and more frequent and I think they are meaningful if they’re related to what is currently being studied. 

 

Reflection:

The speech had to be presented in front of all of my classmates.  It was so important to me because it helped me in just about every aspect of learning.  I had to use my cognitive thinking skills to create and memorize it, my computer skills to type it, and my social skills to present it.  It was the perfect way to help teach me about communication skills.  If the situation were different and I was asked to learn the positions and order of all the planets for astronomy class a project would also be as useful. Any project that requires you to learn and remember something important is worthwhile.

 

Project:

I think the most meaningful project that I was ever asked to do would have to be debating euthanasia.  Two opposite groups debated against each other to showcase opinions and viewpoints.  The debate lasted approximately 15 minutes.  I felt this project was so beneficial because it helped students feel comfortable talking about a difficult topic in front of their peers and also enabled different viewpoints to be expressed.  Of course research was needed to support opinions with fact, but that showed that without proper factual background one’s debate or side of the story could be totally destroyed.  This opened my eyes to the different viewpoints of my classmates and more importantly the reason behind why they felt as they did. I thought this project was great because it served the main purpose of the course and helped us learn to express opposite viewpoints in a respectful manner to other students.

 

Reflection:   

            I chose this topic because it had the greatest influence on me through my General Education experience.  This project enabled me to become comfortable when in front of my peers especially when dealing with a tough topic to deal with.  This debate also brought to the forefront ideas and philosophies that may not have been voiced otherwise.  Therefore I chose this topic to write about because instructors should encourage students to speak in front of class. 

                                                                                                           

Project:

The most meaningful project I was ever asked to do for a general education class was when I made a collage of all the things that were important to me.  It was a big poster board filled with pictures, quotes, and words that described me and what I love.  There were pictures of my friends and family, pets, famous athletes I looked up to, and pictures of me doing the things I love to do such as play field hockey. 

 

Reflection:

This project was beneficial to me because it made me see that I really do have a lot of things that are important to me and sometimes they are taken for granted and shouldn’t be.

 

Project:

The only project that came to my mind when remembering a general education class would have to be my public speaking class.  Otherwise, I cannot think of any other general education classes where a project had to be completed.

In this class we were put into groups and had to research a topic.  Our topic was alcohol related car fatalities within the United States.  There were five of us in the group.  We met, researched the topic, and then presented it to our public speaking class.  This project was actually meaningful because it was about something the affects all of our lives.  It was also helpful because we had to stand in front of the class and present it, not just hand in a typed report. 

 

Reflection:

Everyone needs practice when speaking, and a class like this one helps prepare you for that.  Not only did a group of students have to work together, but we had to speak together in order to inform our peers. 

 

Project:

            The most meaningful project that I ever did for a general education class was when I had to give a speech about myself.  I never really thought too much about what made me who I was.  I just knew what I liked and what made me happy but how to explain this to other people was somewhat trying.  So I had to really think about what made me who I am.

            I decided to talk about talking.  I described that talking made me the person I am today, because it is a great way to get to know people and a good way to get noticed.  I gave a few examples of how talking got me in, and out of certain situations.  I love talking to people and this gave another capacity in which to communicate with people, which is what I love to do.

 

Reflection:

            This project helped me to organize my thoughts more and become more organized in all aspects to my life.  I now have a day planner and if it is not written down, it doesn’t get done.  There was a systematic order for doing this speech and everything had to be followed to the letter for it to be a success.  I now have this type of approach to just about everything I do.

 

Project:

The most meaningful general education project I had to do throughout my college career was the main speech I gave in my speech communication class. This was a ten-minute speech on provided information about a certain topic for the entire class.

 

Reflection:

Since I have a strong fear for public speaking, this experience was very difficult for me. I did, however, find it very beneficial for later courses in my major. This experience gave me practice for public speaking and provided me with information about what I need to work on when giving later speeches and presentations.

 

Project:

For Speech Communications we had to do three presentations in front of the class. Each presentation was to be a speech to allow each of us to be more comfortable in front of the class.

 

Reflection:

I feel that this was the most meaningful because I want to be a teacher. In order to be a good teacher, I will have to be able to stand up in front of large groups and talk. This class and projects have helped me become more aware of issues and how to get over them.

Appendix G: General Education Outcomes -- Additional Student Examples

 

 

The Pilot Portfolio Project was outcome-based. What follows are examples of students’ thinking about each of the eight outcomes that underpin the General Education Outcomes Assessment Plan.

 

 

Outcome One: The student will be able to analyze problems from historical, contemporary, and personal perspectives in order to make informed choices in facing present and future dilemmas.

 

 

War

 

For as long as I can remember I’ve found the history of our country very interesting.  War is a word that unfortunately just about every child today grows up having some kind of knowledge of.  It is not always a good understanding.  There is fighting and controversy all around the world today.  Some of these conflicts evolve due to politics, money, and quite often power.

  I view war as an unnecessary aspect that should attempt to better our lives and our futures. War is something that should only occur when it cannot be avoided at any cost.   War affects all the people involved and causes much pain and loss.  It saddens me to even watch movies about war.  The thought of losing your home, your family, everything that you know and love to violence evolved from hate seems a nightmare.  Although we wouldn’t have the freedom that we do today if it wasn’t for those who fought for our country, I don’t look to war as a cure or a resolution.

 

Reflection:

            From history lectures in school, movies I’ve seen on television, songs that I’ve heard on the radio, and stories that I’ve heard from my grandfather and grandfathers of my friends.  War is an unforgettable scar that thousands of people in the world today are still bearing.  The thought of losing family, friends, and loved ones to such a violent death is sad and disturbing.  I couldn’t imagine returning to a house that had been burned to the ground or losing any, never mind all, of my children fighting for our country.

  With a good outcome war almost seems worth it or necessary. Hopefully with our economy in the good standing that it is and with politics under control, peace will remain in our world for a very long time.  I often wonder how anyone ever came to the idea of war as a resolution.  I wonder what the world was like before the concept was even thought of or discussed.  I believe in standing up for our rights, I believe in self defense, I believe in bettering our lives and the lives of others, but I do not believe in killing anyone or anything to make it happen.

 

 

Terrorism

 

The effects of terrorism on today’s society have stricken fear into the hearts of all people who strive to live in harmony with people of different nationalities.  Especially with the recent rash of bombings and plane crashes, many of Americans feel scared to fly anywhere or go into another country without the thought of possible terrorism.  Terrorism has left many people frightened to go anywhere having to do with a mass of people concentrated on one area for fear of a bomb going off (example NY Trade Center Bombing).  Lots of anti-American and militia groups believe that by striking fear into the hearts of Americans they will eventually gain backing for their cause.  However with the recent increase in security putting a wrap on any illegal or suspicious occurrences going on at major sporting events or airports, this causes these hate groups to look for an even more violent way to get their point of view across.  There is no real way to stop these people because the hatred inside these individuals is too strong to give up.  We have to work with other countries to find these criminals and bring them to justice.  For example, terrorist mastermind Bin Laden has a vast group of people surrounding him that would do anything to protect him.  We need to somehow crack this seal of secrecy and get informants to give pertinent information concerning the location of this criminal.  But with the great number of these groups out there we need a cooperative effort to stop terrorism otherwise we will always live in fear that we could be the next ones killed in a senseless crime of terrorism.

