Experiential UT

John Henry Newman wrote, “The duty of a university is instruction rather than research, and to train the mind rather than diffuse useful knowledge.”(P.165) After reading through all of our assigned text, I felt that a university is everything, but what you’d expect. We’ve been taught that this expensive college will give you a degree at the end of four years, a poof, all of a sudden you will be deemed prepared for the real world.



John Henry Newman when he was made Cardinal

Why do I go to college? I originally came to UT, for the simple reason of that’s what you do after high school if you want to become successful. I was so wrapped up in becoming someone, that I never took time to realize, who I am or what it is I want to get out of UT. Well the answer that popped out of the book was knowledge. “We speak of the communication of Knowledge as being Education, we thereby really imply that Knowledge is a state or condition of mind.”(P.176) Since education is the way to communicate to students it makes sense that most professors would rather you understand the meaning or the steps behind your answer, instead of just the answer. I feel the point they’re trying to get across is that in any given situation, life throws your way, whether it is in your professional or personal life, the University will prepare you with the knowledge you need.



Knowledge + Education= Opportunity

Experiential Learning is the process of making meaning from direct experience. When I was reading this active learning it became a synonymous meaning with episodic memory (which is also in the text). In my Applied Learning & Development class we’re learning why our memory chooses to remember certain stimuli. One reason for it is episodic memory, which is when something significant and/or interesting happens (out of the norm) and you instantly can recall that memory vividly. The same thing is true of experiential learning, when you have are more of an ability to “actively participate in the learning process rather than passively receiving knowledge,” (P.184) you are to gain more. In the passage it outlines 10 reasons why experiential learning is more meaningful. The one that is most important is number 10, which says, “It can make the value of education more obvious because you begin connecting information to the “real world.”(P.184)



Experiential Team

So, when we enter a University our expectations may not be what we had anticipated, yet we leave here knowing more in spite of it. “If then a practical end must be assigned to a University course, I say it is that of training good members of society.”(P.170)



University of Texas+ Experiential Learning=Me

Leadership

How To Spot a Tyrant was nothing like what I had imagined it to be. Dean Paul Woodruff narrated three plays, each explaining the tyranny that lived in everyday people. First, you can spot a tyrant by looking for these three traits: 1.Hubris, which leads to catastrophe, 2.Lawlessness, gets away with breaking the laws they enforce, and 3.Fear, of being undone so, they cling to power and frighten others. Not all tyrants believe themselves to be one, and usually all justify their ways by pardoning themselves. "In effective personal leadership, visualization and affirmation techniques emerge naturally out of a foundation of well thought through purposes and principles that become the center of a person's life." (P.134 Convey) According to Convey's book a true leader doesn’t need much to be effective, just a strong foundation of learned principles. This definition is the exact opposite of a tyrant.

John F. Kennedy-Leader


In the lecture, Dean Woodruff said, “A tyrant is a man or women, who has too much power, it goes to their head, and they think they are God.” I personally believe that a leader is first and foremost a person who can lead, but also a person who knows and will humbly follow his followers. You cannot expect people to give up their will and follow you if you were not first willing to do the same. In Convey's book he says it best, "The more genuine your character, the higher your level of proactivity, the more committed you really are to Win/Win-the more powerful your influence will be with that other person. This is the real test of interpersonal leadership." (P.222 Convey)

Saddam Hussein-Tyrant


There were three styles of plays-Ancient Greek, Modernism, and Shakespeare. He chose the styles particularly well, because the eras involved demonstrated the similarities between democracy and theater. The audience is King, where the people rule, and during Shakespeare's time the plays were made and dedicated to the royal family. Yet, the audience (actual towns people) were the ones who would dictate whether or not the stage would be full of live or dead bodies (which they favored, remember Romeo & Juliet).



Of the three stories, Antigone, Measure for Measure, and A Doll’s House, the one that spoke the most to me was A Doll’s House. The lesson to be learned from this play was that even through a tyrant's fear they can still control you and make you just as fearful as they are. Nora is treated like a doll, by her husband Torvald. His fear is what people may think of him, and those he considers to belong to him, his wife/doll. What scared me most about this type of tyranny is how closely it can resemble love. “He pampers her, protects her,”(P.3 Notes on The Three Lessons) although the sentiments seem sweet they're more affections of a dog and his owner, than husband and wife. He sets rules for her and she begins to fear him. "Two ways to put ourselves in control of our lives immediately make a promise-and keep it. Or we can set a goal-and work to achieve it." (P.92 Convey) She does just that, after realizing what her marriage really is, a dictator as a husband, she goes out to get an education and finally becomes free of tyranny.


Scene from A Doll's House

When Dean Woodruff said, “Freedom is the absence of tyranny,” I thought the quote was so simple yet summed up the lesson of the entire lecture. Tyranny is what makes plots so interesting, because of the conflict and havoc it brings. Ultimately I feel that the fight for freedom is what’s so universally recognized and admired, in the plot of stories, new and old.

Gandhi-Leader

Allison, Karen, & Jordan

After watching Allison's Road Map, I thought it was incredible that she had won the State Championship in Soccer. I wish I would have had a chance to see them play. The team looked so together, more like a family then a high school soccer team. I played sports in high school too, but we were nothing even remotely close as they were. Another thing that was interesting about Allison's life was her kitten, Penny. Her cat must have been the best birthday gift Allison's ever got, they look very much in love (as much as any owner and there pet can be). I couldn't believe how much Penny loved hair ties, to the point were she needed a gastrectomy. I'm glad that she made a full recovery.



