"Squishy" classes this week

When I was an undergrad, I absolutely hated it when an entire class was spent with everyone talking. I felt irritated that we weren't getting concrete information, and I was mostly only concerned with getting the pertinent information for the exams. I even remember complaining to my roommates about how I could've cared less about the stories people shared in class and how I thought that "story-telling" in class was such a waste of time.

I felt this way to a lesser degree when I started grad school. I had a few classes that we didn't even talk about the readings, and I would get so upset because I had spent hours actually reading the chapters and journal articles. It all started coming together when I realized that part of the educational experience is benefitting from the diversity of experiences of others. Anyone can buy a book a read it, but it's that actual classroom experience that we are paying tuition for. That's when I started to pay a little more attention to how the professors were facilitating the discussion.

"There is actually a method to the madness," I thought. The discussions and activities were actually used to supplement or enhance the readings not just restate them. This was a revelation to me.

I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed with the openness of my students this semester. I enjoyed the value clarification activities we did this week, and I am so happy that there was such great participation.

I did not move to any of the areas of agreee/disagree because I have already done several value clarification activities. This was not an activity for me to evaluate where I stand, and I did not want my thoughts, beliefs, or values to influence how students viewed the statements. I didn't want anyone to feel right or wrong because they may have agreed or differed with me.

Overall, I am truly pleased at how you are all progressing. This is such a fabulous semester!