 

Reflection:

I wrote concerning this topic because it really hit home with the recent plane crashes and terrorist threats that have been going on.  The fact is that sick people in this world have so much anger that they look for ways to create havoc for innocent victims. This creates a sense of worry among all of us.  The saddest part of this topic is that the victims of these bombings and crashes are innocent and have nothing to do with the cause.  This is one of the major things that need to be resolved in order for us to proceed into the 21st century.  We shouldn’t have to walk in fear of being a victim of a shameful act of terrorist rage.  We should be able to coexist as a peaceful planet.  

 

 

The Holocaust

 

The Holocaust was a terrible time in history as was all the human destruction that occurred in all wars.  There was no real reason for the Holocaust other than the fact that a group of people were disliked, therefore they were tortured and killed.  There is no need for such violence and who knows if there is a solution to the way some individuals work?  To prevent wars in the future, I would say the best approach is to talk and negotiate. People have to learn how to compromise. That’s about it. 

 

Reflection:

I learned about the Holocaust when I was in middle school and I learned more about it and about wars and other acts of human destruction in my general education history classes.

 

 

School Violence

 

The first thing that came to my mind when I read this outcome was all of the violence that has been occurring in schools.  For some reason, I do believe that all of the violent acts that have occurred have been related to the many terrorist acts of violence in our nation.  Kids see the news and they see what is going on.  In some ways I think they try to imitate these acts.  Some kids feel they will be powerful if they do indeed act out in violent ways.  The best solution to many of the problems could only be education.  I think if kids are educated correctly when young, many of these problems will not occur.  But yet, many are educated and it really does not matter.  So actually it is a combination of many things that have to be done in order to keep peace in society.  Things are never going to be perfect and there is no way to protect against anything that takes place.  The best thing to do is to be fair and hope for the best! 

 

Reflection:

 

I feel very strongly about the issue of violence in today’s schools.  I chose to write about this because I am going to be a teacher in an elementary school setting.  I feel that all of the terrorist acts that occur in society have an effect on what goes on in schools.  I have learned a lot about terrorism and violence in many of my classes.  It is a growing concern and I feel that if we don’t talk about it, there will never be any solution.  I am glad that we have had the chance to discuss such issues in many of my general education classes.  Since I am going to be a teacher, I do worry about violence in America in general and violence in schools.

 

The Holocaust

 

The Holocaust is an event in world history that still has significance today.  This event was the ethnic cleansing of over six million Jews, one million Gypsies, three million Catholics and other such non-Arian groups.  This is proof of how far some groups of people will go to prove that their group of individuals is the best and all the others should be annihilated because of the believe them to be inferior.  The Nazis of Germany at that time did not have the education or understanding to realize how important people of other ethnic groups are in a productive society.  They were unaware of how much they could learn from these groups and how this knowledge could benefit them in the future.  Everyone benefits from an understanding of the world through different perspectives.

 

Reflection:

My reflection is that I hope that nothing like that happens again. If we all would learn to benefit from a shared experience, we would realize that events like this are avoidable.  In my 20th century history class, we could actually see a variety of ways we (the human race) could benefit from a global perspective.

 

 

Outcome Two: The student will be able to describe, analyze, or evaluate art in some of its specific and various forms—performance, visual, practical and literary.

 

The Arts

 

Music, theatre, and art are three components that have value in everyone’s life today.  There is the modern aspect of each of these fields, which is becoming more and more popular as well as the past history from which we are more likely to learn about in college.  Theatre is something that has always interested me.  Not as an actress myself but as a viewer of many plays or musicals.  I remember going to New York City as a little girl to see a show.  I was fascinated by the music and the costumes; although I think that I was equally impressed with the high school plays that I attended to watch my older sisters.

   I’ve taken both an art and music class for general education.  Both were interesting but I found that I enjoyed listening to the different instruments in my music class and watching different movies about musicals and orchestras much more than viewing slide after slide in art class.  

I’ve seen many of the theatre productions here on campus and I found them to be very impressive.  The amount of talent that I’ve seen from these everyday classmates of mine was remarkable, as well as the dance productions.  From my point of view I see music and theatre ranking more important here on campus compared to art.  That of course is from an observer’s standpoint.  I’m sure that the artists here just might not agree.

When it comes to the critiquing of artwork or music a person’s interests are highly in regard.  Personally, I find going to see a play or musical much more intriguing than walking around a museum observing artwork.  Looking at a bunch of paintings and sculptures and trying to figure out what they mean or what they are supposed to represent was never of any interest to me.  I look at some of what are to be considered the most wonderful paintings and I think that my five-year old nephew could do better. 

Just like music, art changes over the course of time. Years ago it was battles, religious works, and figures concerning mythology that artists tended to paint.  Today it’s anything from buildings, to people, to meaningless abstract works of colors splashed across an easel.  Don’t get me wrong I find artists of any kind to be very talented and creative people and I envy them for their passion for their work.  I simply just don’t understand very much about the world that they surround themselves in and the art class that I participated in if any thing just confused me more.

 

Reflection:

Whether it’s past, present, or future artwork, does not interest me unless it portrays something of interest to me.  I hope that as I grow older I will find a new and exciting outlook concerning paintings and sculptures.  I guess that only time will tell.

 

 

A Work of Art

 

The work of art that I chose to analyze is the La Guernica by Pablo Picasso.  It is a really confusing painting to look at the first time one sees it.  The sight of these figures standing with expressions of sadness on their faces shows the carnage that was caused when Franco allowed Adolph Hitler to test out bombs in the País Vasco region of Spain.

This atrocity caused Picasso to paint this huge (length of a wall) work of art.  This painting was not allowed in Spain until Franco was overthrown from power.  The painting used to reside in a New York art museum but since as been returned to Spain in the Prado located in Madrid.  Being a Spanish major this piece of art has interested me since I first saw it in high school. I think this is one of the greatest works of art that I have ever viewed because Picasso boldly stood of for this important cause of remembering these nomadic people.  Spain back in the 1940’s thought lowly of this region of Spain and some people weren’t really aware or caring of what went on in Northern Spain.  But Picasso boldly made everyone aware and remembered these poor nomadic people in this wonderful work of art.

 

Reflection:

            I felt so very strongly about this topic because of the cause for which it was created.  The trouble that Picasso went through to make this work of art, knowing full well of the consequences for his actions, places this work of art on a very high pedestal

for me.  I think La Guernica is one of the most fantastic works of art I have ever seen.

Picasso could have lost his life because of this bold statement.  When no one else cared for these nomadic people of Northern Spain, he took a stand and would not let this travesty go unnoticed.  Without him the bombings in this small Spanish region might not have ended until after the war.  Picasso, who is better known for some of his more famous works, created a masterpiece in La Gernica.         

