I also love the customary siren accompanying Arizona rain. We as a state are not the most rain worthy drivers...
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
I love the rain!!!
I know that I probably live in the wrong place, but I absolutely love the rain. I was so excited, when we went out to feed the cats, and the wind was blowing and the rain was gently flowing from the heavens. The crashing of thunder also sent waves of excitement through my body!! I love the rain.
I also love the customary siren accompanying Arizona rain. We as a state are not the most rain worthy drivers...
I also love the customary siren accompanying Arizona rain. We as a state are not the most rain worthy drivers...
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Accountability, Responsibility, etc
So, as I am coming to the end of yet another semester of college, my mind is recalled to some of those wonderful things that I have learned in the past. Things like accountability and responsibility... I remember in it seems like kindergarten learning I need to take responsibility for my actions. I can remember the teacher telling us that those were big words, but that she was going to help us understand them. She told us that when we make choices, we sometimes make mistakes, but that it is ok to make mistakes. She told us it is important when you make mistakes to learn not to do whatever you did again. Now this was kindergarten, and the whole spiel ultimately led to share things with others, be nice to others, you know the drill. As I look back on that day, I think that some people must have missed that day of kindergarten.
This semester, I am taking two science classes. Anatomy and chemistry. Both of these classes require accompanying lab courses. Lab courses are great fun, they give the opportunity to explore the things that you are lectured about in class. They give you the chance to learn by trial and error. Sometimes, yes, things blow up in your face (ok so it was more like a slow overflow), but you get the point. In these classes, you get the wonderful opportunity to work in a group setting. I have never had a problem working in a group setting, I have always received that plays well with others notation on my report cards, but this semester I caught a glimpse of why so many people have issues with group activities.
In my chemistry lab, the first day of class, the instructor informed us that each group was responsible to turn in a single lab report. It was up to the individual lab groups how it got accomplished, but it did need to get done. I was in a group with three young ladies, we discussed several methods to accomplish this lab report task. We could divide the lab report into sections, and each person is responsible for a section. "No that would be too confusing." one girl says. We could take turns writing lab reports, there are eight reports due over the course of the semester, and four of us. We can each write two lab reports and that way it would be fair. "I have only lived in America for 15 years and my english isn't very good, so I cannot write lab reports." says the Korean girl. You spoke pretty well there... However, who are we to determine the extent of a person's lingual skills? Ok so we will divide writing eight labs between three people, somehow that will be fair. "Well I'm not going to be the person that has to write an extra lab report." says the last girl. Ok, so my group is off to a fantastic start. Good thing none of us are whiners. So I volunteer to write the first lab report. "No, I see what you're doing you're trying to ensure you don't have to write extra at the end of the year. I'll write the first report" says the last girl. Well it's settled then. Fast forward to the middle of the semester, the third lab report is due, the girl who is supposed to be writing it sends us all an email "I had to drop the class, attached is the portion of the lab report I have finished." Well at least she's not leaving us scrambling to finish the report. I open the attachment and find
Using Hess's Law to Indirect Equations
Wow brilliant start, it's the title, and it doesn't even make sense... I finish the lab report and turn it in.
So we are down to two people to write the remaining six labs. Well at least now the math is fair...
The teacher tells us "I am no longer worried about due dates for labs. You can turn them in whenever you want as long as they are completed by the Friday before the last lab class." Well, that takes some pressure off. Fast forward two weeks before the last lab class. The other lab partner, who actually speaks english, is not in class. I text her that evening. Missed you in class today. Are you alright? She replies forty five minutes later. I was really sick today will be there next week. I reply Feel better soon. Just a reminder the lab reports are due by Friday next week. She replies Thank you. I am almost done with the ones I'm writing. Sounds good, everything is going to get done...
The following lab period the girl doesn't show up again. I text her Are you ok?
She replies Still sick
That's too bad. The lab reports are due on Friday do you need any help finishing them?
Nope I got it.
Thanks! Feel better.
Next day at school I see the girl on campus. "You're looking better."
"I feel a lot better!"
"I'm glad. So you are ok with getting the lab reports turned in on Friday?"
"Yup, I'm just finishing them up."
"Great see you next week."
Friday rolls around and I figure I should make sure she got the reports turned in. At about ten I text her everything get turned in alright?
No answer...
6:00 P.M. I try again just wondering if you got my text earlier?
I just saw it, I'm at work.
Oh ok, sorry to bother you at work. Did the reports get turned in alright?
You didn't bother me. Gotta get back to work.
Hmmm, so that didn't really answer my question. So on Saturday around 5:30 pm I text again Did the reports get turned in?
No answer.
Sunday 2:15 pm I try again Hey, I'm not trying to annoy you, but I really need to know what's going on with those lab reports. Please.
NO ANSWER!!
