Personal Development

I recognize the need for change and growth because it is was I will need in order to succeed in the future and to make the best of what I have now and to make better what it is I can have.

Contextual issues:
Motivation?
Is there room for progress?

Priorities based on my values:
Bettering the work done for classes and sticking to originally planned work schedules. When I plan to do something, do it.

The outcomes of my change and growth will be:
greater success, more happiness in life, more stability.

My plan:
Continue on this path in order to succeed and further current success.

Mentoring Blog

My need for mentoring comes about due to a set goal of understanding the content and topic of the information being taught about my major.

I have selected my professor of Behaviorology as my mentor.

I have made this selection as he is the most knowledgeable in this subject and understands exactly what I need to know.

I would, during office hours, approach this professor and ask about his availability and interest in a mentoring relationship.

My goals are to better understand the material to receive the most knowledge towards what will inevitably be my career after graduation. 

I know I will be making progress when my understanding improves as well as grades, less stress during tests...etc.

I will meet with my mentor once per week at least.

I will celebrate growth and improvement with a reward of some kind.

I will celebrate final success by acknowledging my progress and those who had helped make it happen.

I will end the mentoring relationship by thanking my mentor for the help I have received.

Team Assessment

Name: Nick

Team Members: Chris, Aaron, Raina, Angelia, Nicole

Date: Today


Two Greatest Strengths:

We are able to get our work done before it is due, of course, this is an important strength to hold in a class setting.

We seem to have great communication with one another, most notably via Facebook.

Two Areas that need improvement: 

1) In terms of Team Blogs, our team does well with sharing responsibility and getting it done, however, it would seem to me, come Team Presentations/projects, the work isn't shared as equally.
Short Term: Better communication
Long Term: Better distribution of team responsibilities would seem best.

2) Chris has been the one to speak for most, if not all, the presentations so far. It isn't exactly fair to him especially since it would seem he is a very nervous public speaker.
Short Term: Designate roles early on.
Long Term: It may improve the quality of presentation if we rotated speaking jobs to those less anxious to speak in front of a group.

Our top three insights:
1) We're on top of communication.
2) We can help each other in any role regardless of our own.
3) Leadership roles can be shared.

Reading Log Blog

1) My purpose is: Understanding the content presented in this article.
2) My learning objectives are: What is in this article? What message is the article trying to convey?
3) My performance criteria are: 110%.
4) Time I expect to spend reading: 25 -30 minutes
5) Key Vocabulary: 

• Serried: (of rows of people or things) standing close together.

• Connote: (of a word) imply or suggest (an idea or feeling) in addition to the literal or primary meaning.

• Diegetic: Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film.

• Plenitude: an abundance.

• Metalanguage: is language or symbols used when language itself is being discussed or examined.

7) Quick Read: This man knows his stuff.

8) Comprehensive Read: Actual time spent reading: 22 minutes

9) Inquiry: ---

10) Synthesis: What does this even mean?

11) Integrate: I've had no prior information; this is all new information to me.

12) Assessment: The following affected positively the quality of my reading performance and how I can improve. 

Role Model

Who is this Role Model?

Marshal Bruce Mathers III

1) How does this person fit your definition of a role model?

Despite the obvious hiccups in his career and private life, Marshal's positive behaviors and his success is something that he earned entirely on his own merit and hard work. 

2) Why do you look up to him/her and want to emulate him/her?

He is honest and very caring of his children which is made clear by his music. His is one of the most awarded artists in history. His story is one of perseverance.  

3) How will you go about fostering in yourself the characteristics that you admire in him/her? Or if you already have acquired the characteristics that you admire, how have you done so and how are they manifesting themselves in your life?

To foster these characteristics it is best to always try your hardest, no matter how cliché that sounds and no matter how many times you may fail at something never quit.

Byrne Questions

1) Byrne described the commonly accepted story of artistic creation as such: The accepted narrative suggests that a classical composer gets a strange look in his or her eye and begins furiously scribbling a fully realized composition that couldn't exist in any other form. Byrne thinks the path of creation is almost 180 degrees from this model. He believes that we unconsciously and instinctively make work to fit preexisting formats.

2) European music is meant to be played in large, stone cathedrals while African music is more open air.

3) Byrne described the audiences today as this: classical audiences were no longer allowed to shout, eat, and chat during a performance. One was expected to sit immobile and listen with rapt attention. Ross hints that this was a way of keeping the hoi polloi out of the new symphony halls and opera houses.

4) The instrumentation of jazz was also modified so that the music could be heard over the sound of the dancers and the bar racket. Banjos were louder than acoustic guitars, and trumpets were nice and loud, too. 

5) Around 1900, according to music writer Alex Ross, classical audiences were no longer allowed to shout, eat, and chat during a performance. One was expected to sit immobile and listen with rapt attention. Ross hints that this was a way of keeping the hoi polloi out of the new symphony halls and opera houses.

6) Until amplification and microphones came into common use, the instruments written for and played were adapted to fit the situation. The makeup of the bands, as well as the parts the composers wrote, evolved to be heard.

7) In the sense of place, music could now be completely free from any live context, or, more properly, the context in which it was heard became the living room and the jukebox — parallel alternatives to still-popular ballrooms and concert halls.

8) Crooning exploited the new technology of microphones. Crooning was a new kind of singing back then. It wouldn't have worked without a microphone.

9) Disco is intended for audiences inside of clubs while arena rock is intended for arenas.

10) Early hip-hop is for dance while  contemporary hip-hop is written (or at least the music is) to be heard in cars.

11) Byrne describes the acoustic qualities of MP3 music as such: with headphones on, you can hear and appreciate extreme detail and subtlety, and the lack of uncontrollable reverb inherent in hearing music in a live room means that rhythmic material survives beautifully and completely intact; it doesn’t get blurred or turned into sonic mush as it often does in a concert hall. 

Self Assessment

My two greatest strengths

1) Curiosity. I take an interest in ongoing experiences for its own sake; explore, discover

2) Humor. I like to laugh and I like to tease, bring smiles to other people; seeing the lighter side of a situation

My two areas of improvement

1) Lack of self-regulation (being disciplined,                                                                                       keeping track)

Short-term plan: Sticky notes, reminders

Long-term plan: Weekly schedule made out and checked

2) Lack ability to lead (shy, anxious)

Short-term plan: baby steps

Long-term plan: participate in all group activities 

Insights

Was quite aware of both strengths and both weaknesses. Learned nothing new.

Experience 1: Q 4-7

Experience 1: Q 4-7

4) From your high school experiences, in which of the aspects of the Theory of Performance are you      strongest or most prepared?

I feel that I am most prepared in the aspects of Knowledge and Context.

5) In which areas of your performance as a quality learner are you least prepared?

I am least prepared in the aspects of personal factors and fixed factors.

6) Why is the strength of your identity critical to your belief in your own success in college?

A strong identity is key to your belief in your own success in college as it prepares you for the transition from student to a professional in your field of study.

7) What strategy did you use to analyze the performance of the honor student in the Model?

I used the rubric Performance Levels of Self-Growers to analyze the performance of the honor student in the Model.