 

Music

 

This summer I went on a field trip to Woodstock ’99 to see all the various artists perform.  It was an indescribable experience, as I have never attended something like this before.  The different kinds of music ranged from rap to rock, alternative, swing, jazz, you name it.  The bands started performing at noon and ended up around 12 am the next day for three days.  Some people sounded better live in concert, and some really needed to practice a bit, but overall, I enjoyed my time there with my friends.

 

Reflection:

            I took an art class for general education and learned that there are many forms of different kinds of art whether it is music, art, or theater.  I chose to write about Woodstock to support that idea because there was a huge variety of music there.

 

 

A Work of Art

 

This painting jumped right at me as I was glancing through an art book.  By looking at this panting I could visualize myself being in London standing along side the Thames River looking at the Parliament Building.  The picture itself is impressionistic -- not painted very clearly but yet I can still see every detail that he is trying to present.  I have been to London and have seen the Parliament Building but I did not see it when it was foggy.  But by looking at this picture, I know what it would be like to be standing there in a dense fog.  The way the lines are painted really shows the detail of the water and the building.  The water moves one way and the building stands another way.  It is not a direct creation of on outline, but still shows detail and uniqueness of the London atmosphere.

 

Reflection:

 

I chose to write about the painting “London Fog” because it reminded me of being in London.  I do have an appreciation for some art because of the memories it brings to me.  I think anyone can appreciate art more if an art class is taken whether it is in high school of at the college level.  I did take an art class and it was very interesting to me.  It did help me to appreciate art more than I did beforehand.  If you know what to look for in a piece of art you will understand why it was made.  Everyone may have a different meaning or way of interpreting art, but that is really OK.  If you do not have some kind of background in art, you may not be able to appreciate as much. 

 

 

A Poem

 

The poem “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou is a poem that I have always held to be one of the most expressive literary pieces of art that I have ever read. The language that she used inspired feelings that actually made me identify with the woman in the poem.  The way that she described how people viewed her as she walked into a room of people and how she made a statement without saying a word are two examples.   She seemed to be beaming with confidence and pride in everything that she did.  I have wanted to be this woman all of my life.  As a matter of fact, all of the young women that I know who have read this poem have been able to identify with her and would like to possess some of her stellar qualities.

 

Reflection:

The first time that I read this poem was when I was ten years old.  At that time I don’t think that it had that much of an effect on me.  It was just another thing that I had to read for reading class that day.  I then had to read it again in the ninth grade for a report on black poets.  The poem meant so much more to me then.  I guess that it was because I was becoming a young lady and I could better visualize this woman and what she represented.  This form of art has definitely moved me and has had influence over my own writing throughout the years.  I believe that this is why I started writing poetry.  It is an excellent release to get your feelings out.  It is also great when you at least find one person who shares the feeling that you are trying to express.

 

 

The Arts

 

I have only taken one general education class pertaining to music and I admit that I don’t really know too much about the subject of art.  The class I took taught us about the basics of music and really didn’t focus on any particular piece.  We did learn about the different types of music such as classical and rock but I took the class so long ago that I don’t remember. Art really isn’t a subject that I am interested in.

 

 

Music

            I had the privilege to take an Introduction to Music course during my sophomore year. I learned many interesting things about all different types of music. This course opened my eyes to the composition of the music as well as the production of it. Music is an art in a performance style. Learning how certain music legends composed their style of music was very educational, it helps you better understand why this music is still popular today. Music in my eyes is like science, for example if you don’t have trees then you can’t make wood for your house from it. Same for music, if we didn’t have romantic, baroque, and classical music, then we wouldn’t have the modern rock, alternative, and country music that we have today.

 

Reflection:

            Many people write music to help vent the feelings that they are having. Other people listen to this and relate their personal life to it. Their performance of music is for the entertainment of others and themselves. Music is very important to the people of our today society.

 

 

 

Outcome Three: The student will be able to apply concepts from the behavioral, life, and social sciences to personal and social issues and problems involving individuals, communities, and institutions.

 

 

Technology

 

There isn’t a day that goes by anymore that I don’t hear the word Internet at least once in a day.  A computer is one thing that I have never asked for as a birthday or Christmas present.  We used computers in high school sure, to type things and look things up but all that could be done with all the extra time I had for study halls.  I never dreamed that coming to college I would start using a computer on a daily basis.   The Internet is becoming a major part of my classes as well as e-mail.  It’s even creeping into my workplace as a new importance.   While I’m sure that there are many people that can find more positives concerning the Internet as I, it’s nothing but a complication to others.  My parents for example have never had to deal with computers and since they bear absolutely no knowledge of computers they have no desire. 

            When I attempt to explain to them just how wonderfully and quickly the Internet aids me in my assignments they think it’s great, but I’m sure that like anyone else that has never used it, they don’t understand its absolute greatness!  Fortunately for education alone, the Internet is becoming more and more familiar in communities all over the world.

            There is one thing about the Internet that one must be careful of and that’s obtaining factual and true information.  The Internet allows us to search and find information on just about any subject in the world, but it’s very important to make sure that the research you’ve done contains relevant and true information.

 

Reflective:

 

            The Internet is a fast easy way to obtain information about anything in the world.  It saves people a lot of time, money, and allows them to further their education out of the comfort of their very own home.  I don’t think that the Internet should totally take over and become a necessary aspect in life due to people such as my parents.  But I do think that the Internet holds wonderful opportunities for those who wish to take them.  Of course there are many problems that accompany the Internet such as sites that are inappropriate for small children, but with anything in the world today there are bound to be imperfections, and in the end the powers of the Internet prove to be worth it.

The Internet can and is often used as a quick and easy link to learning, although it can also be considered a dangerous tool.  When used improperly the Internet can prove to be extremely detrimental.  For instance the thought of children learning how to make bombs or any other dangerous weapons from a computer screen is a terrifying thought.  I think all people interested in learning how and why to work with the Internet should take a course to help themselves better understand it.

 

Cloning

 

The pros and cons of cloning have been debated heavily throughout the past few years.  These debates center mainly on the right to create life.  Who really has the right to create life is debatable upon one’s own religious and philosophical beliefs.  The psychological aspects that this topic deals with whether humans were given the right to create and or destroy life.  Many religious advocates belief this right is reserved for God and only God.  However others argue that anything that can better the existence of life should be used to our advantage.  I am under the first category that this right is reserved for a higher power.  Yet there is a strong argument for the use of this cloning to create superior genes.  I however feel that all this is wrong because this would bring about a feeling of inferiority between the lower species.  From a biological aspect organisms interact in a fine tune balanced system that if at all altered can create chaos for the organisms in this ecosystem.   Cloning could possibly create an unfair advantage for a certain species.  Historically advances in sciences allow us to make leaps and bounds in the ability to manipulate genes.  So, there is no telling what may occur in the future concerning the possibility of human cloning.  Cloning may allow us to make beneficial

advances in the quest for the perfect specie, but this unfair advantage would severely disrupt the balance of life and cause chaos throughout the earth.

 

Reflection:

            I chose this topic because I believe it will have the largest effect on the human race in the future.  The pros and cons are so highly debatable that either side can make a strong argument for their side.  I also think that in the near future with all the technological advances we have been making, this issue will become more pressing.