Monday at noon, I am sitting in my chemistry lecture class. My phone vibrates.
Sorry I didn't reply to those last texts, I just saw them. I started feeling sick again on Sunday and now I am in the hospital.
After class I respond Can you email the lab reports to turn in?
They're not done.
Email me what you have and I can finish them up.
No response.
Needless to say I am a bit peeved about some people not taking responsibility for their actions right now. However, to end this blog on a lighter note. My experience in my anatomy lab was very pleasant. I had a great group. Our last project before the end of the semester was to create a video describing how muscles contract. We had a good time putting our project together, and although it's a little hokey, we accomplished what we needed to.
This semester, I am taking two science classes. Anatomy and chemistry. Both of these classes require accompanying lab courses. Lab courses are great fun, they give the opportunity to explore the things that you are lectured about in class. They give you the chance to learn by trial and error. Sometimes, yes, things blow up in your face (ok so it was more like a slow overflow), but you get the point. In these classes, you get the wonderful opportunity to work in a group setting. I have never had a problem working in a group setting, I have always received that plays well with others notation on my report cards, but this semester I caught a glimpse of why so many people have issues with group activities.
In my chemistry lab, the first day of class, the instructor informed us that each group was responsible to turn in a single lab report. It was up to the individual lab groups how it got accomplished, but it did need to get done. I was in a group with three young ladies, we discussed several methods to accomplish this lab report task. We could divide the lab report into sections, and each person is responsible for a section. "No that would be too confusing." one girl says. We could take turns writing lab reports, there are eight reports due over the course of the semester, and four of us. We can each write two lab reports and that way it would be fair. "I have only lived in America for 15 years and my english isn't very good, so I cannot write lab reports." says the Korean girl. You spoke pretty well there... However, who are we to determine the extent of a person's lingual skills? Ok so we will divide writing eight labs between three people, somehow that will be fair. "Well I'm not going to be the person that has to write an extra lab report." says the last girl. Ok, so my group is off to a fantastic start. Good thing none of us are whiners. So I volunteer to write the first lab report. "No, I see what you're doing you're trying to ensure you don't have to write extra at the end of the year. I'll write the first report" says the last girl. Well it's settled then. Fast forward to the middle of the semester, the third lab report is due, the girl who is supposed to be writing it sends us all an email "I had to drop the class, attached is the portion of the lab report I have finished." Well at least she's not leaving us scrambling to finish the report. I open the attachment and find
Using Hess's Law to Indirect Equations
Wow brilliant start, it's the title, and it doesn't even make sense... I finish the lab report and turn it in.
So we are down to two people to write the remaining six labs. Well at least now the math is fair...
The teacher tells us "I am no longer worried about due dates for labs. You can turn them in whenever you want as long as they are completed by the Friday before the last lab class." Well, that takes some pressure off. Fast forward two weeks before the last lab class. The other lab partner, who actually speaks english, is not in class. I text her that evening. Missed you in class today. Are you alright? She replies forty five minutes later. I was really sick today will be there next week. I reply Feel better soon. Just a reminder the lab reports are due by Friday next week. She replies Thank you. I am almost done with the ones I'm writing. Sounds good, everything is going to get done...
The following lab period the girl doesn't show up again. I text her Are you ok?
She replies Still sick
That's too bad. The lab reports are due on Friday do you need any help finishing them?
Nope I got it.
Thanks! Feel better.
Next day at school I see the girl on campus. "You're looking better."
"I feel a lot better!"
"I'm glad. So you are ok with getting the lab reports turned in on Friday?"
"Yup, I'm just finishing them up."
"Great see you next week."
Friday rolls around and I figure I should make sure she got the reports turned in. At about ten I text her everything get turned in alright?
No answer...
6:00 P.M. I try again just wondering if you got my text earlier?
I just saw it, I'm at work.
Oh ok, sorry to bother you at work. Did the reports get turned in alright?
You didn't bother me. Gotta get back to work.
Hmmm, so that didn't really answer my question. So on Saturday around 5:30 pm I text again Did the reports get turned in?
No answer.
Sunday 2:15 pm I try again Hey, I'm not trying to annoy you, but I really need to know what's going on with those lab reports. Please.
NO ANSWER!!
Monday at noon, I am sitting in my chemistry lecture class. My phone vibrates.
Sorry I didn't reply to those last texts, I just saw them. I started feeling sick again on Sunday and now I am in the hospital.
After class I respond Can you email the lab reports to turn in?
They're not done.
Email me what you have and I can finish them up.
No response.
Needless to say I am a bit peeved about some people not taking responsibility for their actions right now. However, to end this blog on a lighter note. My experience in my anatomy lab was very pleasant. I had a great group. Our last project before the end of the semester was to create a video describing how muscles contract. We had a good time putting our project together, and although it's a little hokey, we accomplished what we needed to.
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