Post #1.5 "Thinking about Thinking"

So this is my first reflection on not really what I've learned but how I've learned it. I haven't really had to do this before--thinking about how I think. I guess I've just never thought about it before. I've just taken in what there was, not thinking or knowing if there was a different or better way of doing things. But I guess there is more than one way to skin a cat, and also more than one way to learn.

This class has given me a lot of freedom in the choices I get to make about what I read and how I assess myself on it. I am not restricted by a certain book that the whole class must read together, just restricted by the time period when the text was written. It scares me to have so much power and influence over what I get to learn and what I learn about. I've warmed up to this way of learning slowly. The freedom that I now have allows me to delve into topics that interest me, and I see that as both a good and a bad thing.

First the good. I don't have to read endless texts analyzing the same topic over and over again, unless I am really interested in that topic. Then I wouldn't agonize over reading a book I hated and not want to understand it, in pure contempt and rebellion. I get to learn about what I learn about. With the independent texts, my favorite concept does not have to be shared by anyone else in the class. It is more of an independent learning experience, than a whole class one.

Next, onto the bad. By only selecting texts that I think may be interesting to me, I think that I might miss out on a really good text that I would really enjoy. Not being a master of literature or having a teacher's expertise on choosing out texts could make me miss important sources. The sheer freedom of being able to choose whatever I want is a little intimidating to me. I feel that I need a bit more structure, otherwise I will be totally and utterly lost. I need some direction for me to do the best work possible. The individualization of this process also has me a bit worried. I enjoy discussing things out loud and getting the ideas of other people to better understand a text, and I don't know how this will be possible if everyone is reading different texts.

I am willing to try this different way of learning, even though I am a bit nervous. I think that too many restrictions can damper my creativity, and this different way of learning might be a solution to this. I hope to learn more about what way I learn the best. I know that I learn better with pictures and diagrams, as well as verbally discussing and dissecting material. But who knows what the next section will teach me about myself. The better I understand myself and how I learn, the more effectively I can learn new things.

Tally-ho!
Emilie