With the recent movie rage over bringing back dinosaurs with DNA, the public’s opinion on this matter is somewhat biased.  But if we take a serious look at the consequences of this ability to clone species, I think that we can come to a consensus and agree that creation of species is relegated to higher power.

 

 

The Internet

 

The Internet is an enormous source of information and is very helpful for those who know how to use it.  It contains search pages, where an individual can simply type in a word and get hundreds of web pages concerning that topic. The Internet also provides offers, places to shop, email, and access to other sources and services.  This is great for people who know how to use and are able to access a computer.  Many families have a computer in the home, and children are able to use computers at school.  But the older generations have little knowledge of computers and are not able to take advantage of all this neat stuff.  It is very beneficial to have Internet access in schools, especially universities, but for a high school or elementary school it may be very expensive to install.  And they would also have to teach the kids how to use the Internet.  Like I said, the Internet is very useful for everyone if they know how to use it. 

 

Reflection:

I have had a lot of experience using the Internet in school and at home.  I have learned from exploring by myself, and I have learned a little about it in classes such as English and computer science.  It helps with research papers and just to surf the web and find out information for myself.  It’s fun!

 

 

The Internet

 

            I believe that the Internet is a very positive and helpful tool when using it as a source of information.  But, there are both positive and negative aspects to the whole idea.  For school it can be a very helpful source of information.  One can find a variety of facts and information relating to any topic.  Many chat rooms and list serves can be helpful to see what other people think about such a topic.  This is a good resource for people who are researching a topic and need to find people who have both views about the idea.  But, some people do and will abuse all of this information.  The Internet should not be the only source of information that one uses.  People in the medical profession can use the Internet to find an answer to a question that they do not know off the top of their heads, but one should realize that the answer might not be correct.  Think of it as an educated guess unless it is document correctly. 

            The Internet, in general, can have both positive and negative effects on an individual’s life.  Yes, one can survive without ever being in contact with the Internet.  No losses there.  But there are many benefits.  For example, my mom uses the Internet a lot when cooking and looking for bizarre and unusual recipes.  Rather than spending the money to buy a cookbook or sending away for a recipe you see on TV, one can just log onto the Internet to look up the information.  On the other side, the Internet can harm an individual’s life.  Sometimes people meet others in chat rooms that have influences on their lives in a bad way. It happens everywhere.  So, if the Internet was not available, would that still happen? 

There are many questions that may not be answered.  But I can say that the Internet is a helpful and powerful tool if it is used the correct way. 

Reflection:

 

The courses that had an effect upon my answer that I gave regarding the Internet usage would have to be the two media communication classes.  We really learned a lot about computers and the Internet, plus the pros and cons of using them in a school setting.  There are many projects and activities that we worked on that would be of benefit in any classroom.  A student can use the Internet for research projects, and also use web pages that individual teachers have set up for their students. 

I have used the Internet in most of my classes -- mostly for projects that involved looking up information for a paper or assignment.  I have found it to be a valuable tool for me so far in my career.  We also recently got a home computer with the Internet and I believe it has had a positive effect upon my whole family.  

 

 

Cloning

 

One of the benefits of cloning would be the ability to alleviate the spread of disease. We could equip this new group of humans with incredible immune systems to be able to deflect any threat of foreign agents.  Life would also be a bit more predictable.  We would be ready for things to happen and the little pitfalls of life would not happen.

On the other hand, it would be morally wrong to take the job of whatever entity created all that is around us.  Then there might be a new kind of racism, the natural humans versus the clones.  The clones might have to live in their own separate communities where humans would not mistreat them.

 

 

School Violence

 

One very important topic that affects all of society involves school violence.  It is becoming more and more common in all parts of the country.  I believe that a combination of things is at fault.  I don’t feel that parents are spending enough time with their children and are therefore ignoring the warning signs that may be present.  The community can also do more.

            Many people feel that if it’s not their child then it’s none of their business or they don’t have to worry about it.  Although it may not be their child that is troubled, he/she may be hanging around with their child, niece, nephew, sister, brother and may be influencing them to behave the same way.   People need to speak up and try to intervene in anyway they can. 

            TV is also a major influence on the way children act.  Everyone is supposed to dress a certain way and act a certain way.  If someone doesn’t fit in to the click group they may begin to resent that group and themselves.  This opens up an opportunity for emotional and psychological problems to develop.  If children are constantly exposed to violence on TV from the actors and actresses they admire they are more likely to mimic that behavior when handling problems.  Although they say it is just entertainment the kids don’t see it that way and neither should the produces of the shows and movies.  For once money should not be only important factor.

            School violence caused students, parents and teachers to fear school.  This anxiety indirectly affects the academic success of the students and success of the teachers.  Schools should have more guidance counselors and school psychologists available who take the time to get to know each student and possibly identify a potential problem.  Maybe this way some school violence can be prevented and some angry kids could get the help then need.

 

Reflection:

Many of the classes I have taken in college have discussed issues surrounding school violence.  In my classes, I have learned personality types, risk factors and warning signs of individuals capable of committing school violence.  I believe that this information is very helpful for me to know since I am both a psychology and elementary education major.     

 

 

United States Intervention in Foreign Conflicts

 

I am writing about the pros and cons of U.S. intervention in wars occurring in other countries. I feel that it is important to our country and its economy to have many allies instead of enemies, however I don’ t understand why the United States is always fighting other peoples problems.

            I understand that by having and keeping allies the United States and other countries have responsibilities to uphold, however it should be a priority to take care of your own country before defending another.

            Some of the pros I see include the golden rule( we help you then you help us), respect for one another, and making people look good and compassionate .  Some of the cons include sending our people to fight, them dying for no reason, and wasting money on war materials.

             These are all fact that I see as important and concerns, but is it better to look good to others or be true to our own country. I say we should fight our own battles and give advice and support to those in need.

 

 

Outcome Four: The student will be able to analyze scientific evidences as it relates to the physical world and its interrelationship with human values and interests.

 

 

Animal Cloning

 

For this outcome I chose to discuss the aspect of animal cloning to produce organs to accommodate human transplants.  According to our televisions and newspapers we have been informed that it is possible to actually clone a living being.  With the first successful cloning of a sheep the whole nation was appalled.  Some believe that this is a miraculous new idea that could save thousands of lives and help to cure diseases that just haven’t been found a cure yet.  Others believe that if it was meant to be it would be and messing around with the lives of animals at our expense just isn’t morally or ethically correct.  Who decides what is right or wrong?  Do the scientists conducting the experiments have any say in the matter since it was their research and hard work that made this possible? They know about the effects and the possibilities that could come along with it.  Does our society get to decide? They are who are paying taxes and deserve to be part of and informed what exactly is happening in our society. Then there are other individuals that really don’t care about the important issues of cloning.  They couldn’t be bothered. As long as it doesn’t affect them personally or cost them any price they really do have an opinion. 

            With the information about this scientific break through many other questions are produced.  Of course our physical world as well as our interrelationships, value, and interests are becoming affected.  A farmer would be affected in the fact that his sheep would either be being killed or being able to reproduce twice as fast doubling their profits.  A person with heart disease is related and affected because this new scientific evidence just might save their life.  Animal rights activists are affected because they believe these animals should be left alone and unharmed.  Our society is affected in many different ways and for many different reasons because of scientific developments such as these.