I absolutely LOVED Karen's Road Map. All of the music was so fun, especially "The Circle of Life" from The Lion King. It's funny because my first draft for my movie I was going to also do the intro from Star Wars (I'm a big fan), but I changed it at the last minute...which is a good decision cause Karen's would have kicked my movies butt. Karen is such an incredible artist Karen is. I love art (especially photography and watercolors), an right now I'm an education major, but I one day want to become an art teacher. If I ever have a student as gifted as Karen, I'll consider myself a very lucky teacher.



Jordan's Road Map was so informative. I feel like I really know her a lot better now. I was so sad to hear about her puppy who had to be put down after suffering a stroke, this is one of the upsides to never having my own pet. I'm glad she made the choice to not make him go through anymore suffering, just because she would miss him. I really liked Jordan's music, right after the movie was over I looked up one of the songs called "Hellogoodbye" by Bonnie Taylor Shakedown, its so upbeat. I though the picture Jordan used to show her parents was so cute, because of her beautiful prom dress.



I'm glad that class is so small I actually know all of my classmates names for a change, and now I know a little more about them, thanks to the Road Maps.

What Type Am I?

After completing a lengthy survey, I felt highly uncertain that The Jung Typology Test would be able to specify enough to tell me what 'type' of person I am. For most of my skepticism comes from the fact that I'm a sophomore and I barley feel like I know myself. Well it turns out the test was pretty accurate, it was refreshing to see it written out the kind of traits that make me, me. I was typed as ESFJ-Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, & Judging.
I always saw myself as an artistic and guarded person. I’m a bit judgmental at times, but I choose to look at it as being honest.


I chose this picture because I feel this world is for the most part black and white, but I can sometimes see the bright sides of it. I learned that my view on the world is part of the small percentage of introverted sense in me.

I am an emotional person, and I have the ability to empathize with people, especially those who really matter to me. The down side to this is that I also have the very ugly emotion of rage, which I can sometimes use in a constructive way, but not always. When it comes to learning, I have no problem volunteering, but unfortunately I do have trouble with a “short attention span...” and not having active exercises-“just lectures can bore.”(P140-Teaching/Learning Style) Another big part of my learning style, which was neglected in the text, was my need for visual learning. I feel that imagery is much more effective with me in order to retaining any new information.


The wide range of my emotional capability, demonstrated above.

Something new I learned was that I take critiques to heart, I never gave it much thought, but according to the ESFJ Learning Method, “should focus on not getting upset when people disagree with them: they should not take it personally.” (P.143) All of this is probably true, but I also think part of it’s to blame on my tendency to say whatever is on my mind without a care of what I might be saying. Which is careless, but I almost never stop to think about what effect my words will have, until it’s too late. Outside of class however, I am ESFJ are very “liberal in giving, especially where custom prescribes.”(http://typelogic.com/esfj.html) I always preferred giving gifts, than receiving, and I know people usually say that but don’t mean it, but I do. When you give anyone a gift just seeing their face is good enough for me.


“ESFJs are easily wounded. And when wounded, their emotions will not be contained. They by nature "wear their hearts on their sleeves.” (http://typelogic.com/esfj.html)

I am perfect for this class, because one of my key characteristics was the fact that I am strong leader, who likes to be in command, but I also respect my peers. The reason for my compassion is due to the overwhelming portion of my personality is feeling. As a writer it’s very beneficial because I read and write the way I think the audience would. I take into account their reactions, so I can easily relate to them and captivate them. “Writing will usually reflect a deep personal conviction,” (P.153) I can’t believe how accurate this was, in reference to my writing strengths. Of course the downside to this is “lack of clear organizational structure,” (P.140) this could be very apparent if you’re having trouble reading this now. So, on one hand I can relate to my audience, but my emotions get in the way of reaching them, because I can’t process my thoughts well enough, is what I’m trying to say.


I preferred the fictional ESFJ to the real ones, Monica (from the TV show FRIENDS) is also an ESFJ.

The test pointed out that I would be an excellent choice to one day become a teacher, luckily I'm already in the College of Education. Well besides my future profession, I am an emotional, strong, guarded, judgmental, and a million other adjectives I can’t name them all, make up my unique personality.

My Freshmen Experience

When I first came to UT, last year, I was so unaware of how traveling only one hour away from my home (San Antonio) would feel like a completely different world. I lived on-campus in Jester West, it was not the most glamorous dormitory, but it's were the majority of freshmen stayed. The school randomly assigned me a roommate from Houston, Carolina, she was a freshmen and a Chemistry major. Looking back I remember my greatest fear was that she would be a slob, who would stay up late and constantly rifling through personal belongings. Yeah well I happy to report I was completely wrong, we now live together off-campus with my other two best friends (Jackie & Erica) off Riverside.

Far Right to Left-Carolina, Erica, Ashley (Me), & Jackie

The reason I chose UT, was because of the Longhorn Scholars Program. They awarded me a scholarship and a bunch of incentives because I was in the top 10% and the fact that I was from a select group of high schools that has low rates of minority attendance to major Universities. My parents were so proud, I was just happy that my adversities were once going to work to advantage, this time.