 

 

Rainforests

 

Concerns for rainforests should be paramount to all others.  The rainforests are so important because they provide us with much of the world’s oxygen.  If we continue to let one of the world’s greatest natural resources deplete so quickly, our future generations may never be able to enjoy the outdoors.  The lack of breathable air can have a tremendously adverse effect on humankind.  Also the rainforest is a source of natural resources that can provide great revenue for the country of Brazil instead of just chopping the trees down.  Many new species are being discovered everyday within the rainforest.  If we continue not to care about the rainforest we may never be able to know about the interesting species that live in the rainforest before they are extinct.  Rainforests are unique places with much to offer every individual and they should be saved for future generations to enjoy and coexist with.

 

Reflection:

            I chose to write about the Rainforest because this affects so many people.  Everyone in the world needs to breathe and thus needs the Rainforest as a major source of oxygen.  This resource is not permanent and needs to be protected for future generations.  The depletion of this resource can cause for the ultimate downfall of humankind if we do not find another way to counterbalance this loss.  So writing on this topic will hopefully make people aware of the importance of this often forgotten resource

 

 

Laboratory Testing of Animals

 

Animals are used in labs to test things from reactions to makeup to cures for deadly diseases.  There are many views on whether this practice is right or wrong, moral or immoral, or if it is even serving a useful purpose. We learn so much from these animals who are held hostage in these labs.  They go through pain, illness, and death so we can come up with new medicines or just some mascara that doesn’t irritate the eye.  Some people are completely against animal testing and others see it as a form of education.

 

 

Global Warming

 

Global warming is an issue of concern. Until studies are done and people are informed, society will do nothing to stop what is hurting our world.  People get up every morning and drive their cars.  Does anyone think about the harm that is being done to the air? Probably not. Until the facts are listed in red, concerns will not be an issue.  Scientific evidence is very strong when relating to the physical world around us.  But sometimes this evidence is just not enough.  It does benefit some, but some is not enough.    

 

Reflection:

 

The more I think about it, the more I believe that people do not react very seriously to scientific evidence.  I'm not sure what can be done in order to change minds.  It is a tough issue to deal with, but whether we want to believe it or not, global warming is effecting us all. What will happen when all of the polar ice caps melt? What will happen when all of the rainforests are gone? Then, nothing will be able to be done.  The evidence shows that our environment is being hurt.  I believe and support the evidence.  Information about global warming needs to be shared with more people more often. Otherwise, society is not going to hear or see about the problems.

 

 

Genetic Engineering

            The area of genetic engineering has been under debate for some time.  There are definite benefits to knowing if your child will have cancer or if he could be the next Albert Einstein, but then morality has the question of  “are we playing God?”  There are many sides to this ever-controversial issue.

            The standpoint of the scientific community seems to be a pretty valid one.  They say that genetic engineering will help to put an end to children born with certain genetic diseases and make it easier to fight disease in general because they would know the causes and therefore find the cure.  They also believe it can also make our children smarter, helping them to get better jobs and become very successful in their adult lives.        

            The moral issue involves the matter of letting destiny determine these things.  We are not meant to know certain things about the future because they may have certain repercussions on the present time.  Leaving the health of a child up to the higher power seems to be the right thing to do for those who don’t support genetic engineering.  Also there is a fear of what could happen to those who tamper with the duties of this higher power.

 

Reflection:

            I feel that this is a really touchy issue and I can honestly say that I’m not quite sure what side I am on.  I can see the benefits of both arguments because I am someone who can see things from many different perspectives.  The only thing that I know that is definite is that this may never have a right or wrong answer.  

 

 

School Violence

 

One very important interrelationship between the individual and the society is the stand the country is beginning to take on school/child violence. Because of the constant and devastating violence involving children over the past couple of years, many individuals and their communities have designed organizations to help these troubled children before they commit a violent act. Although there has been no significant decrease in the amount of violence committed by children since these programs have been established, I feel that in the future, as these programs expand, there will be a noticeable change.

 

Reflection:

            I feel that the community itself has caused this violence and it will take the community to stop it.

 

Global Warming

 

Global Warming is a very important issue that our society has influenced, and is still influencing. Our society is in the mind frame that it is generally okay to pollute. Due to this mind frame, it seems that the amounts of litter, chemicals, and smog have increased rapidly over the past ten years. This issue had to begin with the individual being lazy which then lead to society becoming lazier. Because of this laziness and lack of respect for individuals and the world we are suffering consequences.

 

 

Outcome Five: The student will be able to discuss some of the best original scholarly and creative works that have been produced throughout history.

 

 

The Constitution

 

The Constitution was written long ago, but for the most part it has withstood the test of time.  This document is constantly under debate in an effort to make it a modern document. The founding fathers of The Constitution could not have predicted the problems that would arise today, however the challenge now lies in interpreting their words to make them apply to modern controversies. Some of the debates in the past include prohibition and women’s right to vote.  The Constitution is now under scrutiny over the decision to legalize abortion.  Part of the problem is the idea that The Constitution guaranteed certain inalienable rights to all individuals, but are these rights applied to the mother or to the unborn child?  Another hot topic is the idea to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes.  Overall, The Constitution has been interpreted without too much debate but it does tend to have this aura about it that it cannot be touched. It is truly amazing that this single document, written so long ago, has served to run a successful nation for so many years.

 

Reflection:

            Until recently I had never had a course that I formally and intensely studied the structure of the United States government let alone its documents.  This semester I am taking America I in which I was very quickly introduced to several highlights of the structure and function of the United States government.  I think it is a shame that we as students, but more importantly citizens of this nation, are not taught more in depth about our government and our rights.  If you ask any person if they have heard of The Constitution most likely their response will be yes, however asking them if they understand this document could drastically change their response.  

 

 

Speech

 

One of the most important and perhaps influential scholarly works that has played a big part in our past, present, and future is the wonderful “I Have A Dream” speech.  Martin Luther King was a powerful black Protestant who wasn’t going to settle for a life of unfairness and segregation.  He was a leader for thousands of blacks and whites and I believe that his courage and determination deserve gratitude and appreciation and should not be forgotten. 

            His inspirational speech opened up the opportunity for a new and happy equal life for black people.  He decided that he and his people should no longer settle for separate but equal because it was separate but not equal.  Martin Luther King taking a stand and spreading his courage and strength to others was possibly the most important step to ending segregation.  Without a powerful leader such as him and his famous speech the world would be a much more miserable place.

 

 

The World Wide Web

 

The creative work that I chose to critique is the World Wide Web.  The Web helps many people keep in touch and learn about the world around them from their keyboard.  However, I feel strongly that the Web needs to be used properly for the benefit of everybody.  Porn Sites and anti-government sites have been seen all over the Internet and are used to put down and deface many individuals. This was clearly not the original purpose of the Web.  There are great sites out there that promote a commitment to learning and benefit everyone.  These help the Web be a wonderful tool for educators.  The Web is a multi-facet link that connects billions of people and allows for everyone to be exposed to different cultures and customs.  Instead of going to the library, one can now print out or download pertinent information on any topic.  This encourages learning for everyone because of its speed and availability.  The past times of worrying about when the library is open or if one has their library card is almost gone, but we must realize that the Web is a useful tool that should only be used in a correct way.  We must be aware that those bad sites are out there and only use the Web for its intended purpose: the benefit of all humankind.    

 

Reflection:

            I wrote concerning this topic because I believe that the World Wide Web will have the greatest effect on us in the future.  Nothing can compare to it as far as reaching and influencing so many people.  This topic is also very controversial because it depends on how one uses the Web if it benefits or creates a pitfall for humankind.  The speed and availability have now enabled many people from all walks of life to be affected by the Web. 

 

The World Wide Web

 

One original scholarly work that comes to mind is the World Wide Web.  It is used as a means for finding information, people, news, comedy, and much more.  For some, the World Wide Web is at their fingertips every day and is a necessity for a job, but for others, using web can be utterly confusing, frustrating, and even meaningless. 

Throughout my life, I have become very familiar with the World Wide Web and I use it for many things. Contributing factors to making the Web influential would be my father and learning about it in all my years of schooling.  I have learned the workings of a computer at a very young age and have always had a general knowledge towards them.  To make the Web influential to the public, there have been books published and teachers giving direction to working on the computer.

In my opinion, the World Wide Web is a fantastic work that has been created for those who can benefit from it.  On the other hand, there are still many people that don’t even have access to this and have never used it.  There could be many reasons for this.  Older generations don’t know how to use a computer and may even be frightened by one, perhaps because they did not grow up with them as later generations have.

           

Reflection:

I chose the topic of the World Wide Web because I have a general knowledge about how to use it for many purposes.  I use it more and more as a form of research and entertainment than ever.  It is also is a great learning source.

 

 

A Work of Art

 

I had the chance to actually see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris.  I went to the museum and saw it first thing.  I was very shocked when I walked into the room.  Everyone was crowding around what seemed to be a very small painting. The painting was smaller than I actually thought it would be. I was not impressed with it. It was very dark and gloomy looking. The colors were not bright but I guess old paintings are not expected to be bright and colorful. 

The painting was interesting to look at.  People always say the lady is actually looking at you.  If you stand there long enough and pay attention, she does look like she is watching you.  It was interesting to see and I am glad I got the chance to see such a famous and valued work of art.

 

It really amazes me that a painting can become so popular.  What is a painter actually thinking about when painting a picture?  Does he/she really know how famous it will become?  The Mona Lisa is just a painting of a person, yet it holds much meaning for some.  I guess the painting really did not WOW me, but I am still glad that I got the chance to see it.  Going to Paris was a wonderful experience.  And seeing such works of art in large amazing museums was even better!

 

The Constitution

One very influential work is The Constitution of the United States. This article states what this country is all about and represents what the ideal should be for a country. When it was written, it was intended to ensure fair treatment, freedom and rights for all Americans and for the most part it has served its purpose. Without The Constitution, this country would probably be run very differently and freedom would probably not be possible. The Constitution stands for our rights and protects us from unfair treatment.

I feel for the most part that The Constitution has done its job in preventing unjust treatment for United States citizens. Although some people are still falsely accused and convicted of crimes, these situations are very rare.  Most people receive a fair trial and their rights are preserved.

            I do have one major problem with The Constitution. I believe that many people take advantage of what it was originally intended to do.  The justice system is now biased towards victims and gives the criminals more rights.  People constantly take advantage of their Bill of Rights and as a result impact the rights of the rest of us. I feel that The Constitution needs to be revised in order to preserve the rights of everyone, especially the people who don’t take advantage of the rights they have.

 

 

Outcome Six: The student will be able to use qualitative and quantitative approaches to problem solving and research.

 

 

 

Qualitative methods include observation, interviews, open-ended surveys, informal writing.  When a teacher uses qualitative methods he./she is expected to form their own opinions through observations and data that does not really have a specific pattern.  If several teachers were to observe the same student they all might come to different conclusions.  This type of data collecting is used primarily in fields such as psychology in which numbered data is not really important but grouping techniques and creating norms are utilized.  This type of approach allows for individuality. 

           

Quantitative methods include multiple choice questions, pre and post testing, and statistical analysis.  This approach strictly looks in things compared to other known data.  Numbered data sets are very important in this type of research.  Opinion does not really matter, but rather raw data is investigated through statistical analysis.  Quantitative research looks to define a person in terms of groups not individuality.

 

Both methods allow for vital research to be collected. A combination of both methods will yield the greatest information and perhaps the best solution to the problem at hand.

 

Reflection:

I have collected an enormous amount of both quantitative and quantitative data in my laboratory exercises.  Both types of data collections are used at very specific times.  Most scientific data is collected in a quantitative method using precise machines and equipment to yield very defined data.  Scientific data must always be able to be duplicated over and over.  On the other hand, qualitative research is used more in the social sciences such as psychology and sociology. In these disciplines, the research is observational and categorical.  The experiment looks for trends in instead of precise numbers. A combination of both is the most logical and in depth way to solve a problem.

 

 

 

Observations, interviews, role-playing, imitating, and social interaction are probably more beneficial to a child’s learning then a list of multiple-choice questions.  Qualitative methods used in finding information are more personal and specific, whereas, quantitative approaches are necessary for a broader perspective. In an occupation such as teaching regardless of ages, teachers should incorporate a little bit of each approach since the two find very different information and are both important.

 

Quantitative approaches seem more structured and business oriented to me.   While I can certainly understand why pre and post testing is important due to the comparison of the results, I find this type of research somewhat conservative and boring.  I have taken courses that used quantitative assessment approaches, but I haven’t taken any courses about it. With the world and technology changing each day as it does I’m afraid we’ll see less and less use of qualitative approaches and more and more of the quantitative.

 

 

The different ways of evaluation are very important to be able to effectively and efficiently evaluate the student’s learning.  I think in today’s educational forum there is too great an interest on grades and not enough on learning.  While research is vital in the sciences, I try to evaluate learning on a basis other than the red number that appears on top of a test.  Learning is the utmost importance to why we teach and therefore teachers must strive to make sure students are indeed learning. 

                                                           

 

 

 

Qualitative approaches in researching this issue could be a number of things from simply talking to observing.  Teachers should give students a sense of comfort to help students to talk openly if there are any problems, or to give positive feedback on teaching skills.  Teachers should also be very observant of students.

 

One of the most beneficial and easiest quantitative approaches would be test scores.  It is obvious to see if a student is learning or not by how well they do on exams.  That way, the teacher will see what the student needs work on or if the student is a poor test taker, or if they have a learning disorder.

 

I chose this topic because the quality of the education we give to students now determines how our world will be in the future.  It all starts here; therefore we have to make sure it is done properly. 

 

 

 

I feel that quantitative approaches, such as testing, do not capture students at their best.  Testing just shows one side of the picture.  Usually it is not the best, especially with older students. You study for a test, memorize the information, and forget it the next day.  What good is that? As I mentioned above, I think that qualitative measures are better assessments.

 

Reflection:

 

I said that I believe qualitative measures are the best because I know that I am not at my best when put in a testing situation.  I perform better when put in a non-stressful situation.  Many students have a lot to worry about besides school.  Tests just add to that.  It is scary to see such young children competing and comparing scores when taking tests.  It is not a good way to prepare our children for the world.  There are so many other things that can be done to see how students are learning.  Teachers need to put those qualitative approaches into use.

 

 

 

Quantitative approaches are less time consuming and can be given to a large amount of people at once.  Scoring is also easier. In the example used above, most teachers have many students they need to assess in a short period of time. It is unreasonable to expect every teacher to assess each student using qualitative approaches every time. By giving multiple choice, matching, completion etc. tests, the teacher can get a basic understanding of what her class as a whole is learning as well as get a general idea of how each student is performing.

These two forms can be used in combination. A teacher can give a quantitative test and use qualitative measures to gain a fuller understanding of what the student knows.  

 

Reflection:

From my experiences I have found qualitative approaches to be more beneficial. This form helps the assessor learn more about the student and how they learn. It provides a foundation for individual instruction for each student that is helpful for the learning process. It says more about the student. Quantitative approaches don’t really say much about a person or subject. They are basically just a quick way to determine information on how well someone did on a test that day.

I do realize that quantitative approaches are necessary, but I feel they should not be the sole basis for analysis and assessment. They should be used with qualitative approaches in order for information to be truly accurate.

 

 

Qualitative approaches would be a good resource for the candidates for presidency. They would have to do some research before stepping into the candidate position. It would be important for them to become familiar with specific issues of how the become and be the president. Through observation of previous and present presidents they could better understand the role of the president, how they work, and certain areas of interest. They might also interview outsiders on what they feel is important for a president to produce. They could also use informal writing to spread the word of their possibly running for candidate, to get a general consensus of how they would do if they ran for office.

 

Quantitative approaches would be a good way for teachers to estimate how well their teaching strategies are getting their students to learn. If the teacher could test the students prior to the lessons to evaluate what the student knows, this will help them design the lessons at large. If the class knows a good deal of the information that the teacher wanted to focus on, maybe then the teacher could reevaluate their lessons and adjust them to the level the students are on. Then at the end retest to see how much more knowledge they have attained.

 

Through general education, learning about quantitative and qualitative approaches has guided me in becoming a better student as well as a future teacher. I am able to watch a child through physical education and assess their level of progression. Though sport activity is difficult to test, I can assess appropriate ways to exercise, duration, and intensity. But how do you test students on their ability complete a free throw. As a teacher, I will have to observe continuously in order to help the students become more physically active.

 

 

Outcome Seven: The student will be able to analyze relationships among culture, language, ethnicity, gender, and nationality and to apply that analysis to specific national and international social, political, and economic changes.

 

 

 

Reflection:

I believe a lot of these changes were brought on by inspiring women who fought to make a change, by war time when they were forced to take on other roles, by new laws and legislation that declared equal rights for all nationalities, cultures, ethnic groups, and genders.  Contemporary change has affected gender differences in a very positive way.

 

 

·        There has been an explosion of Latin music in American culture over the last few years.  With the rise of singers like Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin and the rebirth of legendary performers like Carlos Santana, America has been locked on the spice of Latin American countries. This Hispanic flavor that for years has been exotic and far from the United States’ realm has recently buried us in its wake. The lyrics from the songs of these superstars have now come to incorporate not just the Latin beat but also that Spanish language.  For example, “Livin’ La Vida Loca”, has been a hit from the very beginning, climbing the charts more quickly than any Latino song has ever.  But as Ricky Martin has paved the way for singers like Enrique Iglesias, the Latin flavor doesn’t seem ready to quit yet.  For now I think just riding this culture wave will carry each and every one of us of to that exotic land, if we let it.

 

Reflection:

I chose this topic because it is the most recent and influential in popular culture today.  The Latin music explosion also hits home with me because of my major and my ancestors are originally from Spain.

 

I am very interested in Spanish culture and music.  I think it is important for me to be familiar with why America is being swept up in this radical kind of music, so that when I become a teacher I will be able to tell my students about the Latin music explosion.  Another thing about this topic that interested me was how rapidly these performers burst onto the scene and became superstars soon after.  The US is the melting pot, and it just recently received a huge dose of Latino flavor.

           

 

 

Reflection:

I chose the topic of music because I see how much music has changed over time and how it influenced today’s youth. 

 

 

·        I would like to discuss developments in music that relate to culture, ethnicity, and gender.  If you listen to the radio today, you hear more that just one type of person singing a tune.  You hear blacks, whites, males, females, Europeans and Latinos.  These people are all competing to win over the hearts of the music population.  Music has come a long way over the past decade.  I can't even begin to name all of the types that are out there.  If I look in my parents’ stash of records from the 60's, I would never find the types of sounds that one would hear today when turning on the radio.  And we also have music TV.  MTV and VH1 have come a long way to support the music industry.

 

Music does indeed change the attitude of millions, both in good and bad ways.  Music relates to our lives and people relate to music.  It's more than just a sound anymore.  It is a part of life. 

 

Reflection:

When talking about the developments of music, two musicians came to my mind.  Jewel and Lauryn Hill.  Jewel lived through some rough times as a child.  She did not come from a wealthy family and at times barely had enough to get by.  She wrote poems while living out of a car.  Those poems got her to where she is today.  On the top! And then there is Lauryn Hill, a black, minority single mom, who also never had it all.  Her music has also brought her to the top.  You don't need to be rich and popular anymore in order to succeed in the music world.  Anything can happen if you just put your heart and soul into it. 

 

 

Culture has contributed greatly to contemporary changes in music.  A modern example is the folk song.  The original purpose of a folk song was to tell a story of some historical event.  This is due to the limited usage of recording materials to chronicle such events.  Now the folk song has been elevated into the genre of popular music because of such performers as Jewel and Sarah McLaughlin who have brought it into the mainstream.

 

Ethnicity has been a big part of the progression of this ever-changing art form.  Even as we speak many artists are integrating sounds that were considered to be somewhat exclusive to particular ethnic groups.  For example the group Limp Bizkit took most of its influence from rap music that was predominately African American. 

 

Reflection:

In this piece I tried to take knowledge that I have gained in my Introduction to Art course this semester.  I have been shown how forms of art have influence from all of the cultures that have preceded them and through this many advancements in art have come about.  Well the same can be said for music.  It is a highly popular form of art and its past influences the path that it takes in the future.

 

 

·        I have noticed that many prosperous areas are becoming poorer because of the growing population of people moving from major cities to these areas. The crime rates have risen over the years and it seems that people are becoming less and less concerned about these problems. More and more bilingual students are entering the schools, which makes it difficult to teach them properly. There is an array of different nationalities living in what used to be homogeneous communities.

 

On the positive side, people from different cultures, ethnicity and nationalities are learning more about each other, which encourages and supports equality.

 

In today’s society we are experiencing a great deal of change through culture, language, and nationality especially in music.  For example, a few years ago the only popular ethnic singer who combined two worlds was Gloria Estefan. She sang and still sings in American and Spanish. She opened the gates to a broadening perspective; within the last two years there is more culture, language, and ethnicity in music. Through this we are able to experience some of Latin America’s culture through music. Also we tend to see a mixture and variety that comes with these singers, before Americans sang with Americans and Latinos with Latinos. However, today we have the Backstreet Boys, and Gloria Estefan singing on stage together, 98 Degrees and Mariah Carey and many more. I think this a great treat to be able to that no one person is better than another through music.

 

Reflection:

Through the general education project I have seen growth in considerate amounts related to these issues. I’ve noticed a great increase in ethnicity since I’ve been here. It’s nice to see that those who were unable to acknowledge each other in past times can come together and remain as a community.

 

 

Outcome Eight: The student will be able to demonstrate the skills needed to enrich the quality of life through physical activities which enhance cultural awareness and promote lifetime fitness.

 

 

If I reflect back to my early education, gym class was one of the most productive periods of the day; it gave me a chance to get away from the books and classroom and to explore learning in a hands-on way. It helps to foster coordination and teamwork that will be vital skills later on in life. I think competitive sports are a great way to develop leadership, pride and respect.  An athlete’s life is very busy so you must develop time management skills and ways to prioritize what needs to be done.  This all ties into developing determination and discipline.

 

Overall, I think in order for the mind to be healthy and function at high levels your body must be healthy. One of the fundamental ways to keep your body healthy is through physical activity! 

 

 

 

I think that it’s wonderful that as students we participate in at least two physical education classes.  It gives us a chance to take a class that’s very different from the normal everyday lecture and discussion. Another great thing about taking gym is that once we get out of college and enter the “real world” exercise will be something that is done only in spare time. 

 

For my physical education classes I chose to take two dance classes. Am I a big dancer?  No, not at all. That’s one of the ways that I made my decision about what to take.  The class that I participated in contained both men and women students and we learned different dances that are done traditionally throughout the whole world.  It was a fun, interesting, way to break a sweat, relieve stress and get a credit while doing so.

   

As I’ve mentioned the dance class that I took was a good experience for me.  There are probably a lot of great things that could be done relating to it.  If I had the time to actually invent a project that would show others just what a fun learning experience this class was I’d have to say that I’d have a recital performed.  Perhaps the professor of the class could pick a few of the most popular dances and have them performed. This show would be for any students that are interested in the class and wanted to find out more about it.  The theatre department could help out and lend some of their costumes to add a little excitement to the show.  Maybe even the music department could become involved and play live music instead of recorded.  This show could be one that contained a little of everything so that a student interested in any of the classes above could participate.       

 

 

 

The game of golf forces one to uphold the rules of the game by becoming one’s own official, calling penalty strokes on yourself and maintaining a fair playing field with the rest of your playing partners.  The rich history of this game encourages one to keep the integrity of the game intact, and it has stood the test of time.  Golf also teaches you respect by the etiquette involved in playing the game (example: being quiet while a player is swinging or putting).  The friendships one builds on a golf course can last a lifetime.  Golf is a game in which all ages and abilities compete against each other in friendly competition.  The fierce feeling of competition also can encourage one to be ready to compete for jobs in the business world.  Golf is a game in which everyone from all walks of life can enjoy a friendly round away from the hassles of everyday life.  I chose to take up the game for a lot of reasons but one main reason was to enjoy life to its fullest and golf allows me to do so.

 

I chose this topic because I believe that this sport does indeed enrich the quality of life.  Just being in the outdoors allows one to feel a better appreciation of nature and other than fishing which is an activity I like to engage in also, this sport exemplifies the feeling of oneness with nature.  Being in the ESU Golf Club allows me to feel part of a team and engage in competition as we play to see who will play in various tournaments.  The complexity of this game draws one back to eagerly anticipate the next time you play.  I am hooked on this sport so much that I could play everyday and I believe that one day I will master this sport.            

 

 

·         In order to prove my hypothesis that sports have a positive effect on the general attitude and health of individuals, I would survey different groups of people I would go to a college campus, ask students, coaches, and teachers to complete the survey.   I would also ask parents and see if their kids participate in sporting events on a team or on their own.

 

Engaging in a specific sport enriches the quality of life in many ways.  I have been competing in sports going on nine years and I feel it has shaped my life and contributed to who I am today. 

 

Competition on the athletic field teaches individuals how to deal with other people in positive and negative situations.  I have learned how to work with others in the passing game, and I have also learned that communication is essential and how to be sportsman like and to deal with things that I don’t necessarily agree with in an acceptable manner. All of these aspects carry over in other parts of one’s life and help in everyday situations. 

 

I wrote the above because all of my classes have taught me that sports have a positive influence on the lives.  I learned about this mostly in my major classes such as sport psychology and adult fitness.  I have also gained knowledge through general education, my personal experiences, and what I see around me.

 

 

·        For physical activity, I think a campus activity day would be a wonderful thing for people to get actively involved in.  I have volunteered for the Special Olympics on our campus and it really was a great day for everyone who was present.  There should be a variety of activities for all to get involved in. For example: baseball, volleyball, running, walking, or any type of field event.  It does not necessarily have to be held out doors, but probably would run smoother if it was.  All people would be encouraged to join in on all of the fun. Individuals, couples, or small groups from a club or organization would be welcome.  Everyone who participates will be rewarded.  Prizes from sponsors and community establishments would be taken in.  Some people do not enjoy doing things that require physical stress.  But something as fun as this would be positive and very welcoming for all to enjoy.

 

The past classes that I have taken that have had an effect on my physical activity would probably be the two gym classes.  I really enjoyed my aerobic dance class.  I like to dance and this gave me the opportunity to do something that I like.  I also took personal fitness. The thing I liked most about that class was my freedom of choice.  We were able to choose which activities we wanted to participate in during each class.  That was a good thing for me because I could do what I really wanted to do.  I liked the fact that I did not have to run; we could walk instead.  I could remember the times in high school gym class when the teacher yelled if we were not running. 

 

 

Although I have not taken any fitness courses at this time I am actively involved in physical activity at a gym nearby and I plan on taking two fitness classes next quarter.  I have noticed increased energy and more confidence in myself as well as increased motivation in other areas of my life since I have joined this gym.  I feel that general education requirements for physical activity should definitely be incorporated in college programs.  I don’t feel that physical activity is given enough attention since only two credits worth of fitness classes are required.

 

 

 

Physical activity is important in a variety of ways; the major issue is health. The state of health the United States is in currently is devastating. There are too many young adults who are having heart and respiratory failures due to inactivity.  Studies have proven that physical activity along with a healthy diet will decrease your chances of heart failure, cancers, and other long-term health problems. So, the minimum activity required per week, 3-5 times a week for 30 minutes, will increase your chances of living happy, healthy and long life.

 

The things I wrote in the physical activity essay come from many different sources, not all from classes. All of my health classes from Personal and Consumer to Foundations of Health have increased my knowledge on health subjects, as have my physical education classes, from simple activity classes to subject matter classes. Each and every class I take pertains to teaching and promotion of a healthy lifestyle that includes regular control of diet and activity.